The Recruitable Community Project is a cooperative effort of the West Virginia University Department of Family Medicine, the West Virginia Bureau for Public Health, and other academic and state agencies. The main objective of the project is to aid rural West Virginia communities in the recruitment of health care providers, particularly family physicians. The emphasis of the project is on the enhancement of the community role in recruitment.

Participating communities may benefit from resources and information available from various sources. The WVU Extension Service will provide valuable community assessment and also suggestions for improvement. The WVU Division of Resource Management organizes visitation by a team of professionals that can address various aspects of community development. The Department of Family Medicine will provide an assessment of and suggestions to the community from the perspective of a physician with rural practice experience.

Participating communities are required to establish a recruitment board of interested community members who will work constructively with project personnel in order to gather information and effect the changes necessary to enhance recruitment possibilities. A sponsoring agency (e.g., local hospital or clinic) that would offer a contract to a recruit should be identified.

Nancy Melton , Coordinator
Recruitable Community Project
Rural Health Policy OCRHS
350 Capitol Street, Rm. 515
Charleston, WV 25301
ph 304-558-1327
fax 304-558-1437
nancymelton@wvdhhr.org

Dr. Ken ShannonDr. Ken Shannon
phone (304) 598-6900, ext. 5899
e-mail: shannonk@rcbhsc.wvu.edu

Some valuable internet links include:

The West Virginia University Health Sciences Placement Service (www.hsc.wvu.edu/placement)

The West Virginia Bureau for Public Health (www.wvdhhr.org/bph)