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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Health workforce education and training

"Kind of Feel Like the Lone Outpost": A Qualitative Exploration of Barriers to Professional Development for Rural Primary Care Providers at the Veterans Health Administration
Study evaluates the levels of engagement in professional development (PD) among 9 rural primary care providers (PCPs) in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Explores barriers to PD participation and details findings of semi-structured interviews with rural PCPs on the importance of PD in supporting recruitment and retention efforts.
Author(s): Karla L. Miller, Jennifer Hale-Gallardo, Jaime R. Wilson, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70206
Date: 08/2026
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Integrating Physical and Behavioral Health: Addressing Co-Occurring Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders with Chronic Physical Illnesses
Report details the way physical and behavioral healthcare integration can support patients with co-occurring behavioral health disorders and chronic physical issues. Discusses the different levels of care integration, evidence-based approaches, and established models for care integration in different settings. Highlights a rural clinic-based telepsychiatry model in South Carolina.
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
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Rural Health Curriculum in Bachelor of Science in Nursing Programs: A Narrative Review
Evaluates 93 Bachelor of Science in Nursing courses and initiatives to determine how rural health is integrated into course curricula. Includes analysis of course or initiative length, population focus, and states where courses are located. Discusses rural in larger population health training contexts, training methods, and implications for training the rural nursing workforce.
Author(s): Kyanna Harris, Hilary N. Touchett, Alexandra Caloudas, Kelley Arredondo
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3)
Date: 08/2026
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Rural Background, Training Exposure, and Rural Practice Location Among US Physicians
Research letter exploring the interdependence between recruiting students from rural backgrounds and providing exposure to rural settings during undergraduate and graduate medical education training. Uses data from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) 2022 National Sample Survey of Physicians.
Author(s): Xiaochu Hu, Davis G. Patterson, Sarah S. Conrad, Qian Luo, Michael J. Dill
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 9(8), e2625481
Date: 08/2026
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A Guide to GME Development in Rural and Underserved Areas
Offers a roadmap for establishing, expanding, or strengthening Graduate Medical Education (GME) programs in communities with limited access to healthcare. Highlights resources, tools, and best practices to align GME programs with workforce needs, strengthen physician pipelines, and improve access to care. Requires free account registration to access document.
Author(s): Laney McDougal, James Clardy, Deborah Clements, Alan Douglass, Lori Rodefeld
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, Rural Residency Planning and Development Program, Teaching Health Center Technical Assistance Center
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Rural Health Workforce Development Through the AHEC Scholars Model
Examines the impact of the Indiana AHEC Scholars program on student intent to practice in a rural community. Analyzes 2018-2023 AHEC Scholars student survey data and provides respondent feedback regarding plans for rural health employment. Discusses the importance of rural education and training to develop the rural health workforce.
Author(s): Danielle Bruno, Taylor O'Shaughnessy, Jennifer D. Taylor
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70193
Date: 07/2026
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Trends in Rural and Urban Family Physician Teaching of Health Professions Students and Residents
Compares the amount of early career family physicians offering clinical instruction to health professions students in rural and urban areas. Analyzes the types of students being taught, such as premedical, medical, residents, or fellows, among others, as well as practice characteristics of the settings where physicians were engaged in teaching.
Author(s): C. Holly A. Andrilla, Lars E. Peterson, Davis G. Patterson, et al.
Citation: Family Medicine, 266557
Date: 07/2026
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Rural Sepsis Care in Action: Real-world Insights and Successes Through CDC's Sepsis Core Elements
Summarizes virtual learning sessions with three rural healthcare organizations regarding the implementation and advancement of sepsis improvement efforts. Discusses practical strategies to improve sepsis care delivery, implementation approaches from rural hospitals, and lessons learned.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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Train Rural, Work Rural: The Potential for Advanced Fellowships in Addressing Rural VA Healthcare Workforce Shortages
Explores the potential of professional training programs to increase recruitment and retention of the healthcare workforce in rural Veterans Health Administration (VHA) facilities. Bases findings on a survey of current VHA fellowships on whether they would be applicable to rural areas. Breaks down data by fellowship program, rurality of program site, and demographics of participating fellows.
Author(s): Kathleen L. Carluzzo, Linda M. Kinney, Bradley V. Watts, Karen E. Schifferdecker
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70188
Date: 07/2026
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As Alpha-gal Syndrome Spreads, Rural Providers Are on the 'Front Line'
Provides an overview of alpha-gal syndrome (AGS), a tick-borne allergy to mammalian products. Describes the spread of AGS and the importance of raising awareness of AGS among rural primary care providers.
Author(s): Gretel Kauffman
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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