The Vision

In 2007 the Mississippi Legislature created the Mississippi Rural Physicians Scholarship Program, creating 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 plus 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 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 care is a constant in every phase of training. Channeling students into five primary care specialties (Family Medicine, Obstetrics/Gynecology, Pediatrics, Medical Pediatrics or General Internal Medicine) 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 embrace 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.

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

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!