Freakonomics Radio

Snapshot · Freakonomics Radio

680. Can Universities Win Back Our Trust?

Explore episode Jul 3, 2026

Where this was said

Dartmouth's Rural Healthcare Mission and the Largest Rural Medical System in the U.S.

At 27:05 · chapter starts 27:00

The conversation pivots to Dartmouth's healthcare footprint — a dimension of the institution that shocks even Dubner. Beilock explains that Dartmouth's medical system is the largest rural network in the country, not just a good hospital attached to an Ivy League campus. The system's researchers are building a comprehensive model for aging in place: leveraging AI and telehealth to keep elderly patients at home longer, reducing unnecessary hospital bed usage, and creating better career pathways for home healthcare workers. The most rural VA facility in the country is located just down the road in White River Junction, Vermont. Beilock frames the work as demonstrating that elite research universities and rural communities are not in tension — they can and must work together.

Health & Fitness
Dartmouth's Largest Rural Medical System

680. Can Universities Win Back Our Trust? · Jul 3, 2026 Health & Fitness

Dartmouth runs the largest rural medical system in the United States, and its researchers are building models for aging in place — using AI and telehealth to keep elderly patients home longer, reduce hospital strain, and support home healthcare workers.

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