To the readers of this blog, I'm not sure how many of you were able to attend my keynote presentation at the small and rural hospital program at the Midyear meeting, but based on that presentation and my discussions with some of the attendees at the meeting, I have been reflecting on the topic of how to best foster interest in our students in a career in small and rural hospital. I am the Dean of a College of Pharmacy and I'd like to ensure that we are successfully instilling interest in our students to work in rural and urban underserved areas, not only suburbia.
Previous to my current role as a Dean, I was the Director of the Arizona Center for Rural Health, which housed the Arizona State Office of Rural Health. In that capacity, I was very involved in the recruitment of health professionals to rural Arizona and working with rural communities and municipal leaders to address the rural health professional shortage. Our Center also conducted a statewide health professional workforce analysis, with support from our AHEC.
Two elements seem to be key in order to foster an interest in pharmacy students in rural/small hospital practice. The first is if the student grew up in a rural community. I wonder how many College of Pharmacy admissions committees consider this. The second key element is whether the student has a career-modifying educational experience in rural health during their pharmacy education. At the University of Arizona, students in pharmacy, medicine, nursing and public health can complete a certificate program in rural health, which I would argue is a great example of a career-modifying experience. Also, students in the MPH program can complete a week-long practicum in a rural community. They live in the community for the week and work on health initiatives designed by community leaders. Many of our students returned from this experience with a new perspective on rural communities.
Have you been involved in a career-modifying experience for students in a rural or small hospital? What are some ideas that have worked well for you? I would be very interested in learning from you. As a member of the PPE SAG, I know that our SAG would be interested in this as well.
Thanks in advance!
Neil MacKinnon, Dean of the Winkle College of Pharmacy, University of Cincinnati
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