MSU seeking students for Rural Medical Scholars program
Published 12:00 am Sunday, December 6, 2009
Almost half of all Mississippians do not have access to a primary care physician, as 56 percent of the state’s primary care physicians practice in only four counties. Based on the obvious need for more primary care physicians throughout the rural parts of the state, Mississippi State University is bringing back the Rural Medical Scholars program.
The program is an exciting summer opportunity for academically talented high school students between their junior and senior years. We introduced the program in 1998 to encourage students interested in pursuing a career in family medicine. Due to funding cuts, we were unable to offer the program the past two years. Thankfully, we have found an alternative funding source to bring the program back this summer.
John C. Coccaro is county Extension director. Write to him at 1100-C Grove St., Vicksburg, MS 39180, call 601-636-5442 or e-mail.
Twenty talented students from across the state will be given the opportunity to attend Mississippi State for five weeks from May 30 to July 1, where they will take two pre-med courses and observe doctors at practice. I am asking the community for assistance identifying potential students and letting them know about this opportunity.
Other than a nominal $60 registration fee after acceptance and the cost of food during the program, there are no charges to the scholars. Tuition, room and textbooks are all provided. According to Dr. Bonnie Carew, Extension’s Rural Health Program leader, the program is an immediate $2,400 value (approximate cost of tuition, room, and textbooks) with the potential of making a major contribution to the student’s future and to the future of our state’s health care system.
If you go
The Mississippi State University Rural Medial Scholars program will be May 30-July 1. The fee is $60, and the application deadline is March 22. Forms can be found at www.RMS.msucares.com. For information, call the Warren County Extension Office at 601-636-5442.
To be considered, students must have a minimum composite ACT score of 25 and a minimum 24 in the math section of the test. Completing seven college credits in summer school requires a serious effort on the part of the scholars.
Applications for the program are available at www.RMS.msucares.com and are due by March 22. The application process also requires the students to obtain a recommendation from a teacher. The student’s guidance counselor is asked to attach ACT scores and an official transcript with the application and recommendation and mail the packet to MSU no later than March 22.
As Carew notes, “No matter your position on the current debate about the future of health care, the one constant on both sides of the debate is the need for more primary care physicians.”
So far, we have had 20 former scholars begin medical school, and we now have eight practicing physicians who have graduated. Your help in launching another student on the path to success would be appreciated.