UA Announces First Class of Minority Rural Health Pipeline Participants

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The College of Community Health Sciences at The University of Alabama has announced its first class of participants in the new Minority Rural Health Pipeline Program.

The program’s goal is to increase the number of rural minority students who qualify for admission to medical school through the Rural Medical Scholars Program at The University of Alabama.

Students in the program will participate in classes, tutorials, seminars and other activities designed to enhance their knowledge and test taking skills to assist them in achieving competitive scores on the Medical College Admission Test, known as the MCAT.

Participants may earn up to 12 hours of college credit during the 10-week program, June 4 through August 10 at The University of Alabama. The program is funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Southern Rural Access Program in Alabama and the Alabama Family Practice Rural Health Board. Those groups jointly agreed with UA’s Rural Medical Scholars Program administrators, that its program would be strengthened by the inclusion of more minority students.

The Minority Rural Health Pipeline program is open to high school graduates from rural areas of Alabama who plan to enter college in the next academic year. The admissions committee reviewed more than 60 applications in the selection process.

Tuition, room and board, and a stipend are provided to each program participant. Students must be accepted at The University of Alabama to enter the Minority Rural Health Pipeline Program, but do not have to attend UA during the academic year.

The Rural Medical Scholars Program was established in 1996 at the UA College of Community Health Sciences and is directed by John Wheat, MD, and an associate professor of Community Medicine and Internal Medicine. This program is open to college seniors and graduate students who plan to attend medical school. As part of their Rural Medical Scholars Program experience, the scholars visit rural hospitals, conduct health fairs and health screenings, participate in other community service projects, and attend lectures and workshops.

Dr. Robert Garner, UA professor emeritus of chemistry, is director and co-principal investigator, along with Wheat, of the Minority Rural Health Pipeline Program.

The following includes this year’s inaugural Minority Rural Health Pipeline Program members, their home counties and high schools attended:

JamieBass, Choctaw (Alabama School of Math & Science)

ShamekiaDixon, Dallas (Selma High School)

TravisGoldwire, Lee (Smiths Station High School)

JackiGreene, Autauga (Billingsley High School)

La’ReaKelly, Walker (Oakman High School)

GlendaMorrissette, Dallas (Selma High School)

RickParker, Dale (Carroll High School)

ClarissaParker, Pike (Charles Henderson High)

CharleneTerry, Hale (Akron High School)

DanaTodd, Hale (Greensboro High School)