This innovative resource offers a unique, multidisciplinary approach for the utilization of planning theory to eliminate health disparities in rural communities. The book provides tools in the public health, policy, and planning disciplines to help resolve significant differences in life expectancy and quality of life in these communities, concluding with a progressive vision for alleviating geographical health disparities on a local, national, and global scale. Chapters highlight models and approaches best suited to addressing this public health concern, suggesting action strategies focused around each of the three focus areas: 1. Public health: Elucidation of the contextual factors impacting the health of rural communities by: reporting statistical updates on a range of chronic and infectious diseases that disproportionately affect rural populations both globally and in the U.S.; providing discourse on the importance of addressing critical social determinants(global and national) that impede optimal health outcomes among rural populations; and, acknowledging the compositional factors of individuals who reside in rural spaces. 2. Public policy: Application of specific policy models to garner both public and political will towards sustainable policy change to improve healthy living in rural spaces. 3. Rural planning: Identification of national and international planning models that can be used to design strategic plans targeted to improve quality of life, create sustainable development, and establish economic well-being and growth in rural communities. Rural Health Disparities: Public Health, Policy, and Planning Approaches will find an engaged audience among non-profit organizations, planners, public health practitioners, policy analysts, and public interest groups, as well as rural health advocates and students enrolled in planning, public policy, and/orpublic health courses.

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Monica M. Taylor, PhD, MPH, is a faculty member at Colorado State University - Global Campus, and adjunct full professor at the University of Maryland - University College and Franklin University. She holds a PhD in Planning and Public Policy from Rutgers University, a Masters in Public Health from Hunter College, and Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology from Syracuse University. Since 2010, Dr. Taylor provided instruction to undergraduate-, graduate-, and doctoral-level students in public policy, policy analysis, public health, health services management, and research methods and designed online policy courses for online institutions. She was a health scientist/evaluator at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and senior researcher and policy analyst at the Poverty Research Institute at Legal Services of New Jersey. Her current research focuses on income and geographical inequalities; political, social, and planning theories; social justice; social determinants of health, and health disparities. She is the author of four books including *The Obesity Epidemic: Why a Social Justice Perspective *Matters and *Application of the Political Economy to Rural Health Disparities, *and has published articles and chapters on the political economy, policy theory, and the social determinants of health.

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