UA School of Medicine Ranked Among Top 20 Rural Medicine Programs by U.S.News

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The University of Alabama School of Medicine’s program in rural medicine is ranked 20th in the nation by U.S. News and World Report’s America’s Best Graduate Schools for 2007.

“The mission of our college places a special emphasis on the training of rural primary care physicians,” said Dr. Eugene Marsh, dean of the UA College of Community Health Sciences. “Innovative projects as well as established programs played a vital role in this ranking.”

Rural medicine programs at UA include the Institute for Rural Health Research, Rural Medicine Clerkship, Rural Family Medicine Clerkship, Minority Rural Health Pipeline, Rural Health Scholars, Rural Medical Scholars and the Tuscaloosa Experience in Rural Medicine, known as TERM.

“We are addressing the needs of the state and region by encouraging, recruiting and training rural doctors,” said Dr. John Wheat, professor of community and rural medicine and founder and director of three rural health programs at UA. “Rural doctors need to know some different things than urban doctors. For example, rural doctors need to be aware of occupational risks of farmers, such as effects of certain chemicals used or potential dangers of some farming equipment.”

CCHS provides the last two years of clinical education and training for a portion of medical students enrolled at the UA School of Medicine. Students can choose any field of specialization, but CCHS encourages and trains medical students to practice in the smaller, rural and often underserved communities of Alabama. CCHS also provides a three-year family practice residency program that is one of the oldest and most productive in the Southeast. The College’s educational programs are designed to increase the accessibility and availability of health care, particularly in the state’s rural areas, and to improve the quality of that care through teaching, clinical service, research and community outreach.