Value-Based Medical Student Education Training Program - An effective, efficient, and equitable healthcare system is dependent on sufficient primary care workforce (Starfield, 2005). Despite evidence that access to primary care decreases morbidity and mortality, many U.S. communities remain health professions shortage areas (HPSA) or specifically HPSA for primary care.(Bazemore, 2021) A number of evidence-based factors that have been shown to increase the choice of primary care specialty (family medicine) including preceptor support, clinical experiences in rural and full-scope family medicine practices, and institutional support for students interested in careers in primary care. (Alavi, 2019) Despite evidence that students from rural background are more likely to practice in a rural community, the matriculation of rural students continues to decline. (Shipman 2019) Nevada faces significant challenges in closing the gap to access to health care and especially primary care, as almost 70% of the state’s population lives in counties designated as HPSA. Of the 62,000 Native Americans who live in Nevada, 97% live in a designated HPSA. The University of Nevada Reno School of Medicine (UNR Med) has a longstanding commitment to training physicians for Northern Nevada and neighboring areas. UNR Med has programs for prospective medical students, scholarly opportunities for physicians-in-training, clinical experiences, and continuing education and support for physicians in practice. This proposal aims to expand existing programs, to build new programs and partnerships, and develop infrastructure for sustainable future projects. Programs include scholarship support post-baccalaureate program recruitment for students interested in primary care. Rural clinic partnerships, primary care clinical experiences, and faculty development will support curriculum in primary care and rural medicine. Primary care and public health research opportunities will enhance students’ scholarly activities. Partnerships with key stakeholders such as the Area Health Education Centers (AHEC), the Office of Indigenous Relations, the Governor’s Office of Economic Development, Nevada public health organizations, and others will ensure sustainability of programming well beyond the funding period of this grant. Please take note of the following program Summerized Goals:1. Attracting, retaining, and graduate medical students from tribal, rural, and/or medically underserved communities with an interest in practicing in these areas after completing residency training.2.Increasing the number of UNR Med graduates who choose residency programs in family medicine, general internal medicine, general pediatrics, and general psychiatry to bolster the primary care physician workforce in tribal, rural, and medically underserved communities in Nevada. 3. Establishing or improving partnerships, including rotations in primary care settings such as Rural Health Clinics (RHCs), Critical Access Hospitals, Community Health Centers in Nevada, community-based settings, and urban underserved settings in Nevada's primary care health professions shortage areas.4.Collaborate with community-based facilities and underserved communities on educational and training activities for medical students, preparing them to meet future workforce needs after completing residency.5.Enhancing the UNR Med Post-Bac program to meet the needs of potential students from rural, tribal, and underserved communities.
