The special challenges of supporting the health of the state’s rural population will be the focus of “Building Resilient Rural Communities,” the state Health Department’s second annual rural health conference on Thursday. Among the speakers will be Dr. Eduardo Sanchez of the American Heart Association and acting Health Commissioner Dr. Kaitlan Baston.

Roughly 10% of the state’s population lives in the Garden State’s remaining rural areas — Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland, Hunterdon, Salem, Sussex and Warren counties, as well as communities in Burlington, Gloucester, Morris, Monmouth and Ocean counties.

The all-day conference will be held at the Forrestal Marriot in Princeton. More information is available here.