Rural Medicine

Rural Medicine Opportunities

Core Experiences

All residents will have the following rural training experience.

  • Robust didactic education in underserved healthcare topics.
  • 4 weeks of a rural rotation during the PGY2 year. There is an option for rural sites that are within 45 minutes to 1 hour away from Salt Lake City, accommodating residents who prefer a site that is accessible with a daily commute. For rural rotations that are located further away, housing is provided for the duration of the rotation, as well as mileage reimbursement for driving to and from the site. Nearby rural options include Tooele, Stansbury, Kamas, and Heber. Additional sites residents have chosen include Vernal and Roosevelt in northeastern Utah, multiple sites in southern parts of the state, including Moab, Kanab, Monticello, and Blanding, as well as options for Indian Health Service (IHS) sites in Shiprock, New Mexico and Chinle, Arizona.

Additional Opportunities

For residents with increased interest in rural training, the following supplemental educational activities are available.

  • Up to 2 to 4 weeks of additional rotation time in a rural site during residency training.

Rural Track

For residents with goals for rural practice after residency, a dedicated rural training track is available for up to 2 residents per class year. Residents will be provided with a rural track faculty advisor and mentor who will help guide them with completing the detailed components of the track, including choosing the rotation experiences that will best prepare them for their specific interests and career goals. Mentors will also be a main point of contact for residents with guidance in preparing for rural job applications and interviews. Residents who complete the following track components will receive acknowledgement of this in their final program letter upon residency graduation, as well as a certificate highlighting this achievement.

  • 12 additional weeks of rural training, divided into rotations that are 2 to 4-weeks in length, spread throughout residency. Residents may return to the same site, or experience several different sites. Housing is provided, and mileage for driving to and from rotation sites is reimbursed.
  • 8 weeks of elective time dedicated to specialty rotations that will help prepare residents for rural practice. These rotations include, but are not limited to, additional electives focused on obstetrics, emergency medicine, inpatient medicine, point-of-care ultrasound training, and procedure training.
  • Completion of at least 1 scholarly work on a rural or underserved healthcare topic (inclusive of a Grand Rounds presentation).
  • Participation in teaching at least 2 didactic presentations with a faculty member on rural or underserved healthcare topics.