Rural areas in the US face significant health professions workforce shortages. Contributing factors include lower financial incentives for healthcare professionals, professional isolation, and fewer training opportunities. The health impact of these shortages is profound. Rural populations often experience higher rates of chronic diseases and lower life expectancy due to significant limitations to healthcare access. Workforce shortages can lead to longer wait times for appointments, increased travel distances for care, and higher rates of preventable hospitalizations, factors contributing to poorer overall health outcomes and reduced quality of life. The National Institute for Health Care Management reports that the mortality rate in rural areas can be up to 10% higher than in urban areas, resulting in significant economic and societal costs. Efforts to address these shortages include loan repayment programs, telemedicine initiatives, and other financial incentives for healthcare professionals to practice in underserved areas increasing the cost of care for these communities. We seek to shift and reduce costs away from post-graduate enticements to sustainable partnerships by identifying new novel medical student training models in rural settings.

Agenda & Methods

1. Introduction (10 mins)
   • Teaching Method: Brief presentation
   • Details: Overview of current challenges and opportunities in rural medical education.
   • Participation: Interactive Q&A to gauge audience understanding.
2. Innovative Models (20 mins)
   • Teaching Method: Case studies
   • Details: Present successful rural education programs and innovative strategies.
   • Participation: Audience members share their experiences and insights.
3. Interactive Workshop (30 mins)
   • Teaching Method: Group activity
   • Details: Participants form groups to brainstorm and develop solutions to common challenges in rural medical training.
   • Participation: Group discussions, role-playing, and solution development.
4. Expert Panel (20 mins)
   • Teaching Method: Panel discussion
   • Details: Experts discuss their experiences and answer questions on implementing successful rural education initiatives.
   • Participation: Attendees ask questions and engage in discussion with panelists.
5. Action Planning (10 mins)
6. Teaching Method: Individual planning
7. Details: Participants draft actionable plans to apply strategies in their own settings.
8. Participation: Individual reflection and goal setting.