Rural Health Scholars
Aspiring for Excellence in Rural Practice
The Rural Health Scholars program represents an ongoing collaboration between the Office of Rural and Underserved Programs at the Heritage College and the Ohio State University Department of Family and Community Medicine. Established in 2002, the Ohio Rural Health Scholars strategy has served the medical schools of Ohio well in attracting students to excellence in clinical practice, in research, in advocacy and in medical education.
Open to any student from any medical school in Ohio with an interest in generalist rural practice, this small program is structured around an annual retreat held in a rural setting and enrolls participating students as members of the National Rural Health Association. The program is made possible through an Ohio State University Department of Family Medicine endowment fund established by the family of Dr. J. Martin Byers, Jr., a family physician who practiced in rural Ohio.
Click here for a narrated PowerPoint presentation reviewing the history of the Rural Health Scholars Program sponsored by The Ohio State University Department of Family Medicine and Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine Office of Rural and Underserved Programs.
View an example of a featured presentation during the 2020 Rural Health Scholars online Retreat. Click here to view via YouTube
National Conference
Each year, four to six RHS student participants are selected and awarded scholarships to attend either the Rural Health Policy Institute or the Annual National Rural Health Conference.
Stories From Graduates in Practice
See testimonial videos below from graduates in practice: "Oh the Places We Have Gone."
AuBree LaForce, M.D.: "Just Say Yes!"
Scott Rogers, M.D.: "It's OK if Your Dream Job Changes"
Ohio Rural Health Scholars Past Retreat Themes
- 2022 "Creating Your Own Rural Path Through Mentorship"
- 2021__"Oh The Places We Have Gone"
- 2020—“Making Population Health for Rural Communities Personal”
- 2019—“General Surgery and Other Specialties of Primary Importance to Rural Communities”
- 2018—“Aging in Rural Places”
- 2017—“Relationships in Rural Practice: With significant others, patients, community and peers”
- 2016—“Bringing Hope to a Rural Epidemic: Addressing persistent pain and opioid addiction in rural communities”
- 2015—“Train Rural, Go Global”
- 2014—“The Business of Rural Practice”
- 2013—“Addressing the Health of Rural Veterans”
- 2012—“What Does Scholarship Have to Do with Rural Practice?”
- 2011—“Designing Your Own Path to Rural Practice”
- 2010—“Mental Health in Rural Communities: Challenges, opportunities and resources”
- 2009—“Rural Women’s Health: Building the infrastructure for a healthy rural community”
- 2008—“Advocating for Rural Health”
- 2007—“Defining Rural: Research, Policy, Medical Education and Practice”
- 2006—“Understanding Poverty and Promoting Health in Rural Practice”
- 2005—“Community Asset Mapping”
- 2004—“Country Doctors in Literature”
- 2003—Inaugural “Annual Rural Health Scholars Retreat”