The Rural Partnership Launches Revised Medical Residency Stipend Program, USA

Main Category: Primary Care / General Practice
Article Date: 12 Mar 2008 - 2:00 PDT

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Tennessee primary care resident physicians have 25,000 new reasons to choose to practice in rural and underserved areas across the state.

Medical residents enrolled in a primary care residency program at any of the following four medical schools: East Tennessee State University Quillen College of Medicine, Meharry Medical College, The University of Tennessee College of Medicine, or Vanderbilt University College of Medicine are eligible to participate in the Graduate Medical Education Primary Care Residents Stipend Program. Working with the Tennessee Bureau of TennCare, The Rural Partnership's stipend task force members revamped the stipend award application and participation process and increased the amount primary care physicians may receive from $15,000 to $25,000 annually.

The need to attract physicians to rural and underserved areas is great. Nearly one in five Americans-or 56 million people-have inadequate or no access to primary healthcare, and people living in rural areas have to travel more than an hour to obtain primary care, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians.

Cindy Siler, Chief Executive Officer of The Rural Partnership, explained changes in the stipend award application and participation process created more flexibility in the program to accommodate the needs of today's physicians. Availability of the stipend program is also a useful recruitment tool to help communities become more competitive with their employment packages.

"The Rural Partnership is able to work with rural and underserved communities to attract talented physicians who desire the lifestyle that these communities offer. Certainly the amount of the stipend award is more attractive, and the timeframe in which physicians may select a geographic location to practice medicine has been extended," Siler said.

To be eligible to participate in the stipend program, primary care resident physicians must have completed the first year of their residency program. Supporting documents and steps of the application process include a personal statement from the physician, a recommendation letter from the program director, a copy of the final medical school transcript, evidence of U.S. citizenship, an unrestricted Tennessee medical license and a personal interview.

"Now that the procedures are in place, our concentration will be to inform the residents across the state of the opportunity. We are working diligently to involve as many rural communities as possible in the process," Siler said.

Formed in January 2006 by East Tennessee State University, Meharry Medical College, The University of Tennessee, Vanderbilt University, and the Rural Health Association of Tennessee, The Rural Partnership will enhance statewide collaboration on workforce planning to better serve rural and underserved communities and health providers in Tennessee by assisting in the recruitment, placement and retention of physicians and other health professionals.

http://www.theruralpartnership.com