Rural Health Scholarly Concentration
The Rural Health Scholarly Concentration (RHSC) provides opportunities that serve to expand existing curricular experiences that emphasize the practice of rural medicine throughout the 4 years of medical school. Students choose a rural community
where they will complete multiple clerkships and strive to learn about the characteristics of the community and to develop partnerships within it. Upon identifying a health care challenge in the town, students will complete a project along with their
community partner(s) to address/improve the focus of their choice. Additionally, students are offered a series of lectures to supplement their exposure to issues related to the practice of rural medicine (e.g. cultural identities, leadership skills,
environmental toxicology, community partnerships, etc.). UTMB-sponsored electives offering a rural medicine theme are also available for students to complete. Upon successful completion of the program, students are recognized as "Scholars in
Rural Health" on their transcripts and at commencement.
Goals of the Scholarly Concentration
The Rural Health Care Scholarly Concentration (RHSC) at UTMB exists to provide an expanded learning experience focused on needs specific to medically underserved rural communities. The Scholarly Concentration provides a comprehensive range of experiences
to support development of student competencies in these areas. The practice of rural medicine requires adaptation to multiple roles, knowledge about resource utilization specific to the rural setting, and an explicit ability to integrate a public
health perspective into a rural practice. The learner will therefore complete Scholarly Concentration requirements involving issues specific to a rural community (e.g. cultural issues, characteristics of the medical infrastructure) and develop specialty
skills required to provide health care within a rural community.
Objectives
In order to successfully complete all RHSC certificate requirements and graduate as a Rural Scholar, the student will:
- Attend 16 RHSC meetings during the 4 years in medical school
- It is best to attend most (or all) of these in first 2 years
- Complete 4 clinical rotations in a rural setting
- Preclinical preceptorships (in between 1st and 2nd year)
- Clerkships (3rd year) conducted in rural areas
- Electives and Selectives conducted in rural areas
- Complete the RHSC capstone project - BSHS 4402
While completing these requirements, the student will succeed in doing the following...
- Learn clinical competencies to effectively serve as a physician within a rural community
- Participate in a lecture series and training events designed to provide insight and experience in areas specific to rural medicine
- Develop knowledge and understanding through coursework, preceptorships, and community service focused on the physician's unique civic role in a rural community (e.g. leadership, public health advocacy, education, social group interaction)
- Dedicate an extended portion of off-campus clerkship enrollment at a single community site to foster continuity of clinical care, office management/health care provider insight, and community culture experience.
- Complete a long-term scholarly project aimed at providing an intervention to serve the health care needs of a target rural community.
Meeting dates and speakers for 2023-2024
All meeting times are from 12pm - 1pm on the third Wednesday of each month between Sept. 2023 and April 2024.
- September 20, 2023 - Oscar "Skip" Brown, MD
- An introduction to UTMB's RHSC and the requirements needed to graduate as a Rural Scholar.
- October 18, 2023 - Kristy D. Edwards, MD, CWS-P, FAAFP
- Dr. Edwards is the Director for Texas A&M's Shannon Family Medicine Residency Program in San Angelo, TX which is set to start accepting Residents in 2024. Dr. Edwards will meet with us to introduce this new rural residency program in Texas.
- November 15, 2023 - J. Patrick Walker, MD
- Dr. Walker is a current UTMB surgeon who used to live and practice in rural East Texas.
- December 20, 2023 - Jorge A. Duchicela, MD
- Dr. Duchicela is a Family Medicine physician in Weimar, TX. A long-time friend to UTMB's Rural Health Scholarly Concentration, Dr. Duchicela has spoken to the RHSC every year since it's inception about his career as a rural FM physician.
- January 17, 2024 - John Henderson
- Mr. Henderson is President and CEO of The Texas Organization of Rural & Community Hospitals (TORCH). You can visit their website at https://www.torchnet.org. The title of his presentation is "Stand Tall for Small".
- February 21, 2024 - Ann Smith, TRHA Secretary
- Title of presentation: "Martians Have Landed - Rural Version". The Texas Rural Health Association serves as a vital link between patients, providers, and policy makers in the advocacy for healthcare equity and access. TRHA provides timely seminars with CME courses, collaborates with elected officials and industry leaders to host critical issue symposiums, and maintains a presence at state and national policy making institutes to ensure medical education, rural infrastructure, and the realities of rural life are at the forefront of those planning for the future.
- March 20, 2024 - Kendall M. Campbell, MD, FAAP
- Dr. Campbell is a Family Medicine physician and a Professor and Chair of UTMB's Dept. of Family Medicine. Sealy Hutchings and Lucille Wright Hutchings Chair. Member, UTMB Academy of Research Mentors. Research Core Lead, Center of Excellence for Professional Advancement and Research.
- April 17, 2024 - Aubrey Gibbs, MD and Cecilia Drennen, MD
- Dr. Drennen is a 2018 UTMB graduate and graduated as a Rural Scholar. Dr. Gibbs was her Pediatric preceptor during Dr. Drennen's 3rd and 4th years of medical school. Dr. Drennen now works alongside Dr. Gibbs as a physician in their clinic in Paris, TX. This is a true success story for UTMB's RHSC.
FAQs about UTMB's Rural Healthcare Scholarly Concentration
Trying to decide if the RHSC is right for you? Visit this page for answers to commonly asked questions about the Rural Healthcare Scholarly Concentration.
Rural Health Care Links
Visit this page to learn about the different types of healthcare facilities in rural areas. You will also find links to organizations that offer funding and expertise to improve access to care in the rural areas of Texas.
Rural Health Care Scholarly Concentration Contacts
Director: Oscar "Skip" Brown, MD
Coordinator: Brian M. Sullivan