Rural Health
News by Topic: Recruitment and retention of health professionals
Jul 8, 2026 - Describes a Veterans Administration (VA) pilot program in New Mexico, Arizona, and Wyoming to make healthcare more accessible for rural veterans by including rural and underserved VA and Indian Health Service locations in VA residencies. Discusses how the program offers innovative service delivery models, builds cultural awareness, and increases the VA and IHS workforce.
Source: VA News
Jul 2, 2026 - The University of Alabama program Tuscaloosa Rural Pre-Medical Internship is celebrating 5 years of preparing physicians for rural practice. The program recruits rural Alabama residents in high school and moves them through medical school and into rural practice while offering clinical experiences, skills training, and mentorship. The program recently welcomed the 2026 class.
Source: UA News Center
Jun 26, 2026 - Interview with Damon Harbison, President of Good Samaritan Hospital in Mt. Vernon, Illinois, and Alexis Hackstadt, a registered nurse who recently joined the Good Samaritan staff. They discuss provider shortages in the rural setting and initiatives to attract and retain staff.
Source: WSIU Public Broadcasting
Jun 18, 2026 - Highlights the Rural Immersion Program, an initiative at a Nebraska university allowing students to shadow rural healthcare professionals. The program aims to build the rural health workforce in Nebraska.
Source: UNK News
Jun 8, 2026 - Describes a rural hospital program aiming to improve workforce recruitment by increasing the community's affordable housing supply. Discusses program funding and community demographic shifts.
Source: South Dakota News Watch
Jun 2, 2026 - A new program in Hawaii offers free medical school in exchange for practicing in a rural Hawaiian community for 5 years. Describes the physician shortages in Hawaii and profiles some of the students already participating in the program, which is funded through the state's Rural Health Transformation Program.
Source: Honolulu Civil Beat
May 31, 2026 - Describes the economic impact of hospitals on rural communities with a focus on Wisconsin. Discusses community engagement, workforce training, and rural livability as factors influencing the recruitment of healthcare workforce.
Source: Spectrum News 1
May 25, 2026 - Discusses a loan forgiveness program for rural practicing Vermont physicians as a strategy to recruit and retain rural physicians.
Source: WCAX
May 21, 2026 - Auburn University's Harrison College of Pharmacy was awarded a $20,000 National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) Foundation scholarship. The award will support the school's Rural RxGuidance program, designed to inspire rural youth to consider pharmacy careers, while addressing workforce shortages in medically underserved areas.
Source: Auburn University
May 19, 2026 - The $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Program is providing all states with funding over the next 5 years, to address rural health challenges. More than 60% of Health Professional Shortage Areas are in rural areas, and each state proposes to use at least some of the funding for healthcare workforce issues.
Source: Bipartisan Policy Center