Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Health workforce education and training
Training in Place: How a Unique Scholarship Program Is Catalyzing Innovation in Rural Health
Examines the Rural Health Innovation Scholarship Program, which provides support to midcareer clinicians and public health professionals to address population health issues in rural communities. Discusses the work of the scholarship recipients, focusing on community engagement, healthcare financing, partnerships and collaboration, rural health policy, and more.
Author(s): Sarah Klein
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Commonwealth Fund
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Examines the Rural Health Innovation Scholarship Program, which provides support to midcareer clinicians and public health professionals to address population health issues in rural communities. Discusses the work of the scholarship recipients, focusing on community engagement, healthcare financing, partnerships and collaboration, rural health policy, and more.
Author(s): Sarah Klein
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Commonwealth Fund
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The VA Rural Interprofessional Faculty Development Initiative: A Qualitative Evaluation Guided by the RE-AIM Framework
Discusses the design, implementation, and outcomes of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Rural Interprofessional Faculty Development Initiative (RIFDI) via mid-program, program end, and post-program interview excerpts and survey data of RIFDI participants. Details impacts of RIFDI on rural clinician-educators and broader rural health workforce recruitment and retention.
Author(s): Sarah Keithly, Paige Perry, Erica J. Ho, et al.
Citation: BMC Medical Education, 26, 215
Date: 01/2026
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Discusses the design, implementation, and outcomes of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Rural Interprofessional Faculty Development Initiative (RIFDI) via mid-program, program end, and post-program interview excerpts and survey data of RIFDI participants. Details impacts of RIFDI on rural clinician-educators and broader rural health workforce recruitment and retention.
Author(s): Sarah Keithly, Paige Perry, Erica J. Ho, et al.
Citation: BMC Medical Education, 26, 215
Date: 01/2026
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Advancing Diagnostic Excellence in Rural Areas: Proceedings of a Workshop—in Brief
Summarizes proceedings from an October 2025 workshop discussing current diagnostic challenges in rural areas and identifying strategies for improvement. Covers topics including access to diagnosis, diagnosis-related health disparities, new technologies and innovations, workforce training, education, and support, and other innovations in diagnosis and patient-centered care.
Additional links: Read Online
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
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Summarizes proceedings from an October 2025 workshop discussing current diagnostic challenges in rural areas and identifying strategies for improvement. Covers topics including access to diagnosis, diagnosis-related health disparities, new technologies and innovations, workforce training, education, and support, and other innovations in diagnosis and patient-centered care.
Additional links: Read Online
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
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AHECs and Their Role in Sustaining the Rural Healthcare Workforce, with Dwain Harris, Brianna Sheppard, and Meredith Lair
An episode of the Exploring Rural Health podcast featuring Dwain Harris, Chief Executive Officer of the National AHEC Organization, Brianna Sheppard, PhD, Director of West Virginia Area Health Education Centers, and Meredith Lair, Executive Director of the Northeast Oregon Area Health Education Center. Focuses on the role of the Area Health Education Center (AHEC) program in developing and maintaining the rural healthcare workforce.
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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An episode of the Exploring Rural Health podcast featuring Dwain Harris, Chief Executive Officer of the National AHEC Organization, Brianna Sheppard, PhD, Director of West Virginia Area Health Education Centers, and Meredith Lair, Executive Director of the Northeast Oregon Area Health Education Center. Focuses on the role of the Area Health Education Center (AHEC) program in developing and maintaining the rural healthcare workforce.
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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State of Nursing Education In Kansas
Examines the demand for nursing professionals, the state of nursing education, and nursing education pathways in Kansas. Provides demographic data on nursing students as well as location of nursing education programs by city and county.
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Kansas Nursing Workforce Center, University of Kansas Medical Center
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Examines the demand for nursing professionals, the state of nursing education, and nursing education pathways in Kansas. Provides demographic data on nursing students as well as location of nursing education programs by city and county.
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Kansas Nursing Workforce Center, University of Kansas Medical Center
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Simulation on Wheels: How Mobile Training Is Saving Lives in Rural Iowa
Podcast episode that discusses Simulation in Motion-Iowa (SIM-IA), a mobile clinical education program that provides rural hospitals and emergency medical service (EMS) professionals training experience in healthcare emergencies. Discusses the importance of SIM-IA in rural healthcare education to promote quality and patient safety in EMS and trauma situations.
Author(s): Tom Haederle, Jacinda Bunch, Tina Eden
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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Podcast episode that discusses Simulation in Motion-Iowa (SIM-IA), a mobile clinical education program that provides rural hospitals and emergency medical service (EMS) professionals training experience in healthcare emergencies. Discusses the importance of SIM-IA in rural healthcare education to promote quality and patient safety in EMS and trauma situations.
Author(s): Tom Haederle, Jacinda Bunch, Tina Eden
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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Strengthening Rural Health Care: A Scoping Review of Nurse Recruitment and Retention Strategies
Results of a review identifying recruitment and retention programs for nurses in rural areas, including strategy characteristics and location. Features statistics and a county-level map showing locations of programs and Primary Care Heath Professional Shortage Areas.
Author(s): Kelley Arredondo, Laura Witte, Alexander Paterson-Roberts, et al.
Citation: Medical Care, 64(1S), S18-S25
Date: 01/2026
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Results of a review identifying recruitment and retention programs for nurses in rural areas, including strategy characteristics and location. Features statistics and a county-level map showing locations of programs and Primary Care Heath Professional Shortage Areas.
Author(s): Kelley Arredondo, Laura Witte, Alexander Paterson-Roberts, et al.
Citation: Medical Care, 64(1S), S18-S25
Date: 01/2026
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AACOM 2025 Osteopathic Medical Education Impact Report
Assesses how osteopathic colleges contribute to the physician workforce, focusing on geographic distribution and medical specialties of alumni. Evaluates the extent to which graduates serve rural and underserved areas, and fill specialty needs. Mentions rural throughout.
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine
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Assesses how osteopathic colleges contribute to the physician workforce, focusing on geographic distribution and medical specialties of alumni. Evaluates the extent to which graduates serve rural and underserved areas, and fill specialty needs. Mentions rural throughout.
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine
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Impact of a Workshop on Rural Healthcare Delivery on Medical Student Attitudes
Results of a study evaluating the effect of an educational workshop on Appalachian West Virginia medical students' attitudes toward rural healthcare barriers. Explores whether targeted education can enhance students' interest in rural practice.
Author(s): Robert L. Snedegar, Ryan Hayes, Jun Xiang, et al.
Citation: Journal of Appalachian Health, 7(4), 100-115
Date: 12/2025
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Results of a study evaluating the effect of an educational workshop on Appalachian West Virginia medical students' attitudes toward rural healthcare barriers. Explores whether targeted education can enhance students' interest in rural practice.
Author(s): Robert L. Snedegar, Ryan Hayes, Jun Xiang, et al.
Citation: Journal of Appalachian Health, 7(4), 100-115
Date: 12/2025
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2025 Idaho Medical Education (UME) Plan
Outlines policy recommendations from the Idaho Undergraduate Medical Education Plan Working Group to address physician shortages across the state. Recommendations discuss existing and new partnerships, moving Idaho residents into and through the physician workforce pipeline, incentives for retention, and funding needs. Discusses rural throughout.
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Idaho State Board of Education Undergraduate Medical Education Plan Working Group
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Outlines policy recommendations from the Idaho Undergraduate Medical Education Plan Working Group to address physician shortages across the state. Recommendations discuss existing and new partnerships, moving Idaho residents into and through the physician workforce pipeline, incentives for retention, and funding needs. Discusses rural throughout.
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Idaho State Board of Education Undergraduate Medical Education Plan Working Group
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