this is the brief older version, update at
PREPARE: for Rural Student Interest Groups
Presentations by rural practitioners and by students in the rural interest group. Practicing role models are living proof that rural practice is not only possible, but desirable. Students from rural towns are role models for rural middle and high school students that they too can make it!
Rural experiences Visits during holidays, breaks, or weekends can provide information and recreation. Some of the best rural medical schools have students visit rural doctors just prior to beginning medical school or other times during the first year. Other rural opportunities include visiting farms, dairies, or plants to examine occupational hazards. Hiking, camping, and canoeing are other possibilities to round out the visit.
E
ncouragement Students need time to discuss some of the obstacles facing a rural career. Other students, practitioners, or faculty have faced the same difficulties. Academic health centers are guaranteed to try to tear you down, change your very being, or change your mind about careers. Make sure you are doing what your dream is, what your calling is, not what someone else thinks is a good use of your time. Students preparing for rural practice need to build confidence in their decision-making and support allows them to reach out.P
ursuing Information Students must have information about rural experiences, rural-oriented residency programs, financial information, and more. Students need to know when state and national rural conferences will be held. The National Rural Health Association is a good source. Try their web site or (816) 756-3140. Rural Medical Educators have organized and can be found at the Rural Medical Educators Group. You are welcome to join their list serve. AAFP is another source at (800) 274-2237. Also state offices of rural health can be a source in your state for rural information, experiences, projects, loan repayments, or good speakers.A
dvisors PREPARE groups can match rural-interested students to rural physicians or faculty. Many practitioners do a good job of "adopting" students. Rural faculty can also take students on rural visits. A dedicated "rural" person is a good contact point.R
ural Coordinators Staff can be most helpful to students attempting to manage a group. They help with speakers, preparations, pizza, and more. Communication between groups is essential because rural health is so broad. Students in Family Practice Interest, PREPARE, American Medical Student Association, American and National Medical Student Associations, and Christian Medical and Dental Society groups all share overlapping interests and members. The groups need not compete as they can share speakers, information, and services. About Coordinators Also coordinators can help students understand why doctors complain and why primary care and rural experiences seem to have so much of this.E
ducation Through Service This is some of the best education. For some info on service-learning, contact Campus Community Partnerships for Health. Health fairs, high school career fairs, talks with college groups, and community projects are all good ways to get involved. Similar activities by students in past decades have resulted in improved health for many rural communities as projects became Community Health Centers in New Mexico, Virginia, and other states. Student Interest ProjectsPrepared for Rural Students and Residents by Robert C. Bowman, M.D. (402) 559-8873 or rbowman@unmc.edu
Other Rural Student Interest Group Sites Back to main rural medical education site.
As Bob Boyer, first AAFP Doctor of the year, states in his discussions with medical students interested in rural family practice,
"I may be naïve, but I still think that a career in rural family medicine offers the best opportunity for the best doctors to be at their very best and have fund doing it and find those moments where you too will be dear and glorious."
See Dr. Boyer's presentation at Dr. Robert Boyer in streaming video
One of the important tasks that you will have is to understand how to help your town in several areas. You will not be alone in this task. In fact, if you study this area now you can do much even before you go to a rural practice