Assistance

Robert C. Bowman, M.D.

 

In response to concerns regarding fewer rural candidates being admitted.

 

Statistics note a sad trend in this area across the nation. All medical schools have experienced a decrease of rural background admissions from 27% to 16% and even lower in AAMC studies. For AMA Masterfile data the decline has been from 27% to 10% for the 1950s to 2005.

 

Making progress:

 

  1. Advisement of those interested in medical careers by email, in person, or shadowing
  2. Assistance with career orientation for high school or college health advisors, science teachers, or administrators
  3. Talks by medical students who are from rural areas given to students in your area
  4. Contacts and assistance regarding the development of shadowing program sponsored by hospital administrators in Alliance Nebraska and other locations that have taken "growing your own" to new heights.
  5. Assistance with recruitment efforts and understanding graduates of FP programs with the most current research available in the nation
  6. Understanding of the important role of rural education and small colleges in reversing the trend toward fewer rural background candidates admitted
  7. Importance of special curriculum in medical school and residency to prepare for rural practice

 

Barriers

  1. Need for stimulation to education in teens
  2. Need for shadowing and career orientation (parents, teachers, school, local physicians, college, college health advisor) Good decisions on courses in high school, choice of college, preparation.
  3. Need to have all major areas of evaluation covered well in advance of application (grades, MCAT, interview, letters of recommendation by key people who know you, career orientation, motivation for medicine, service and work ethic)  
  4. Need for assistance with preparation of a polished application

 

Education and Rural Location Barriers

Admissions Package

Students Interested in Becoming a Rural Physician

www.ruralmedicaleducation.org