Hi! I'm Michelle

Michelle Rathman founded Impact! Communications, Inc., in 1989. For over 35 years, Impact! has provided a broad range of strategic advisory, decision support, and communications solutions to clients, including civic entities and non-profits, and has spent over two decades as a trusted leader in health care policy, communications, and crucial community conversations.

Michelle is the recipient of the 2025 National Rural Health Association President’s Award. She and her team bring unparalleled experience and expertise that have helped several rural hospitals pass critically important levy measures and position rural hospitals and health systems to thrive, guided by strategy, driven by effective community engagement, collaborative partnerships, and meaningful advocacy.

Michelle is a long-standing member of the National Rural Health Association, including serving on its Policy Congress, and has worked with the National Rural Health Resource Center, National Rural Recruitment and Retention Network, and, for several years, worked with the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health in their mission to transform National Rural Health Day from a moment to a movement.

Michelle delivers keynotes, facilitates work sessions, and leads roundtable and panel discussions that work to ignite conversation, bring clarity, and inspire collaboration over conflict. As a passionate podcaster, Michelle launched The Rural Impact in 2023, a podcast that invites conversation that helps to connect the dots between policy and quality of life.