Ideal Environments

Rural Family Physicians Are the Key Component of Rural Health. Family physicians are by far the most likely to choose rural locations. This is not a bias of the family physician authors of most rural programs, this is the cornerstone of rural medical education. Those hoping to train more rural physicians put their hopes in a a coordinated and comprehensive approach that impacts on trainees at every educational level.

Successful rural programs and faculty

1. have chosen students on the basis of their rural and family practice interest
2. encourage students and residents during their training to remain in this interest
3. Give trainees frequent opportunities to share the lives of enthusiastic rural practitioners.
4. Give graduates the practice and procedural skills that prepares them for rural practice (and makes other types of practices too boring and less desirable).

Instititional Values

Successful rural programs need a supportive environment, gifted faculty/support staff, and a comprehensive approach. The leaders of the institution and key faculty need to understand the general topics of rural economics, education, and health. These leaders and those involved with health policy in the state need to grasp the significance of preparing physicians for rural family practice.  National and State Objectives for More and Better Rural Physicians,   Guidelines for Rural Medical Education     Foundations of Continuous Rural Programs

The Total Program

What type of environment is needed for a total rural program. Try out Evaluating Rural Medical Education Programs if you want to see if you measure up for success. Want to see what this World Organization recommends regarding programs to graduate more rural physicians? Try this for extremely detailed information about what it takes to graduate rural physicians (with lots of links). . Status of Rural Medical Education     Explore some articles on rural medical schools in Japan, and other locations.  

Building Rural Medical Education Capacity - adapted from AFMO Research document

Rural Faculty Meetings Agenda 

Faculty in Tennessee worked on a proposal that was partially adopted to graduate more rural docs. 

For rationale related to rural programs  The Challenge of Serving the Underserved.

Examples of the Total Approach

Supporting Information

core rural topics to consider for speakers or the development of rural curricula for students or residents

Pipeline analogy