TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The University of Alabama College of Community Health Sciences recently welcomed the 2025 class of the Tuscaloosa Rural Pre-Medical Internship, a summer program for college students in pre-medical studies who are interested in rural primary care.
The seven-week program allows students to learn about the health needs of rural Alabama residents, particularly in family medicine, internal medicine and pediatrics. The students also gain a better understanding of the day-to-day life of family medicine doctors. In addition, the program seeks to enhance their understanding of medical school and increase their competitiveness for medical school admission.
TRPI is part of the College’s Rural Programs and its Rural Health Leaders Pipeline. The pipeline is a sequence of programs from high school through medical school that recruit students from rural Alabama interested in working as future doctors and other health care professionals in rural communities.
“We are extremely excited to welcome our fourth cohort of the Tuscaloosa Rural Pre-Medical Internship to campus,” said Candace Lacey, program coordinator for CCHS Rural Programs. “Although our students bring different perspectives, they all have the same goal of one day serving the rural communities of Alabama.”
To be eligible for the internship, students must have completed four semesters of undergraduate coursework, obtained an overall GPA of a B range or higher and scored at least 22 on the ACT or 1200 on the SAT. Only rural Alabama residents are accepted.
The internship is funded in part through a supplemental award provided by the Federal Health Resources and Services Administration Bureau of Health Workforce.
The 2025 TRPI class includes:
- Tyler Croy, of Fairhope
- Jaleigha Doolittle, of Salem
- Cole Heatherly, of Ford City
- Jason Knowles, of Ohatchee
- Emma Richards, of Tuscumbia
- Zamaria Richardson, of Demopolis
- Emma Riseborough, of Gadsden
- Mary Stoltze, of Troy
- Elijah Wang, of Vinemont
The University of Alabama, part of The University of Alabama System, is the state’s flagship university. UA shapes a better world through its teaching, research and service. With a global reputation for excellence, UA provides a forward-thinking environment and over 200 degree programs on a beautiful, student-centered campus. A leader in cutting-edge research, UA advances discovery, creative inquiry and knowledge through more than 30 research centers. As the state’s largest higher education institution, UA drives economic growth in Alabama and beyond.
Contact
Bryant Welbourne, UA Strategic Communications, bryant.welbourne@ua.edu
Source
Kandis Snyder, UA College of Community Health Sciences, kasnyder2@ua.edu