WVU Health Sciences renews rural health commitment

Students to learn and live in W.Va. communities

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - Serving the healthcare needs of people who live throughout the state while providing a comprehensive education to students continues to be a major priority for West Virginia University Health Sciences. Officials released details today about the new Institute for Community and Rural Health and the programs that will place Health Sciences students in communities and rural areas as part of their curriculum.

For nearly two decades, all WVU students from the Schools of Medicine, Nursing, Dentistry and Pharmacy have spent several months working and learning in small clinics and hospitals in the state as they lived in the communities they served. Officials said the immersion experience allows students to see the unique quality of life and the value of setting up practice in the state’s small towns and rural areas.

The original statewide rural health program was developed by order of the state legislature.

“While a rural rotation is no longer a state mandate, WVU believes it is essential to the educational experience of our students,” Larry Rhodes, M.D., director of the Institute for Community and Rural Health, said. “This also ensures that our communities will continue to benefit from the partnerships developed over the years through the former rural health program.”

Dr. Rhodes said that each school, along with the professional programs of physical therapy, occupational therapy and medical technology, has been retooling its rural health rotation program to best suit the educational goals of its students and the needs in the communities. Students will work side by side with physicians and other healthcare providers, coordinated by Area Health Education Centers (AHEC).

“West Virginia University’s Charleston Division came about because of the foresight of many leaders who realized the impact of a statewide system of health professions education,” Clark Hansbarger, M.D., associate vice president for Health Sciences and dean of the School of Medicine for WVU’s Charleston Division, said.  “The WVU Institute for Community and Rural Health will utilize the synergy of resources offered by AHEC and our partners to serve the rural and primary care needs of our fellow West Virginians.”

Officials also announced that the program will offer an extra incentive to five students each year to stay and practice in West Virginia.  One fourth-year dental student, two third-year medical students and two fourth-year medical students will be offered free tuition in exchange for a commitment to practice in the state once they graduate. That represents a value of $30,000-40,000 per year for each student.

“WVU Health Sciences has a unique mission to serve the state by offering the highest quality education and healthcare,” Chancellor Christopher C. Colenda, M.D., M.P.H., said. “Our renewed commitment to the rural health program is a major step that will lead to our ultimate goal to transform the lives of people throughout West Virginia.”

The announcement of the new program was made during the 19th Annual Rural Health Conference, which runs through Friday at Lakeview Golf Resort and Spa in Morgantown.