Education and Training of the Rural Healthcare Workforce – Resources
Selected recent or important resources focusing on Education and Training of the Rural Healthcare Workforce.
A Roadmap for Building and Implementing a Comprehensive State Graduate Medical Education Strategy: Actionable Steps to Align Investments with Workforce Needs
Offers an evidence-based framework that organizes a graduate medical education (GME) growth strategy into 5 stages. Can be used as part of federal Rural Health Transformation Program activities to strengthen workforce recruitment and retention and to improve healthcare access in rural areas. Table 1 shows state GME models and technical assistance initiatives.
Author(s): Lori Rodefeld, Emily M. Hawes, Raquel Davis, et al.
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Milbank Memorial Fund
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Offers an evidence-based framework that organizes a graduate medical education (GME) growth strategy into 5 stages. Can be used as part of federal Rural Health Transformation Program activities to strengthen workforce recruitment and retention and to improve healthcare access in rural areas. Table 1 shows state GME models and technical assistance initiatives.
Author(s): Lori Rodefeld, Emily M. Hawes, Raquel Davis, et al.
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Milbank Memorial Fund
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Student Enrollment in Rural Medical Schools
Data brief summarizing the distribution of student enrollment in Doctor of Medicine (MD)- and Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO)-granting schools or sites in rural areas. Features statistics with breakdowns by urban and rural communities.
Author(s): Janessa M. Graves, Randall Longenecker, C. Holly A. Andrilla
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Data brief summarizing the distribution of student enrollment in Doctor of Medicine (MD)- and Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO)-granting schools or sites in rural areas. Features statistics with breakdowns by urban and rural communities.
Author(s): Janessa M. Graves, Randall Longenecker, C. Holly A. Andrilla
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Assessing and Sustaining Competence in Rural Practice
Opinion piece exploring competency-based approaches to physician education and training. Examines the concept of competence in terms of performance at the time of graduation and habit in life.
Author(s): Randall Longenecker
Citation: Family Medicine, 58(3), 175-177
Date: 03/2026
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Opinion piece exploring competency-based approaches to physician education and training. Examines the concept of competence in terms of performance at the time of graduation and habit in life.
Author(s): Randall Longenecker
Citation: Family Medicine, 58(3), 175-177
Date: 03/2026
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Training Needs for Rural Primary Care Practice: A Scoping Review of Resident Physician Preparation
Results of a scoping review exploring what graduate medical education competencies and training primary care residents will need in order to practice effectively in rural areas of the United States. Study was limited to peer-reviewed English language articles published from 2013-2023.
Author(s): David F. Schmitz, Annie Koempel, Campbell Cook, Andrew W. Bazemore
Citation: Family Medicine, 58(3), 199-207
Date: 03/2026
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Results of a scoping review exploring what graduate medical education competencies and training primary care residents will need in order to practice effectively in rural areas of the United States. Study was limited to peer-reviewed English language articles published from 2013-2023.
Author(s): David F. Schmitz, Annie Koempel, Campbell Cook, Andrew W. Bazemore
Citation: Family Medicine, 58(3), 199-207
Date: 03/2026
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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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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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Graduate Medical Education: Information on Initial Distributions of New Medicare-Funded Physician Residency Positions
Explores the distribution of 1,000 new Medicare-funded graduate medical education (GME) residency positions as outlined in Section 126 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021. Describes the number of hospitals that applied for and received additional positions from 2023 through 2025, their characteristics, and benefits and challenges related to the application for and distribution of these additional positions as identified by selected stakeholders.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Explores the distribution of 1,000 new Medicare-funded graduate medical education (GME) residency positions as outlined in Section 126 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021. Describes the number of hospitals that applied for and received additional positions from 2023 through 2025, their characteristics, and benefits and challenges related to the application for and distribution of these additional positions as identified by selected stakeholders.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Creating Rural Physician Training Sites: Not Easy, Not Simple, But Happening With Federal Support
Features insights from Rural Residency Planning and Development grantees in Georgia, Oregon, and Missouri. Focuses on the challenges, successes, and community impact of their new rural residency startup work.
Author(s): Kay Miller Temple
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Features insights from Rural Residency Planning and Development grantees in Georgia, Oregon, and Missouri. Focuses on the challenges, successes, and community impact of their new rural residency startup work.
Author(s): Kay Miller Temple
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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The Evolving Role of Critical Access Hospitals in Rural Physician Training
Research letter examining prevalence of Critical Access Hospital (CAH)-based training and comparing CAHs with other rural teaching hospitals to evaluate potential for expansion. Features statistics on characteristics of training programs in CAHs and other rural teaching hospitals.
Author(s): Lori Rodefeld, Mukesh Adhikari, Catherine (Kasia) Horger, John Boll, Emily M. Hawes
Citation: JAMA Health Forum, 6(10), e254742
Date: 10/2025
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Research letter examining prevalence of Critical Access Hospital (CAH)-based training and comparing CAHs with other rural teaching hospitals to evaluate potential for expansion. Features statistics on characteristics of training programs in CAHs and other rural teaching hospitals.
Author(s): Lori Rodefeld, Mukesh Adhikari, Catherine (Kasia) Horger, John Boll, Emily M. Hawes
Citation: JAMA Health Forum, 6(10), e254742
Date: 10/2025
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