THE
RURAL MEDICINE
PROGRAM
University of Alabama in Birmingham School of
Medicine, Huntsville Regional Medical Center
and
Auburn University, College of Science and
Mathematics
(RMP, UABSOM/HRMC, AU/COSAM)
Key personnel
Program Director: William H. Coleman MD. PhD.
Academic Program Director, Phase I: Lawrence C.
Wit PhD.
Medical Director, Phase I: Keith Bufford MD.
Program Coordinator, Phase II and III: William H.
Coleman MD. PhD.
Assistant Program Coordinator, Phase II and II: Victor
Norman MD
RMP GOALS
To recruit and prepare rural students for successful careers as family
physicians/primary care physicians in rural Alabama
To support RMP pre-medical and medical students in becoming rural family
physicians
To increase the number of family physicians/primary care physicians in rural
Alabama
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The University of Alabama in Birmingham School of Medicine/Auburn University
Rural Medical Program (RMP) is a five-year medical education joint endeavor
that is targeted to premedical students with rural backgrounds. It begins with a
pre-matriculation year on the campus of Auburn University (AU) within the
college of Sciences and Mathematics. It continues though four years of medical
school at the University of Alabama in Birmingham School of Medicine
(UABSOM) utilizing the Birmingham campus for the first two years and
UABSOM’s Huntsville Regional Medical campus for the final two years of
medical school. RMP prepares rural students for careers as primary care/family
physicians in rural Alabama. It is designed to support the students’ goals of
becoming rural physicians. The program admits up to 11students each year
through a highly selective process that is based on and compatible with
UABSOM’s medical school admission process. The RMP student begins
preparation for rural medical practice with a pre-medical year at Auburn
University and continues though the four years of medical school at UABSOM.
At Auburn, students receive two semesters of study in rural primary health care
delivery, community medicine, and rural health care issues After this, they enter
UABSOM to begin their first year of medical school.
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AUBURN UNIVERSITY/UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
RURAL MEDICAL SCHOLARS PROGRAM
The Rural Medicine Program is a 5 year rural family
medicine/primary care oriented curriculum within the regular
medical school curriculum. It is composed of three phases:
Phase I a pre-matriculation year of study on the Auburn Campus. There are two
study tracks in place for this first year;
1. Undergraduate, while completing Bachelor’s degree
2. Graduate, Non-degree Option.
Phase II the first two years of medical school (basic sciences) - Birmingham
campus. It includes the regular medical school curriculum and additional RMP
requirements.
Phase III the third and fourth years of medical school (clinical sciences) at the
Huntsville campus of UABSOM. During this phase, the RMP continues to follow
the UABSOM curriculum while completing additional RMP curriculum
requirements.
RMP (PHASE I) OBJECTIVES
Increase RMP pre-medical students’ awareness and interest regarding the
challenges and rewards of becoming a primary care/family physician in rural
Alabama.
With coursework and practical rural medical experiences, increase the RMP
student’s knowledge about rural communities.
Increase the RMP student’s’ knowledge about health care policy and current
trends in medicine particularly as they apply to the family/primary care practice
and rural health care.
Create peer support and professional relationships among RMP students
Enhance the RMP pre-med students’ competitiveness and science preparation
for medical school.
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AUBURN UNIVERSITY/UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
RURAL MEDICAL SCHOLARS PROGRAM
DURING THE PRE-MATRICULATION YEAR RURAL MEDICAL PROGRAM
STUDENTS WILL BE REQUIRED TO:
Complete final year of undergraduate education or complete a year of postgraduate non-degree studies in RMP phase I at Auburn University.
Maintain their academic standards by earning a minimum 3.2 GPA during their
RMP year of course work.
Attend the following extracurricular events:
Medical Association of Alabama’s Annual Washington Conference, February
PAOF, physician recruitment fair at Point Clear, March.
Provisional acceptance students will complete all provisions of their acceptance
prior to admission to UAB School of Medicine.
PRE-MATRICULATION CURRICULUM (Auburn)
Undergraduate students will complete all course work required for their
undergraduate degree as well as the required courses in the RMP program. Post
–graduate students will complete the required RMP curriculum. Each RMP
student will be individually advised by the Academic Program Director. Students
who lack a strong science-based background will be encouraged to take
additional science courses during the RMP experience so as to be better
prepared for the medical school curriculum. Courses are selected from the core
RMP courses in the following list:
STAT 2510
RSOC 3190
RSOC 3620
RSOC 5610
SOCY 4200
HADM 2200
HADM3300
HADM 4100
HADM 3700
SCMH 5010
SCMH 5020
BIOL 4410
BIOL 5600
Biostatistics*
Agriculture and Society
Community Organization
Rural Sociology*
Medical Sociology*
Health Policy
Introduction to Health Administration
Finance in Heath Administration
Health Law
Clinical Applications I*
Clinical Applications II*
Vertebrate Development*
Mammalian Physiology*
*Required course (Courses other than those listed may be recommended or
requested based on individual need.)
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AUBURN UNIVERSITY/UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
RURAL MEDICAL SCHOLARS PROGRAM
COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
RSOC3190 Agriculture and Society (3) “Values and conflicts associated with
technological and other changes in farming, rural communities, and the food
system. Perspectives on agrarian structures, food security, and governmental
policy.”
RSOC3620 Community Organization (3) “Analysis of social organization at the
community level. Conceptual framework developed to examine both internal and
external forces affecting urban as well as rural communities in the U.S., and to
identify strategies to strengthen local capacity to adapt to changing social and
economic environments.”
RSOC5610 Rural Sociology (3) “Theories and conceptual approaches to
rurality in international and domestic contexts. Rural-urban differences in
demographic composition, occupational structure, attitudes and values of
rural people and regional cultures. Rural services and institutions as
determinates of the quality of life.”
SOCY 4200 Medical Sociology (3) “The nature and organization of medical
practice and health delivery systems with special attention to the role of
physicians, patients, disease, and the relationship between culture,
politics, and health.”
HADM 2200 Health Policy (3) “Political issues affecting health-care services.”
HADM 3300 Introduction to Health Administration (3) “Basic concepts and
principles of administration of health service organizations.
HADM 3700 Health Law (3) “Legal issues that arise between patients and health
care providers”
HADM 4100 Finance in Health Administration “Review of issues in
reimbursement structures, regulatory mechanisms, cost control and related
factors affecting administration of health service organizations.
STAT2500 (3) Biostatistics “Statistics for Biological and Health Sciences”
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AUBURN UNIVERSITY/UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
RURAL MEDICAL SCHOLARS PROGRAM
SCMH5010 (3) Clinical Applications I “A study of the clinical/personal issues
facing primary care physicians in the rural community.”
SCMH 5020 (3) Clinical Applications II “A continuation of SCHM 5010”
BIOL 4410 (4) Vertebrate Development “Mophogenesis and organogensis
of frog, chick, pig, and human from a descriptive and analytical viewpoint”
BIOL5600 (6) Mammalian Physiology An in-depth investigation of the
physiology of the major organ systems
CLINICAL APPLICATIONS / INTRODUCTION TO CLINICAL MEDICINE
COURSE DESCRIPTION 1:
The purpose of this course is to introduce rural medical program students to the
integral role that primary care providers play in the overall health of the rural
community. Through lectures, field trips, selected readings and interactions with
preceptors and patients.
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES:
Insights into Rural Primary Care:
1) Students will develop an understanding of primary care physician’s
interaction with the rural community as a whole.
2) Students will gain an appreciation for the scope of practice in rural
settings.
3) Students will gain insights into communication skills
4) Students will obtain an overview of interactions between rural primary
care providers and the health care insurance industry.
5) Students will be introduced to patient interviewing and basic physical
techniques (Introduction to Clinic Medicine)
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
Students will be required to attend all scheduled lecture sessions.
Students will be required to participate in the discussion of assigned readings.
Students will be required to present two case presentations.
Students will be required to submit a written report, subject to be announced in
class.
Students will be required to spend 3 hours weekly with preceptor.
Students will be required to attend scheduled field trips.
Students will be required to complete a course evaluation form.
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AUBURN UNIVERSITY/UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
RURAL MEDICAL SCHOLARS PROGRAM
August Lecture # 1
August #2
August #3
Sept #1
Sept #2
Sept #3
Sept #4
Oct 2
Oct 3
Oct 4
Oct 5
Nov. 1
Nov 2
Nov 3
Nov 4
Dec 1
Dec 2
TOPICS
Introduction to the program, primary care medicine
and rural medicine
Introduction to HIPPA, EMR, Vital Signs.
Interviewing- Introduction to Clinical Thinking
Farming Risks/Rural Lifestyle risks
Farm Field Trip – Noble Farm
Book Discussion
Medical Ethics, Bob Mullins, M.D.
Communication Skills
Mid-term
Other Doctors
Ins/Outs of Heath Care Industry Insurance
Sports Medicine in the Primary Care Rural Setting
Case Presentation 1st Session
Case Presentation 2nd Session
Medical Disparities
Book Discussion
Final
CLINICAL APPLICATIONS / INTRODUCTION TO CLINICAL MEDICINE 2
SYLLABUS
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course is a continuation of Clinical Applications Fall Semester.
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES:
Students will gain insight into family issues affecting rural primary care medicine.
Students will obtain an overview of practical applied epidemiology in rural primary
care medicine.
Students will obtain an overview of interactions of politics and rural primary care
medicine.
Students will gain insights into the role of rural primary care medicine in the
industrial setting.
Students will gain an overview of the role that religious/philosophical/cultural
beliefs play in the practice of rural primary care medicine.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
Students will be required to attend all scheduled lecture sessions.
Students will be required to participate in the discussion of assigned readings.
Students will be required to present two case presentations.
Students will be required to submit a written report, subject to be announced in
class.
Students will be required to spend 3 hours weekly with preceptor
Students will be required to attend scheduled field trips.
Students will be required to complete a course evaluation form.
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AUBURN UNIVERSITY/UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
RURAL MEDICAL SCHOLARS PROGRAM
Jan 1
Jan 2
Jan 3
Jan 4
Feb 1
Feb 2
Feb 3
Feb 4
March 1
March 2
April 1
April 2
April 3
April 4
Topics
Domestic Violence
Medical Family/ Medical Marriage
Epidemiology in Rural Medicine
Book Discussion
Medicine and Politics
Coping with Psychological Stressor of Medicine
Aspect of Industrial Medicine
Midterm
Industry Field Trip
Case Presentation 1
Case Presentation 2
Rural Health Care and Religion
Book Discussion
Final
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AUBURN UNIVERSITY/UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
RURAL MEDICAL SCHOLARS PROGRAM
UASOMH/AUCOSAM PHASE II CURRICULUM
PHASE II begins with completion of phase I and includes the first two years of
medical school (basic sciences) on the Birmingham campus. It includes the
regular medical school curriculum, the rural phase II curriculum and special lunch
seminars, small group sessions, and rural clinical opportunities.
RMP (PHASE II) OBJECTIVES
To promote and expand RMP students’ awareness and interest regarding the
challenges and rewards of becoming a Family Physician/Primary Care physician
in rural Alabama.
To continue practical rural medical experiences, that increases the RMP
student’s knowledge about the rural community and rural medical practice.
To increase the RMP student’s’ knowledge about health care policy and current
trends in medicine particularly as they apply to the family physician, primary care
practice and rural health care.
Maintain and support a peer network of RMP students.
To provide leadership development opportunities for RMP students.
Increase the number of UABSOM and specifically UABSOM/HRMC graduates
who ultimately become family physicians/primary care physicians in rural
Alabama.
DURING PHASE II RURAL MEDICINE PROGRAM STUDENTS WILL BE
REQUIRED TO:
Become a student member of the American Academy of Family Physicians
immediately upon admission to UAB School of Medicine.
Attend all Family Medicine Interest Group meeting
Participate in the Department of Family Medicine Pathway Program: Summer
between first and second year of medical school unless exempted by RMP
director
Attend Alabama Academy of Family Physicians annual student meeting in
Sandestin Fl. (occurs in June of each year).
Satisfy all UAB School of Medicine’s special topic curriculum requirements
through RMP designated or approved special topics
UASOMH/AUCOSAM PHASE II I CURRICULUM
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AUBURN UNIVERSITY/UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
RURAL MEDICAL SCHOLARS PROGRAM
PHASE III begins with the third and fourth years of medical school (clinical
sciences) at the Huntsville campus of UABSOM. During this phase, the
curriculum includes the third year family medicine clerkship with its 3 week rural
clinical rotation as well as continued lunch seminars, small group sessions, and
rural clinical opportunities.
RMP (PHASE III) OBJECTIVES
To Maintain and enhance RMP students’ awareness and interest regarding the
challenges and rewards of becoming a primary care/family physician in rural
Alabama.
To provide practical rural clinical experiences, that increases the RMP student’s
knowledge about the rural community and rural medical practice.
To increase the RMP student’s’ knowledge about health care policy and current
trends in medicine particularly as they apply to the family/primary care practice
and rural health care.
Maintain and support a peer network of RMP students.
To provide leadership development opportunities for RMP students.
Increase the number of UABSOM and specifically UABSOM/HRMC graduates
who ultimately become Family physician/primary care physicians in rural
Alabama
DURING PHASE III RURAL MEDICINE PROGRAM STUDENTS WILL BE
REQUIRED TO:
Attend FMIG meetings
Attend Alabama AAFP annual student meeting (schedule dependent) 3rd year
and 4th year
Satisfy all UAB School of Medicine’s special topic curriculum requirements
through RMP designated or approved special topics
Family Medicine third year clerkship and RMP student scholarly activity
All RMP students will be scheduled for their scholarly activity in the block
immediately following their Family Medicine clerkship.
All RMP students are required to have their scholarly activity approved by
the RMP program director.
Complete a fourth year RMP Rural Elective (2 weeks) or a Rural Acting
Internship (4 weeks) designated by or approved by the RMP program director.
ASSESSMENT
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AUBURN UNIVERSITY/UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
RURAL MEDICAL SCHOLARS PROGRAM
During the last 3 months of the fourth year of medical school, each student will
complete an assessment document.
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