Leadership in Rural Medicine
Applicants must have outstanding qualifications for practicing in a rural area, with consideration given for previous rural life experiences, initiative, and the desire to become not only excellent physicians, but also community leaders.
The Leadership in Rural Medicine application requires the completion of two additional essays within the Secondary Application, in which the applicant discusses their interests in rural medicine and highlights their personal characteristics and experiences that are consistent with becoming an excellent rural physician. Applicants should have interests and personality traits consistent with living in a smaller community and practicing in underserved, rural areas.
Students interested in LRM should specify an interest in either the Rural Physician Program (RPP), the Rural Community Health Program (R-CHP), or both. However, students must choose one track to follow once admitted.
The goal for each of the following tracks is to provide students with enriched clinical experiences, community service opportunities, and small town lifestyle advantages which will encourage CHM Rural Physician Program alumni to establish rewarding practices in Michigan's rural communities.
Leadership In Rural Medicine Website
Rural Community Health Program (R-CHP)
Each year, up to 12 CHM admitted students are selected for the Rural Community Health Program. Preference for this program is given, though not limited, to applicants who have had significant experiences in rural Michigan or are considering eventually practicing in a small-town setting.
R-CHP students receive excellent training from Michigan State University faculty and from CHM selected board certified volunteer physicians within rural communities in Northern and Mid-Michigan. Rural communities participating in the R-CHP program have been selected based on exemplary educational and clinical opportunities within each community. Students also have the opportunity to work with the Family Practice Residents at Munson Medical Center or MidMichigan Medical Center-Midland.
The R-CHP curriculum includes exposure to Rural Community Health and Rural Leadership training. An explicit goal of the program is that R-CHP graduates will eventually practice in a rural area, in any specialty.
Core Clinical Disciplines
Aspects of each core clinical discipline are done at either Munson Medical Center in Traverse City, a surrounding community in Northern Michigan, or at MidMichigan Medical Center in Midland. Munson Medical Center is a 391-bed nonprofit hospital that serves as Northern Michigan's regional referral center. MidMichigan Medical Center-Midland is a 265-bed hospital with outstanding state-of the art facilities located on a 180 acre wooded campus. Both hospital systems have a Family Medicine Residency and outstanding medical communities.
Significant and longitudinal exposure to the rural community will allow students to form relationships with that community and build on experiences throughout their clinical training. Students will also have the opportunity to work with the Rural Public Health Director and Community and Hospital leadership in order to better understand population health within rural communities. A hallmark of the program is the two-month Longitudinal Rural Elective during Year Four which is tailored to each student's anticipated career path. Additional required and elective time can be done in Traverse City or Midland, anywhere in the CHM system, nationally or internationally.
For more information, please contact the Traverse City or Midland campus:
Traverse City Community Campus
1400 Medical Campus Dr.
Traverse City, MI 49684
(231) 392-8220
Midland Regional Community Campus
4000 Wellness Dr.
Midland, MI 48640
(989) 488-5536
Rural Physician Program (RPP)
Each year, up to 12 CHM admitted students are selected to complete their Late Clinical Experience (years 3 and 4) in Michigan's Upper Peninsula Regional Campus. Preference for this program is given, though not limited, to applicants who have had significant experiences in rural Michigan or are considering eventually practicing in a small-town setting. While the RPP was particularly designed for students entering primary care fields, graduates can and have gone into nearly all specialties.
RPP students receive an excellent clinical education from Michigan State University faculty and from CHM selected board certified volunteer physicians from the local community. Students also have the opportunity to work with the Family Medicine Residents at UP Health System-Marquette, a Duke-Life Point Hospital.
Core Clinical Disciplines
The core clinical disciplines are done at UP Health System-Marquette, a Duke-Life Point Hospital. UP Health System is a 307-bed regional referral center with outstanding state-of-the-art facilities and dedicated physician educators. A hallmark of the program is the Family Medicine elective in a small Upper Peninsula community, where one-on-one teaching and tremendous clinical exposure serves to coalesce prior learning and experience in a comprehensive, humanistic approach. Additional required and elective time can be done in Marquette, anywhere in the CHM system, nationally or internationally.
For more information, please contact the UP campus:
MSU CHM Upper Peninsula Regional Campus
418 W. Magnetic Street
Marquette, MI 49855
Phone: (906) 228-7970
Fax: (906) 228-5734
Email the UP Campus