Rural-MD Scholars Program

The Rural-MD Scholars Program is a 4-year program that aims to address the critical healthcare access challenges and disparities faced by Maryland's rural populations, particularly on the Eastern Shore. The program is designed to prepare medical students for careers in rural health by offering immersive experiences including interactions with rural patients and practitioners, procedural and didactic learning, and a deep dive into the social determinants affecting rural health. 

The program starts with a 2-week Rural Health Pre-matriculation Program at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES), followed by the Rural Health Equity and Access Longitudinal Elective (R-HEALE) during MS 1 and 2. Students will have clinical placements for some core clerkships and additional rural health rotations on the Eastern Shore during their MS 3 and 4 years.

Students will gain longitudinal clinical experience, aiming to increase the number of graduates practicing in rural settings. The program, developed in collaboration with UMES, seeks candidates with a commitment to serving underserved rural communities. Prospective students can apply using the secondary application within the UMSOM admissions application.

Course Director: Leah Millstein, M.D.
lmillste@som.umaryland.edu

Assistant Course Director: Dara Farber, M.D.
dafarber@som.umaryland.edu

Project Manager: Fiama Romero, MS
FRomero@som.umaryland.edu