The Rural Health Scholars Program at Southern Utah University
Provided by the Utah Center for Rural Health
Rita Osborn, Associate Director, Utah Center for Rural Health
435-865-8520 osborn@suu.edu
The Rural Health Scholars Program is an enhancement program geared to give students opportunities
that will help them as they apply to graduate level health care programs such as Medical, Dental,
Pharmacy, Optometry, and Physician Assistant.
The program began in 2004-2005 with 40 members and in 2008-9 membership was 185. Students pay
$187.50 each semester, unless they are in their senior year and acting as a mentor when the fee is
waived. Most students find the cost minimal when faced with the challenge of balancing rigorous
academics and the requirements of health care graduate programs. An extra year in school, or
applying more than once can be very expensive and can be avoided with early planning and
advisement.
RHS is a menu selection type of program. Multiple offerings can be chosen by students. Students have
the option of getting SUU credit for some of the offerings. Weekly e-mails are sent to students giving
them information about opportunities and tips and hints for the application process. Current health care
articles e-mailed to students keep students informed about a variety of topics essential to pre-health
students.
Listed below are just some of the activities available within the program:
Tuesday a.m. Seminars (can be taken for 1 unit – Biology 4840 pass/fail credit) – designed so that guest
speakers are not repeated over a two-year cycle. Presenters discuss career options, health care topics,
test preparation and more. In addition to class time (50 minutes weekly) Students are required to
conduct 30 hours of community service (required for class credit). All scholars are welcome to attend –
topics are e-mailed out in advance. It is recommended that beginning RHS take this for at least two
semesters.
Enhanced Advising – In addition to each college advisor and academic advisors, RHS offers enhanced
advising geared towards the parts of a student’s application not focused on academics. Students are
encouraged to meet twice yearly for advising concerning leadership, community service, patient
exposure, research, job shadowing, and extracurricular activities. A resource binder is provided to each
scholar.
Pre-Dental Practicum – offered as Physical Science 3800 (1 unit graded credit in the spring semester).
This class uses a Head/Neck Anatomy text, is taught by three local dentists, has four hands-on labs and
meets once weekly on Tuesday evenings.
MCAT/DAT/PCAT Prep – can be taken for 2 units of Biology 4840 pass/fail credit. This program should
be taken the spring semester before a student applies. The program allows the student to take
four full-length practice tests in a simulated testing environment and involves five different
disciplines of faculty (Chemistry, OChem, Biology, English and Physics).
Job Shadowing/Internships – Community and regional connections allow us to assist students find
meaningful job shadowing experiences while jumping through the administrative hoops created by
HIIPA, OSHA and other governing rules. Pharmacy/Optometry students can spend up to three semesters
doing internships in corporate big-box offices, independent retail, and medical or hospital based
pharmacy/optometry. Dental students can spend time assisting chair side at the Cedar City Community
Clinic or with private dentists, including specialists. Medical students have a wide variety of primary
care and specialty care options.
CPR/FIRST AID Classes – provided for RHS students at a minimal cost (@$20). Class is provided once
each semester.
Leadership – Many opportunities for leadership are offered throughout the program.
Research – Independent research is required and/or preferred for most graduate health care programs.
RHS provides presentations about finding research projects, connection with faculty-led projects,
information about off-campus research project and some supervision for in-house research projects
done through the Utah Center for Rural Health.
Lending Library – A library with test preparation materials, career planning books, and application helps
are available in our office at ELC 103. Use of these materials can save students hundreds of dollars when
purchasing materials to prepare for the MCAT/DAT/PCAT/OAT.
Mentoring – Each student is assigned to a senior level scholar who is in the application phase. This
relationship allows a one-on-one connection where individual questions can be discussed.
Community Service – We keep an on-going list of medical and non-medical community service activities,
including hospitals, care centers, clinics and many other options.
Cultural Immersion Experiences – Several of these are offered each year. Usually, two week-long trips
to Sonora, Mexico, are offered, as well as two week-long trips to Montezuma Creek, UT (a Navajo
Community Health Center). These trips expose the student to a culturally diverse health care setting
and allow opportunities for unique community service. Additionally, a month-long Medical Spanish
program in Guadalajara is held during the summer.
Maymester Application Workshop – Applying to graduate programs is challenging and timeconsuming. During the Maymester, a workshop involving several campus resources will allow the
student to work on their application in a structured setting with advice and editing, listen to workshops
on proper attire and assist them in getting their application in early, a true key to success. In addition,
individualized assistance is available for the supplemental/secondary application process during the
summer.
Mock Interviews – Held during the fall semester that the students will be interviewing, this experience
allows students to have some feedback on their interview skills and learn to develop them.
Thursday Lunch Bunch – Students on the interview trail meet together and with advisor for a free lunch
each Thursday at the SUU cafeteria. They discuss potential interview questions and provide feedback
about particular schools.
The Utah Center for Rural Health provides services within 19 rural Utah counties, including the following
activities:
Rural Graduate Rotations
Utah Directory of Health Care Professions
High School Health Career Activities (including annual summer camp held at SUU, visits/workshops at
rural high schools)
Staff:
Dennis Moser, Executive Director
Rita Osborn, Associate Director
Carrie Torgersen, Program Coordinator
Marla Colberg, Office Manager
Rev. 7/30/09