PORTLAND – The practice of health care in rural Oregon is rich with colorful characters, wonderful stories and disturbing problems.

“Country Doctors, Rural Medicine,” offers viewers a hefty dose of each. The program airs on OPB television 9 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 4, and will repeat 1 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 9. Local residents featured in the film are doctors Lee Harris, David Graham and Mike DesJardin.

The documentary paints an often-entertaining, character-driven portrait of modern rural medicine. Yet, another message runs through this hour, too – health care is in trouble in rural Oregon.

Today’s country doctors defy stereotypes. They may speak with a drawl and drive a pickup. But these are some of the finest health-care professionals in the state, who tend to practice a sort of whole-person care rarely seen in urban medicine.

More information, access the Web site at opb.org/programs/oregonstory/

John Day photo essay TV

PORTLAND -Oregon Field Guide features a beautiful photo essay of flowers in bloom around John Day by Videographer Todd Sonflieth. The television program will air on Oregon Public Broadcasting at 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 23.

The program also looks at safety on Oregon’s roadways, Oregon’s traffic problems related to increased traffic volume, and ongoing research to design safer vehicles and roadways.

Also, join a team of archeologists as they search for proof that ice-age humans once inhabited the caves near Summer Lake.