Rural Health
News by Topic: Health workforce education and training
Sep 9, 2026 - New funding has been awarded to the University of Louisiana at Lafayette as part of the state's Rural Health Transformation Program funding. Projects include the use of artificial intelligence that allow healthcare providers to identify areas of unmet need across the state and in their communities, as well as funding academic programs that give nursing students clinical experience and create new workforce initiatives.
Source: University of Louisiana Lafayette University News
Sep 4, 2026 - Announces new funding awarded to support the development of 15 physician rural and tribal residency programs in 14 states through the Rural Residency Planning and Development Program. Since being established in 2019, the program has created 66 new rural residency programs and trained over 850 physicians.
Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Sep 2, 2026 - The University of Alabama at Birmingham Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine has received $10 million to be used toward a program training primary care physicians in rural communities. 42% of Alabama's population lives in rural areas, and 16.4% of those are uninsured.
Source: The Daily Yonder
Sep 1, 2026 - The National Rural Health Association has trained 223 rural community health workers in Texas and Alabama to strengthen care for rural older adults through the National Rural Age-Friendly Initiative.
Source: National Rural Health Association
Aug 28, 2026 - The University of Northern Colorado's College of Osteopathic Medicine opened in July with its first class of 81 students. The new school will help address the physician shortage in Colorado, where 54 of its 64 counties have Primary Care Health Professional Shortage Areas, and 31.2% of physicians are of retirement age.
Source: Colorado Politics
Aug 28, 2026 - Various Virginia community-based organizations are among the first wave of grantees who will use Rural Health Transformation Fund (RHTF) money to hire and retain rural healthcare providers, invest in healthcare technologies, and strengthen the healthcare workforce in rural areas. Virginia received a total $189 million in RHTF money late last year.
Source: Virginia Mercury
Aug 25, 2026 - Profiles a University of Iowa medical student who aims to practice in rural Iowa where there are physician workforce shortages. Discusses the importance of including rural training in medical school to prepare students for rural practice.
Source: Iowa Stories
Aug 24, 2026 - Describes challenges in emergency medicine services (EMS) delivery in Colorado and how EMS agencies across the state are supported. Discusses long response times, mobile training methods, community outreach and volunteers, and rural blood shortages.
Source: University of Colorado Anschutz Health Science
Aug 21, 2026 - Discusses recent federal and state policy measures supporting the community health worker workforce including the Rural Health Transformation Program, training and certification, and sustainable funding.
Source: Association of State and Territorial Health Officials
Aug 21, 2026 - Notice from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) seeking comments on proposed revisions to an information collection request titled "Faculty Loan Repayment Program OMB No. 0906-0082—Revision." Among other things, proposed revisions include two new forms and updating terminology regarding "Disadvantaged Backgrounds." Comments are due by October 20, 2026.
Source: Federal Register