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Making a Difference in Underserved Areas”

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UMHS Hosts Discussion on Rural Medicine: Making a Difference in Underserved Communities

“The need for healthcare professionals in rural areas has created a public health crisis, and we’re proud of our UMHS alumni who are working in these rural communities to deliver high-quality care, develop unparalleled experience, and earn competitive wages while making a positive impact.”


NEW YORK (PRWEB)

The University of Medicine and Health Sciences, (UMHS), a small, mission-driven medical school with a commitment to student support and a legacy of successful residency placements in the United States and Canada, has published the recording of a recent panel discussion, “Rural Medicine Livestream: Making a Difference in Underserved Areas.” Hosted by UMHS, the event featured Brock Slabach, Chief Operating Officer of the National Rural Health Association (NRHA), and three UMHS alumni with experience working in rural hospitals: Dr. Aaron Hoo, Staff Physician, Hodgsdon, Canada; Dr. Mikayla Troughton, Obstetric Anesthesiology Fellow, Northwestern, Chicago; and Dr. Venus Swearingen, PGY1 Resident, Family Medicine at Washington Regional Medical Center and Northwest Medical Center in Arkansas, both part of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) system. The conversation addressed current data regarding health inequity in underserved areas, common misconceptions about rural healthcare, career opportunities, and the unique advantages of working in rural hospitals. A recording of the event has been posted to the UMHS YouTube Channel.

“Rural areas make up the vast majority of land mass in North America and the people who live in these regions provide the food and energy resources most of us depend on – yet higher rates of poverty and limited access to care in these communities lead to disproportionately poor health outcomes,” said Warren Ross, president of UMHS. “The need for healthcare professionals in rural areas has created a public health crisis, and we’re proud of our UMHS alumni who are working in these rural communities to deliver high-quality care, develop unparalleled experience, and earn competitive wages while making a positive impact.”

UMHS recently published a Medically Underserved Areas Guide that explores the acute need for qualified healthcare providers in rural communities. The free, downloadable guide examines physician shortages in the United States and how graduates of Caribbean medical schools are filling those gaps. Mr. Slabach provided NRHA data for the guide and offered some compelling reasons for physicians to consider building a practice in rural areas. Since many UMHS graduates pursue residencies in underserved communities, UMHS hosted a live discussion to further explore the practice of rural medicine and provide a platform for current and prospective students to ask questions about learning experiences and career opportunities from recent graduates.

During the “Rural Medicine Livestream: Making a Difference in Underserved Areas” event, Mr. Slabach shared slides detailing key facts and figures, debunked common misconceptions, and reviewed incentives and reimbursement programs available for doctors practicing in rural areas. The three UMHS alumni on the panel, Dr. Hoo, Dr. Toughton, and Dr. Swearingen, shared anecdotes about working in underserved communities, described the advantages of working on a range of patients, responded to questions about maternal healthcare in a post-Roe environment, and offered their thoughts on why doctors should consider a career in rural areas.

“There is a stronger sense of community in rural areas,” said Dr. Swearingen. “You see people you’ve treated out in the community and there’s more of a sense of trust. The salary is not much different than in big cities and the cost of living is lower.”

The discussion was the latest in a series of live stream events featuring UMHS alumni sharing their expertise on topics targeted toward current and prospective medical students and healthcare professionals. Past events include:

  • “Non-Traditional Medical Student Livestream: A Student’s Perspective”

  • “LGBTQ+ Medicine & Theory”

  • “Pathways to Practicing Medicine in Canada: UMHS Alumni Share Their Experiences”

  • “UMHS Women in Medicine: A Conversation About the First Year of Residency,”

  • “Cardiology: A Discussion About Cardiac Care & Careers in Cardiology,”

  • “Black Women in Medicine: A Conversation About the Black Experience”

  • “Ask a Microbiologist,” and

  • “Suicide Prevention and the State of Psychiatry”

Links to view all past discussions may be found by visiting the UMHS live events and meetings page.

About UMHS

The University of Medicine and Health Sciences (UMHS), is a small, mission-driven medical school with a commitment to student support and a legacy of successful residency placements in the United States and Canada. UMHS was founded in 2007 by medical education pioneers Warren and Robert Ross to deliver a highly personalized school experience. Graduates of UMHS earn a Doctor of Medicine degree (MD) and qualify to practice medicine throughout the United States and Canada. Students begin their Basic Science studies in St. Kitts, West Indies, and complete their clinical training in the United States. With an unprecedented 96% student retention rate, the vast majority of students that begin their medical studies at UMHS go on to obtain residencies. For more information, visit https://www.umhs-sk.org/.

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