title: A rural pathways program for high school students: reinforcing a sense of place.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The affinity model predicts that students from rural areas who train in smaller towns will be more likely to choose rural practice. Most pipeline programs based on this model begin in college or medical school. Many rural students first encounter academic and career planning challenges prior to college, and a few programs are focused on high school students.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report pre- and post-program opinions and American College Testing (ACT) practice scores from 151 participants in a high school rural scholar program over the first 10 years of the program.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After participation, the students showed significantly more positive opinions about their county's health care resources and their knowledge of career options, and they knew more names of the providers in their county. Their practice ACT scores increased slightly, and their assessment that they were well prepared to take the ACT improved. Seventy-five percent have pursued a health career, and 10% have entered medical school.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A summer program that allows high school students to shadow health professionals in their hometown and study in a virtual classroom can accomplish modest academic gains while producing more positive opinions about the health care in their county. They also report better understanding of the career options available to them.
authors.affiliation: University of Louisville School of Medicine, Trover Campus at Baptist Health Madisonville, Madisonville, KY.
authors.forename: William J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Crump
authors.forename: R Steve
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Fricker
authors.forename: Katelyn F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Flick
authors.forename: Kristin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gerwe-Wickham
authors.forename: Kathriena
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Greenwell
authors.forename: Kelsey L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Willen
mesh_terms: D001290:Attitude; D002321:Career Choice; D003099:College Admission Test; D006801:Humans; D007629:Kentucky; D008507:Medically Underserved Area; D008611:Mentors; D011365:Professional Practice Location; D019035:Rural Health Services; D012424:Rural Population; D020377:Self Efficacy; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D000078329:Workforce