TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The University of Alabama College of Community Health Sciences’ Rural Health Leaders Pipeline recently welcomed 18 students from rural Alabama who want to become primary care physicians and dentists in the state’s rural communities.
The Rural Medical Scholars Program is a five-year medical education program exclusively for rural Alabama students who want to become physicians and practice in rural communities. The program leads to obtaining a medical degree and includes a year of study and a master’s degree in rural community health at CCHS, after students receive their undergraduate degree, as well as early admission to the University of Alabama at Birmingham Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine.
Rural Medical Scholars spend their first two years of medical school at the UAB Heersink School of Medicine’s main campus in Birmingham and return to CCHS for their third and fourth years of medical school, which are known as the clinical training years.
“We are excited to welcome the 29th class of Rural Medical Scholars to campus,” said Dr. Antonio Gardner, director of education and evaluation for CCHS Rural Programs. “We are thrilled to contribute to their academic and professional development before they matriculate to the UAB Heersink School of Medicine. Our hope is that they will return to rural Alabama to practice medicine and improve health access and health outcomes in those areas.”
The 2024-25 class includes Will Akin, of Hanceville; Marcy Birge, of Slocomb; Ally Brewer, of Florence; Kailand-Ascia Brown, of Rutledge; Townley Cornelius, of Cullman; Lauren Hay, of Clanton; Natalie Moon, of Centre; Max Moussad, of Russellville; Boyd Ogles, of Ashland; Trey Pinkerton, of Fayette; and Angela Vincent, of Phenix City.
CCHS also welcomed Caroline Ricks, of Clanton, and Ikeyreiah Harris, of Gordo, as Rural Community Health Scholars. Harris is completing her final year of the Rural Community Health Scholars Program.
Like the Rural Medical Scholars Program, the Rural Community Health Scholars Program is a series of programs created to prepare students to become health care providers and community health leaders in rural Alabama communities. The Rural Community Health Scholars Program is for rural Alabama graduate students not enrolled in the Rural Medical Scholars Program but who are interested in health care careers.
The Rural Dental Scholars Program was created to address the shortage of dentists in Alabama’s rural communities.
The program is a separate admissions pathway to the UAB School of Dentistry. To be eligible for the program, students must have either lived in rural Alabama for eight years or have graduated from a rural Alabama high school.
The Rural Dental Scholars Program includes a year of study and a master’s degree in rural community health at CCHS, after students receive their undergraduate degree, as well as early admission to the UAB School of Dentistry.
During the year of study at CCHS, students engage in biomedical science courses designed to adequately prepare scholars for a rigorous dental school curriculum, as well as seminar courses in rural health, community engagement experiences and shadowing dental providers. After completion of the master’s degree, students spend the next four years at the UAB School of Dentistry.
“This year, we welcome our second cohort of Rural Dental Scholars,” said Gardner. “Although few in quantity, these students have the potential to expand dental services offered and improve oral health outcomes in rural Alabama.”
The 2024-25 class of Rural Dental Scholars includes Brittany Howard, of Mobile; Jenna Lankford, of Malcolm; Segura Magdalen, of Centre; Tamara Montes, of Birmingham; and Coleman Wright of Headland.
