The first meeting of 2026 is designed to ground our rural partners in the updates, resources, and priorities guiding our shared work this year. We will begin with an orientation to the year ahead, including the updated rural HPV vaccination priority actions and ongoing efforts shaping rural HPV cancer prevention, setting the stage for an informative and action‑focused meeting.

Attendees will hear from Heather Brandt, PhD, director of the St. Jude HPV Cancer Prevention Program, who will provide an in‑depth overview of recent changes to U.S. Childhood Immunization Schedule including updates to HPV vaccination recommendations and what they mean for rural clinics, vaccination workflows, and local families. She also will share strategies to reinforce HPV vaccination as routine care amid communication and access challenges unique to rural settings.

Ashley Lach, MHA, CPHQ from the American Cancer Society (ACS) will then introduce the 2026 Rural Learning Community, hosted jointly by ACS and the ACS National HPV Cancers Roundtable. Attendees will get a preview of upcoming topics such as self‑collection testing, series completion strategies, small‑media campaigns, and clinic‑level HPV report cards. These offerings directly align with our rural priority actions—supporting partners in implementing best practices, building capacity, preserving data resources, and strengthening partnership collaboration in a shifting rural health landscape.

We hope you will register and take part in this important early‑year conversation as we work together to advance rural HPV cancer prevention in 2026.

Our final Preventing HPV Cancers with Rural Communities: Updates and Opportunities quarterly meeting of 2025 was held on National Rural Health Day (November 20, 2025), celebrating the ‘Power of Rural’ and the partners advancing HPV cancer prevention across the country. During the meeting, we unveiled the revised Rural HPV Vaccination Priority Actions, updated during 2025 in collaboration with rural subject matter experts to better reflect today’s realities and guide our efforts through 2026 and beyond. Experts joined us to introduce the updated framework—outlining key challenges, opportunities, areas of focus, and real‑world examples across all five priorities: implementing best practices, building capacity, preserving and expanding data resources, fostering partnerships, and monitoring context.

National Rural Health Day not only celebrated the progress happening across rural communities—it also renewed our collective commitment to the work ahead. The priorities and resources we introduced in November are already shaping new collaborations and creative approaches. Together, we are carrying that momentum forward and turning inspiration into sustained action for rural HPV cancer prevention.

Several new HPV vaccination resources for rural action also debuted, more information about those is below! Meeting recordings and slides remain available for anyone who missed the session at stjude.org/HPVrural.

As part of the HPV Awareness Day Seminar Series, we are especially excited to spotlight our rural‑focused seminar, “Data, Delivery, and Dialogue: Drivers Strengthening HPV Prevention in Rural America.” Created specifically with rural partners in mind, this session will organize our rural HPV vaccination priorities into three practical drivers—data, delivery, and dialogue, together capturing the full framework of the rural initiative. Participants will learn how the program’s rural priorities put these drivers into action—using rural-relevant data to guide decisions and track progress; strengthening HPV vaccination delivery through evidence-based best practices and provider capacity-building; and deepening dialogue through cross-sector partnerships and trusted messengers. The session will also show how monitoring policy and funding shifts, and vaccination trends functions as a cross-cutting priority that enhances each driver and supports adaptable, forward-looking strategies to advance rural HPV cancer prevention. This session is designed to equip rural partners with insights, tools, and momentum to continue advancing HPV cancer prevention where it is needed most.

Wide Open Spaces is a series of articles included in the St. Jude HPV Cancer Prevention Program’s monthly Path to Prevention newsletter. These articles address ways to improve HPV vaccination with rural communities. Articles are written by guest contributors, who share information on their efforts and success in improving HPV vaccination with rural communities. We invite guest contributors to share information on how they are working to improve HPV vaccination in rural areas.

This month, we feature work from the University of Southern California and the Riverside–San Bernardino County Indian Health Clinic. Rural and Native‑serving clinics in California are experiencing significant declines in HPV vaccination—challenges fueled by persistent misinformation, limited opportunities for provider training, and lingering mistrust following the COVID‑19 pandemic. Through a partnership with the Riverside–San Bernardino County Indian Health Clinic, the University of Southern California has gathered critical insights from providers working directly in these communities. Their experiences highlight effective, culturally grounded strategies that strengthen confidence in HPV vaccination, including normalizing the vaccine as routine cancer prevention, using clear and efficient communication tools like the Announcement Approach, and building trust through relationships rooted in community values.

This work underscores an important truth: boosting HPV vaccination in rural Native communities requires more than access—it requires connection, clarity, and community‑informed support for providers. Read the full article to learn how these clinics are reshaping HPV prevention through locally driven solutions.

The American Cancer Society and the National HPV Cancers Roundtable are partnering with rural health care providers to expand knowledge and improve access to preventive care, including on-time HPV vaccination and other cancer screenings. The 2026 Rural Learning Community will provide practical strategies and peer-based learning to help participants implement evidence-based interventions that strengthen cancer prevention and screening efforts in their clinics and communities.

This no-cost, practical forum offers:

• Opportunities to exchange promising practices with peers facing similar challenges.

• Hands-on guidance for applying quality improvement (QI) methods to boost HPV vaccination and increase cancer screening rates.

• Open discussions to address barriers and share solutions for rural settings.

Together, participants will explore topics that not only improve on-time HPV vaccination but also increase access to recommended cancer screenings. Join the Rural Learning Community to gain actionable insights, build meaningful connections, and bring proven strategies back to your clinics and communities.

Register now to be part of this impactful initiative from our partners at the American Cancer Society and the ACS National HPV Vaccination Roundtable. And you can catch up anytime on the 2025 sessions you might have missed here.

The National Library of Medicine is hosting a webinar focused on improving cancer care delivery in rural communities. This session will explore how cancer care is currently provided in rural community hospitals, the unique challenges these facilities face, and the opportunities that exist to strengthen rural cancer programs. Participants will also learn how rural hospitals can use Commission on Cancer (CoC) accreditation as a framework to enhance program development and support high‑quality cancer care close to home. More information and registration here.

The National Rural Health Association (NRHA) will host its flagship annual events in San Diego, California this May—offering a full week of learning, connection, and innovation for everyone committed to strengthening rural health.

The 49^th Annual Rural Health Conference, the largest gathering of rural health professionals in the country, brings together practitioners, advocates, researchers, and leaders to explore the issues shaping care in rural communities. Running alongside it, the 11^th Rural Hospital Innovation Summit provides hospital leadership with strategy‑rich sessions, expert‑led workshops, and practical tools to navigate today’s rapidly changing health care environment.

Participants can also take advantage of two pre‑conference opportunities:

• Rural Health Access Conference (May 18–19): Designed for those working to expand access and improve care for underserved rural populations.

• Rural Medical Education Conference (May 19): Tailored for professionals focused on preparing and supporting the next generation of rural physicians.

Early registration ends April 24—register soon to save and secure your spot.