Program outline
All students selecting to participate in the Rural Medicine Scholars program will complete Phase 1 of medical school on the Salt Lake City Campus. For phases 2, Rural Longitudinal Integrated Clerkship Sites will be located throughout Utah. Phase 3 will occur at the SLC campus or at the Southern Utah Regional Medical Campus (SURMC), depending on their selected track.
Salt Lake City Campus Cohort
- Phase 1: SLC Campus
- Phase 2: Rural LIC (outside the Wasatch front)
- Phase 3: SLC Campus
Southern Utah Rural Medical Campus Cohort
- Phase 1: SLC Campus
- Phase 2: Rural LIC (St. George region: Washington & Iron counties)
- Phase 3: SURMC
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Program requirements
All Rural Medicine Scholars complete:
Rural Medicine Scholars follows the MD common core, with additional longitudinal experiences in rural and underserved care.
Graduate Certificates provide a rigorous course of didactic coursework, community engaged experiences, and clinical rotations with students working towards a final scholarly project and capstone.
- Minimum of 15 elective credits
- Areas of focus include: Tribal, Rural, and Urban Underserved or Population Health Sciences
- Applied toward MD requirements
- Areas of emphasis include:
- Clinical Research or Applied Community Health
- Includes a required 11-month Longitudinal Integrated Clerkship (LIC) in Phase 2
- Additional elective clinical rotations in rural and underserved settings in Phase 3
Current rural LIC sites:
- Logan (Cache County)
- St George (Washington County)
- Roosevelt (Duchesne County)
- Tooele (Tooele County)
- Price (Carbon County)
Pilot Sites:
- San Juan County
- Lander, Wyoming
The CEE is an immersive experience during Phase 2 in conjunction with your rural LIC.
Students:
- Identify community health needs
- Develop and implement interventions
- Engage in clinical work and community service
Through sustained time in a rural community, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of how health systems vary across settings, and see firsthand how cultural, geographic, and socioeconomic factors shape care. The CEE builds mutually beneficial partnerships with communities, while supporting your growth through hands-on, interdisciplinary learning.
Students complete research or scholarly work with:
- Meaningful and lasting dissemination
- A culminating capstone project
Rural Outreach Program (ROP)
A student-run program that delivers health science learning to high school students across Utah and the Intermountain West.
- Teach hands-on lessons (including dissections and ultrasound)
- Share your path to medical school, and insights to the pros and cons
- Participate in trips during winter and spring breaks
Underserved and Rural Speaker Series
Sessions featuring providers from tribal, rural and underserved communities.
- Learn about day-to-day practice
- Hear challenges, benefits, and advice
- Open to students in all years