What are the clinical and academic requirements of the Rural Pathway?

Our Pathway requirements include the following:

-4 months total of Rural or Urban under-resourced rotations, with a minimum of 2 of those rotations being rural. 

Salt Lake Area Rotations: Midvale Community Building Community Clinic (Midvale, UT),  Fourth Street Clinic (SLC, UT), school-based clinic at West High School (SLC, UT), and People's Health Clinic (Park City, UT). 

Rural rotations: Northern Navajo Medical Center (Shiprock, NM), Chinle Comprehensive Health Center (Chinle, AZ), Blue Mountain Hospital (Blanding, UT), Tuba City Regional Health Care (Tuba City, AZ), Mountain West Medical Center (Tooele, UT), Community Hospital of Anaconda (Anaconda, MT), and the Fort Harrison VAMC (Helena, MT).

-Completion of an online rural and under-resourced health care Rural Pathway curriculum, located here. Minimum requirement: 1 article, 1 video and 1 podcast, and the reflection assignment for each module. 

-Supplemental and focused procedural/ultrasound training.

-Scholarly work related to rural or under-resourced health. This could include a QI or research project, hosting a conference, oral/poster presentation, e.g. 

How many residents do you admit per year?

We currently admit 3 residents per year into our core Med-Peds residency program. All 3 positions are eligible for the Rural Pathway, though participation is optional. Each year, we can accommodate up to 3 Rural Pathway participants—meaning all incoming residents have the opportunity to opt into the pathway if desired.

What if I would like to do a rotation in an area not listed in your program?

We are always trying to build our program and looking for new collaborators. If you are interested in developing a new rotation, we would love to hear your ideas!

Are all your under-resourced health rotations rural?

Our program began as a rural-focused program responding to our University's mission and community needs. Because our project responds to patient needs related to health care access, we also offer experiences in under-resourced health care in urban settings. 

If I join the Rural Pathway, am I obligated to work in a particular location after I finish my residency?

There is no obligation or regulation related to your post-residency work experience. 

We hope that training in our program equips and inspires our graduates to pursue rural or under-resourced locations for their post-residency practice.

Are there opportunities for loan repayment for rural service? 

There are state and federal loan repayment options including the following:

• Utah Rural Physician Loan Repayment Program

• National Health Service Loan Repayment Programs

• Indian Health Service Loan Repayment Program