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Front Row: Brent Smith-Cleveland, Chelsea Steele-Fulton, Jessica Lavender-Carthage, John Russell McPherson-Inverness
Standing: Samuel Holdiness-Kosciusko, Laura Jackson-Hazlehurst, Janie Guice-Director, Dr. Dan Jones-UMMC Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs and Dean, School of Medicine, Jenna Jones-Brandon, Jane Beebe Jones-Isola and Sharkeshia Braddy-Waynesboro
Not pictured: Amanda Smith-Laurel

Mississippi Rural Physicians Scholarship Program

"Moving Forward, back to Your Roots"

Janie Guice, Executive Director
(601) 815-9022
jguice@acadaff.umsmed.edu
http://mrpsp.umc.edu

The Vision

In 2007 the Mississippi Legislature created the Mississippi Rural Physicians Scholarship Program, instituting a unique longitudinal program that identifies rural college students who aspire to return to their roots to practice medicine. Academic enrichment, faculty and physician mentoring with solid medical school financial support through the Mississippi Rural Physicians Scholarship Program will enable capable young Mississippians to address the challenge of Mississippi's healthcare crisis.

The Need

According to 2006 statistics, of the 82 counties, 63 have physician/patient ratios (1/1493) that exceed the College of Graduate Medical Education recommendations. Several have four times the recommended ratio (one physician for almost 6,000 patients) and one county (Issaquena) has no primary care physician. Accessible primary care is fundamental to diagnosing and treating common ailments and providing follow-up care for chronic illnesses such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease that plague our state.

The Mission

MRPSP's three phases nurture future rural physicians from college through residency training. Maintaining a high level of awareness and involvement in Mississippi's rural health issues is a constant in every phase of training. Channeling students into the five primary care specialties (Family Medicine, general Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Medicine-Pediatrics and Obstetrics/Gynecology) will target the current physician shortage.

To jumpstart the flow of primary care physicians in the healthcare pipeline, ten current UMMC School of Medicine students were awarded State funded scholarships valued at $30,000 for 2008-2009. Each of these students embraces their small town values and culture; sharing a common passion for making a difference through missionary zeal or maverick determination. The challenge of fully funding renewable scholarships for fifteen slots each year remains.

MRPSP scholars attending medical school will benefit from faculty mentors in the five named specialties while paired with a practicing rural physician. Rural health care experiences plus academic support continue throughout medical school. Close ties to the program's junior scholars and involvement in their rural communities is vital during residency. An increased sensitivity to the importance of completing residency training within the state is supported by current research indicating a majority of physicians establish their practice within 100 miles of where they trained. We must "grow our own" primary care physicians!

Current Status

In the spring of 2009, fifteen college sophomores from rural backgrounds will be selected to enter a two year undergraduate program leading to Direct Entry into UMMC's School of Medicine where a $30,000 per year scholarship awaits them if adequate funding is available. A solid academic and public service record, strong work ethic and desire to practice rural medicine in Mississippi are the core requirements.

This pioneering phase is the first of its kind in the country as most states wait to provide assistance until the student is already admitted to medical or osteopathic school.

The Next Step

Afforded Direct Entry into UMMC's School of Medicine and $30,000 scholarship in hand, the MRPSP scholar signs a legally binding contract requiring one year of rural clinic based primary care for each year financial support is provided. Simply stated, the student must successfully complete the necessary 7-9 years of medical training (including residency) and immediately enter medical practice in a rural or medically underserved community of less than 20,000 residents in Mississippi. Failure at any stage of the obligation will place the scholar in default of the contract and in breach of the Integrity Clause. Repayment of all monies received plus penalties is required immediately.

Once in medical school, academic support continues including "Step Prep Saturdays" designed to ensure success on the critical USMLE Step One and Step Two examinations taken after the second and fourth years, respectively. Faculty mentoring at UMMC and long term relationships with practicing physicians will keep the student focused on the face of rural health care.

The Challenge

Securing long term partnerships of private and public funding is foundational to the growth and sustainability of MRPSP. In addition to funding four years of medical education at a cost of $120,000 per future physician, costs associated with undergraduate grooming: MCAT preparation, academic enrichment in epidemiology and medical terminology, podcast rural health lectures, and travel expenses to UMMC for tri-yearly seminars must also be included. Contrast this physician workforce investment to the current estimated $1.2 million per year economic impact of adding a single physician to a rural community.

Why MRPSP Will Succeed

• Grass roots advocacy of the combined forces of the MS Academy of Family Physicians and the MS chapter of the AMA in the research, design, legislative lobbying and current oversight of the program in conjunction with the endorsement of UMMC
• MRPSP provides a means for a rural Mississippi student to:
  earn admission to medical school afforded by the newly developed Direct Entry process
  earn MCAT preparation valued at $2,000 through program participation
  earn $120,000 medical school scholarship in return for 4 years of service
  learn the art of healing from practicing rural physicians

Integrity Clause

As a member of the Mississippi Rural Physicians Scholarship Program, I aspire to earn my place in the medical community of Mississippi. I accept responsibility for my conduct and expect the highest standards of myself. I understand and pledge my commitment to fulfilling the requirements of the Mississippi Rural Physicians Scholarship Program. I recognize it is an honor and a privilege to be the recipient of the State's financial investment in me. I pledge to uphold my agreement to practice primary care in rural Mississippi.