This year the STFM Group on Rural Health had the opportunity to gather steering committee members together at the STFM, NRHA, and AAMC annuals for presentations on the current status of rural medical education. Group members Tom Rosenthal, Rick Blondell, Jeff Stearns, Hal Williamson, Robert Bowman, Dave Acosta, Howard Rabinowitz, Don Pathman, and Deb Phillips compiled information from many sources. This and other information is available on the web at www.ruralfamilymedicine.org. This web site continues to expand under the direction of Deb Phillips. Deb was also active in the development of workforce guidelines for the National Rural Health Association (NRHA).
Steering committee members also had a chance to tour Minnesota, Illinois, Nebraska, and Missouri rural medical education programs. More states are working with small colleges, rural high schools, and rural communities to identify those interested in becoming rural physicians.
Programs reaching out from medical schools are attempting to encourage rural students to consider health careers.
Howard Rabinowitz authored a landmark article for JAMA (1999;281:255-260), A Program to Increase the Number of Family Physicians in Rural and Underserved Areas. This is the best response to AAFP and AAMC leaders who often assert that rural shortages are simply a matter of economics. Rural medical education can select and train physicians that will stay in rural practices long term. Such physicians meet rural needs, stabilize rural health systems, and contribute greatly to the health care and leadership of their communities.
The Group also impacted students and residents at the National Congress of Family Practice Residents and Students in Kansas City. Robert Boyer, a rural physician in Kingman, Kansas for 30 years and the first AAFP Doctor of the Year, continues to be an outstanding resource for those considering rural practice at all levels. He has spoken in Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Ohio, and Illinois and will do a 2 day retreat in Missouri, but more schools should access this valuable resource.
Plans for the next year include a web-based rural journal, working with STFM, NRHA, and Canadian associations. This journal will provide peer-reviewed articles, motivational items, and nuts and bolts examples of rural programs. The Group is working with rural program directors on this and other activities. The Group also plans a preconference session prior to the Seattle annual STFM meeting. Surveys of rural programs continue at the predoctoral and graduate levels and these updates will emerge as articles and web-based information.
We continue to look for folks that are involved with rural medical education and would be happy to help them contribute and take a role in group activities.
Jeffrey A. Stearns, MD, Assoc. Professor of Family and Community Medicine
Director, Rural Medical Education Program
Predoctoral Director, Dept. of Family and community Medicine
University of Illinois, College of Medicine at Rockford
1601 Parkview Ave.
Rockford, Il. 61107
Phone 815-395-5784
Fax 815-395-5781
Robert C. Bowman, M.D.
Director of Rural Health Education and Research
Associate Professor, UNMC Department of Family Medicine
983075 Nebraska Medical Center
Omaha, NE 68198-3075
(402) 559-8873 or fax at -8118