Rural Health Scholars

Aspiring for Excellence in Rural Practice

Purpose: To “appreciate the rural life, and to understand and aspire to [scholarly] rural practice.” —adapted from John Wheat MD, Salt Lake City, 2003

The Rural Health Scholars program represents an ongoing collaboration between the Office of Rural and Underserved Programs at the Heritage College and the Ohio State University Department of Family and Community Medicine. Established in 2002, the Ohio Rural Health Scholars strategy has served the medical schools of Ohio well in attracting students to excellence in clinical practice, in research, in advocacy and in medical education.

Open to any student from any medical school in Ohio with an interest in generalist rural practice, this small program is structured around an annual retreat held in a rural setting and enrolls participating students as members of the National Rural Health Association. The program is made possible through an Ohio State University Department of Family Medicine endowment fund established by the family of Dr. J. Martin Byers, Jr., a family physician who practiced in rural Ohio.

View a reviewing the history of the Rural Health Scholars Program sponsored by The Ohio State University Department of Family Medicine and 51�� Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine Office of Rural and Underserved Programs.

View an example of a featured presentation during the 2020 Rural Health Scholars online Retreat.

Annual retreat announcements and application to apply are typically sent to the student affairs department at all Ohio medical schools every September. If you would like more information about the Rural Health Scholars program and/or retreat, please contact Dawn Mollica at mollicd1@ohio.edu.

National Conference

Each year, four to six RHS student participants are selected and awarded scholarships to attend either the Rural Health Policy Institute or the Annual National Rural Health Conference.

RHS students pose in front of The Capitol in Washington, D.C.

RHS student sits on a couch wearing a Care Leads Here t-shirt

Stories From Graduates in Practice

See testimonial videos below from graduates in practice: "Oh the Places We Have Gone."

AuBree LaForce, M.D.: "Just Say Yes!"

Scott Rogers, M.D.: "It's OK if Your Dream Job Changes"

Ohio Rural Health Scholars Past Retreat Themes

2023 "Authenticity in Practice: the mess and the magic"

Join other students with an interest in rural medicine and representing all of Ohio’s medical schools in the beautiful Hocking Hills of Ohio. During and following the retreat, participants will be able to:

Engage with a variety of physicians, both young and experienced, who are passionate about working in a rural place
Connect with other students with an interest in preparing for generalist rural practice
Students will consider what authenticity in practice means to them personally and professionally.
Students will develop an understanding of the opportunities and obstacles in rural residency training.
Students will begin to define their values and elucidate how these values can be lived out (or stepped on) during their career.
Students will define the term "moral injury" and describe situations that create this conflict

For our 22nd annual retreat, we are privileged to have the following special guests and hosts:

Abigail Ahyong MD, Resident Physician PGY-3, Swedish Cherry Hill Family Medicine Residency, Port Angeles RTT
William Cooke MD, Family Physician and Author, Austin, IN
Valerie Good MD, Adena Family Medicine, Greenfield, OH
Steven Ulrich MD, Family Physician & Terri Ulrich, MSW, New Lexington, OH
Joseph Zarconi MD – Nephrologist and Professor, Internal Medicine, NEOMED, Akron, OH
Alex Heintzelman MD (RHS Alum 2008-2010) – Family Physician and Faculty, NEOMED, Columbiana, OH
Scott Rogers MD (RHS Alum 2003-2006) – Family Physician, Grant Family Medicine, Columbus and Associate Dean, 51��, Dublin, OH

2022 "Creating Your Own Rural Path Through Mentorship"

Explore what makes a good mentor and who could potentially fill this role during various stages of their career
Access resources that will assist along the way to training for and practicing in a rural community
Learn how to become a mentor in their own community
Engage with a variety of physicians, both young and experienced, who are passionate about working in a rural place
Connect with other students with an interest in preparing for generalist rural practice

For our 21st annual retreat, we were privileged to have the following guests and hosts:

Darian Roberts MD (RHS 2014-16) – Family Physician, Mercy Health Sebring/Salem, OH
Renee Brumbaugh MD (RHS 2016,19) – PGY3, St. Elizabeth Hospital, Youngstown, OH
Steven Ulrich MD Family Physician & Terri Ulrich, MSW, New Lexington, OH
Alex Heintzelman MD (RHS 2008-2010) – Family Physician and Faculty, NEOMED, Columbiana, OH
Scott Rogers MD (RHS 2003-2006) – Family Physician, Grant Family Medicine, Columbus and Associate Dean, 51��, Dublin, OH
Scott Anzalone MD, Family Physician, Stagecoach Family Medicine, Logan, OH

2021 "Oh The Places We Have Gone"

Explore a variety of paths and potential futures in rural practice
Access resources that will assist them on the way to training for and practicing in a rural community
Develop a personal plan for the next step in their own professional development
Engage with a variety of physicians, both young and experienced, who have worked and are passionate about working in a rural place
Connect with other students with an interest in preparing for generalist rural practice

For our 20th annual retreat, we were privileged to have the following special guests and RHS alumni:

Eric Prenger (RHS 2002-2005) – Family Physician and Preceptor, Sidney, OH
Scott Rogers (RHS 2003-2006) – Family Physician and Associate Dean, 51�� Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Canal Winchester, OH
Lars Peterson (RHS 2004-2008) – Family Physician and VP for Research, American Board of Family Medicine, Family Lexington, KY
Curt Mortenson (RHS 2006-2009) – Family Physician and Medical Director, Kodiak, AK (Invited)
Sarah Metzger (RHS 2008 and 2009) – Family Physician, Crestline, OH
Alex Heintzelman (RHS 2008-2010) – Family Physician and Faculty, Boardman, OH
Sherry Adkins (RHS 2009 and 2010) – Family Physician, New Madison, OH
Kara Callahan (RHS 2012-2017) – Family Physician, locum tenens in various places
Tim Cutler (RHS 2015-2018) - Family Medicine Resident, Sandusky, OH
Shannon Rossio (RHS 2015-2018) – Family Medicine Resident, Kalispell, MT
Keilah Ketron (RHS 2016-2019) – Family Medicine Resident, Waco, TX
Aubrey LaForce (RHS 2017-2020) – Family Medicine Resident, Akron, OH
Tara Wagner-Bair (RHS 2001-2011), CEO, Community Health and Wellness Partners of Logan County, Zanesfield, Ohio.

2020 “Making Population Health for Rural Communities Personal”

Better integrate the care of individual patients into caring for a community
Discuss the principles of public health messaging
Personalize public and population health messages for my rural practice
Take personal responsibility for the health of my rural community
Connect with other students with an interest in preparing for generalist rural practice

Our 19th annual retreat was online, we were privileged to have the following special guests and hosts:

Joanna “Anna” Kauffman MD, Family Physician in Bluffton, Ohio
Ross Kauffman PhD, Epidemiologist and Assistant Professor, Ohio Northern University, Ada, Ohio
Steve Ulrich MD, Family Physician, New Lexington, Ohio
Terri Ulrich MSW, Social Worker, New Lexington, Ohio
Tara Bair, President and CEO, Community Health and Wellness Partners of Logan County, Bellefontaine, Ohio
Tim Putnam, DHA, MBA, FACHE - President and CEO, Mary Margaret Health, Batesville, IN and president of the National Rural Health Association, 2019
Scott Anzalone MD, Rural Family Physician and educator, Logan, Ohio
Randall Longenecker MD, Rural Family Physician, educator, and host, Athens, Ohio

2019 “General Surgery and Other Specialties of Primary Importance to Rural Communities”

Describe those specialties of special importance to rural communities
Describe the concept of a Critical Access Hospital and the challenges they face
Pursue training in rural general surgery or another specialty of special importance to the health of rural communities
Engage with a variety of physicians, both young and experienced, who are passionate about working in a rural place
Connect with other students with an interest in preparing for generalist rural practice

For our 18th annual retreat, we are privileged to have the following special guests and host:

Michael Sarap MD, General Surgeon, Cambridge, Ohio
Jody Gerome DO, Obstetrician-Gynecologist, Athens, Ohio
Amy Zidron DO, Pediatrician, Athens, Ohio
Ben Jordan MD, Child Psychiatrist, Athens, Ohio
Scott Anzalone MD, Rural family physician and educator, Logan, Ohio
Randall Longenecker MD, Rural family physician, educator, and host, Athens, Ohio

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