Now Streaming: HBO’s Country Doctor Spotlights America’s Rural Health Crisis
Click to Enlarge
The HBO Original Documentary Short Country Doctor, now streaming on HBO Max, captures the growing rural healthcare crisis through the story of Dr. James Graham, the only physician serving the small town of Fairfax, Oklahoma. Directed by Emmy winners Shari Cookson and Nick Doob, the film offers an unfiltered view of one doctor’s fight to sustain care amid hospital closures, staff shortages, and financial strain.
As over 140 rural hospitals have closed since 2010, Dr. Graham’s work underscores the dedication and isolation of physicians in underserved areas. For New York physicians, particularly those serving rural and upstate communities, his story resonates as a reminder of the vital role advocacy, equitable resource distribution, and physician-led solutions play in preserving access to care.
