What it covers
Five courses: AI fundamentals, ethics and responsible AI use, and generative AI and prompting, plus electives on AI leadership and putting generative AI to work.
Athens, Georgia · Speaking on AI in rural health
Rural health innovation and transformation
I'm Tyler Wallace. I work with healthcare organizations (primarily rural hospitals and FQHCs) on putting AI in place responsibly. I built the AI-PRH certification for rural health professionals, and I teach Health Informatics (including AI) to UGA's MHA students. And I present...a lot.
17engagements since 2025
2conference keynotes
6states and international
Background
- Ph.D. in public health (healthcare management and policy)
- Clinical Assistant Professor, University of Georgia MHA program
- Portfolio Management Professional (PfMP)
- Six Sigma Black Belt
- Senior FAC-P/PM
- Developer and instructor, AI-PRH certification (HomeTown Health University)
- Microsoft Certified Trainer
Certification
The AI-PRH certification
I developed the Artificial Intelligence Practitioner in Rural Health certification (AI-PRH) for HomeTown Health University, and I teach it. HTHU launched it in July 2025 and describes it as the first certification in the nation focused exclusively on AI in rural health.
Who it's for
Rural health professionals who need to lead their teams through this. No technical background required, which was the point of building it.
Where to take it
Through HomeTown Health University, an IACET Authorized Provider, so it carries continuing education units.
Why rural is different
AI advice written for large health systems does not transfer
Most AI guidance in healthcare assumes an academic medical center. Rural hospitals and health centers work under different constraints, so the same advice produces different results. Four reasons it matters, covered in depth in my guide to AI in rural health.
The margins are thin
A failed pilot costs a rural hospital more than it costs a large system, because there is no innovation budget to absorb it. That changes which use cases are worth starting at all.
The teams are small
Governance frameworks written for large systems assume standing committees, a compliance department, and dedicated IT staff. A 25 bed hospital cannot seat that committee. Governance still has to happen.
There is less redundancy to catch mistakes
At a large system an AI output passes several sets of eyes: a specialist, an informatics team, sometimes a second reader. In a small hospital one clinician may be the only check. That raises the bar for accuracy, and for knowing when to override the tool.
The vendors show up anyway
Rural leaders get the same sales calls as everyone else, with less staff to evaluate them. Knowing which questions to ask is most of the work.
Speaking
Talks on AI in rural health
I speak to rural health associations, health systems, universities, and government audiences about what AI actually does in these settings, and where it does not help.
What I speak about
- AI in rural health: where we are and where we're headed
- Building AI governance a small organization can actually staff
- Preparing the healthcare workforce for AI
- Preparing the public health workforce for AI
- AI in nursing and health professions education
- Responsible and ethical AI use
- AI healthcare trends for boards and leadership
Formats include conference keynotes, breakout sessions, panels, webinars, board sessions, and half day staff workshops. Talks get tailored to the room. A hospital board and a group of nursing faculty need different things from the same subject.
Book Now
Message me on LinkedIn and I'll come back with availability, usually the same business day. Helpful to include:
- Event name and date
- Location, or virtual
- Audience and approximate size
- Format (keynote, breakout, panel, webinar, workshop)
- Topic you have in mind
linkedin.com/in/tylerwallace
Selected engagements
AI in Rural Health Care
2026 Mid-South Critical Access & Rural Hospital Conference · New Orleans, LA
Aug 2026
Industry Benefits: AI Integration in Healthcare
U.S. Department of Labor · Webinar
Jul 2026
Georgia HIMSS Summit
Columbus, GA · With Ronel Saintvil, UGA MHA student
Jun 2026
Building Viable Governance for Safe AI in Rural & Community Health
National Rural Health Association Annual Conference · San Diego, CA · With Laura Kreofsky, Microsoft
May 2026
UGA College of Public Health Research Day
Athens, GA
Apr 2026
AI in Rural Health: Where Are We and Where Are We Headed?
Rural Health Idaho Conference · Boise, ID
Apr 2026
Implementing AI in Rural Health
TEHI 2025 · Samarkand State University, Uzbekistan · Virtual
Nov 2025
About
About Tyler Wallace, Ph.D.
I work with healthcare organizations (primarily rural hospitals and FQHCs) to implement AI responsibly. I also teach Health Informatics (including AI) to UGA's MHA students (Go Dawgs!).
Rural hospitals and health centers serve the patients with the fewest alternatives. When a rural service line closes, people drive an hour further or they go without. AI can help. It can also waste money these organizations do not have, or put patients at risk, if it goes in carelessly. It's my responsibility and calling to help get this right.
Here's what I'm doing about it:
- Speaking at rural health, public health, and academic conferences about what AI actually does in these settings.
- Teaching the next generation of health administrators how to evaluate AI before they buy it.
- Building the AI-PRH certification with HomeTown Health University, so rural health staff can learn this without a technical background.
- Working on AI governance that a small organization can staff and sustain.
- Helping rural hospitals and health centers put AI in place, one use case at a time.
I hold a Ph.D. in public health (healthcare management and policy). Before this work I was Director of Strategic Management at MD Anderson Cancer Center and a Senior Program Manager at USAID. I'm a Portfolio Management Professional (PfMP), a Six Sigma Black Belt, a Senior FAC-P/PM, and a Microsoft Certified Trainer. I'm currently Principal Consultant at Scale Street Solutions and a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Georgia.
I live near Athens, Georgia.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Booking questions (travel, formats, lead time) are answered on the speaking page.
What makes AI in rural health different?
Three things. Margins are thin, so a failed pilot costs more than it would at a large system. Teams are small, so governance written for academic medical centers assumes committees a 25 bed hospital cannot seat. And there is less redundancy, so an AI output that a specialist or a second reader would catch elsewhere may go unchecked.
Who do you work with?
Rural hospitals and critical access hospitals, federally qualified health centers and community health centers, state offices of rural health and rural health associations, universities and health professions programs, and public health agencies.
Do you teach as well as speak?
Yes. I teach Health Informatics, including AI, to Master of Health Administration students at the University of Georgia.
Contact
Get in touch
If you'd like me to speak at your conference, or you have a question about AI in rural health, message me on LinkedIn.
How to reach me
Best place to reach me, and where I post about AI in rural health
Location
Athens, Georgia
Travels nationally, and presents virtually
Response time
Usually the same business day
Speaking request
Send the date, audience, and format on LinkedIn. I'll come back with availability.
Message me on LinkedInThanks!