Scholars in Rural Health Program

Goal

To provide assured admission for selected rural Kansas students who have participated in a longitudinal premedical curriculum with supplementary guided and directed rural health care experiences.

Rationale

The Scholars in Rural Health  program is designed to attract and retain young rural Kansans with a high probability of successful careers in rural communities.  Students who eventually practice in rural communities often report that they had an identifiable mentor and/or early premedical primary care experiences.  Further, rural physicians are more likely to have grown up in a rural community.  This program will shape the students’ experiences toward rural health in preparation for entry into medical school.  Scholars accepted into and satisfactorily completing this program will be admitted to the School of Medicine automatically.  The anticipated outcome is an increase in the number of students from Kansas rural communities who choose to practice in rural Kansas.

Applicant Eligibility

Applicants must exhibit the following characteristics:

• Be a Kansas resident;
• Have significant experience living in a rural Kansas community;
• Demonstrated intellectual promise;
• Achieved ACT/SAT scores at or above the 75th percentile;
• Attained a minimum of sophomore standing and have two years of undergraduate education remaining;
• Completed one academic year of college undergraduate didactic and laboratory study in general biology and one academic year of didactic and laboratory study in general inorganic chemistry;
• Demonstrated intention to practice medicine in rural areas of Kansas;
• Demonstrated a commitment to service by exhibiting the dedication and compassion necessary to be a competent and caring physician.

Selection Process

Eligible applicants will submit completed application materials to the KU School of Medicine Office of Admissions.  A committee chaired by the program director will review all applications and recommend up to 20 candidates for interview by members of the Admissions Subcommittee and other selected interviewers.  Full-time and volunteer faculty with experience in rural health care will participate in the interviews.  A maximum of ten candidates will be selected for program participation each year. 

Program Requirements for Assured Admission

The program requirements for assured admission will be reviewed annually by the Office of Admissions and the Admissions Subcommittee.  Each program participant must demonstrate achievements in academic programs and a significant, informed interest in rural health care.  The program requirements for the Scholars in Rural Health Program are:

• attendance and graduation from an accredited college or university;
• scholarship in the premedical program by maintaining a cumulative 3.50 or higher grade point average;
• scholarship in the premedical science curriculum by maintaining a science grade point average of 3.50 or higher;
• participation in programs designated by the School of Medicine for the Scholars in Rural Health Program, which may include activities on the undergraduate campus;
• a satisfactory score on the MCAT examination.

To provide ongoing feedback and support, participants’ performance will be reviewed after each semester by the program director.  Deficiencies will be reported to the Admissions Subcommittee.  Eligibility for continuance in the program will be determined by the performance review at the end of each of the junior and senior years. 

Program participants about whom there are prevailing questions of unethical, unprofessional, or illegal conduct will be reviewed to determine their continued eligibility for assured admission to medical school.  Participants who meet the program’s requirements will be offered admission into the next entering class of the University of Kansas School of Medicine.

Program Activities

During the junior and senior undergraduate academic years, each program participant will spend a minimum of forty hours per semester with an assigned rural mentor in the region of his or her home community.  A total of 200 hours will be accumulated during the four semesters and one summer.  Participants will be exposed to the variety of health care services in their communities, including hospital and office practice.  During the senior year, with the counsel of both undergraduate and medical school faculty advisors and the rural health mentor, each participant will complete a manuscript reviewing a topic related to rural health service or clinical care.  The senior review manuscript must be completed satisfactorily prior to matriculation into the School of Medicine.

Administrative Structure

The Scholars in Rural Health program will be implemented and coordinated through the Office of Admissions.

Kansas Medical Loan Program

Participants in the Scholars in Rural Health Program will be given priority for available student loans through the Kansas Medical Loan Program (KMLP).  Funds for the KMLP are determined annually by the Kansas Legislature, therefore, availability of loans depends on allocation legislation.

Application Time Line

Event	Date
Applications available	Now
Application completion deadline	June 10
Acceptance notification letters mailed	August 15

 

Application Instructions and Form

Application Instruction Sheet for Scholars in Rural Health Program (PDF)
Application to the Scholars in Rural Health Program (PDF)