Area Students Learn About Rural Health Care at UA

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Two select groups of students from across the state were recently on campus for the Rural Health Scholars and Rural Minority Health Scholars programs in The University of Alabama College of Community Health Sciences.

These two programs introduce students from rural areas to college life and give them an orientation to the need for health and medical professionals in communities like their own.

The Rural Health Scholars are rising high school seniors and the Rural Minority Health Scholars are recent high school graduates who will be attending college.

Rural Health Scholars included (by home county): Bibb-Catherine Klaiss, Clarke-Tierra Williams, Destiny Nash and Kenyetta Hunt, Colbert-Tyler Scales, DeKalb-Andrew Whitten, Escambia-Scarlet Martin and Bria Willis, Houston- Alisha Jackson, Lamar- Hunter Cunningham, Lauderdale- Hunter Porter, Lawrence- Sienna Berryman, Lee-Gavin King, Limestone-Mattison Sutton, Marengo-Jasmine Mack, Marshall-Sarah Haygood, Monroe- Serdarion Locke, Austin Jordan, Ashley Hollinger and Peyton Powell, Pickens-Britt Chase, Tuscaloosa-Kathryn Skelton, Walker-Jared Johnson, Morgan Miller and Ryan Gilmore.

Rural Minority Health Scholars included (by home county): Hale-Jasmine Knox, KaWandra Wiggins, Kelvineshia Williams and Shakristal Williams, Lee- Jennifer Hooker, Monroe-Taylor Sims, Perry-Earl Johnson and Matthew Morris, Pickens-Anthony Wilder, Shelby-Giani Martin and Danielle Parker, Washington-LaRhonda Moore.

These students, chosen based on their academic achievements and interest in rural health care, come to UA during the summer and take courses for college credit and to attend seminars. Cynthia Moore and Dr. John Wheat of CCHS direct the programs.

After some 20 years and $6 million in support from the state, UA’s Rural Health Programs have benefited the state by encouraging high school and college students to follow careers in rural medicine, Wheat notes. Among the programs that have benefited Alabamians, 523 rising high school seniors from 66 Alabama counties have participated in the Rural Health Scholars program and 120 high school graduates from 33 counties have participated as Rural Minority Health Scholars.