Developing a rural workforce through medical education: lessons from down under.
BACKGROUND
Rural Clinical Schools in Australia are a government initiative to help address the rural workforce shortage at the medical school level. This article reports on the approaches and outcomes from one Rural Clinical School.


METHODS
The program is underpinned by an 8-week rural rotation for all 3rd-year students and a yearlong program of core clinical rotations for 25% of the Year 3 cohort. Aspects of experiential, situated, service, and self-directed learning along with interprofessional study are integrated to provide unique rural-focused learning opportunities.


RESULTS
Compared to their urban counterparts, rural students see more patients, perform a greater number of procedures, and achieve as well in exam results.


CONCLUSIONS
Early indications suggest that our program is attracting more Year 3 students to explore the rural pathway as an option to a future career. The program demonstrates that rural students achieve as well as their urban counterparts.
Eley
Diann
D
Rural Clinical Division, University of Queensland, Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia. d.eley@uq.edu.au
Young
Louise
L
Baker
Peter
P
Wilkinson
David
D
D001315:Australia; D003479:Curriculum; D003625:Data Collection; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D008507:Medically Underserved Area; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D019035:Rural Health Services / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D012424:Rural Population; D012577:Schools, Medical / Q000458:organization & administration; D013337:Students, Medical; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population