Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Date of Award

1-1-2023

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Ed.D. in Education

First Advisor

Macey L. Edmondson

Second Advisor

George S. McClellan

Third Advisor

Phillis George

Relational Format

dissertation/thesis

Abstract

The citizens of rural areas encounter many challenges with accessing primary healthcare. Mississippi meets 52.1% of the needs of the state for primary care physicians, causing citizens to travel farther distances to access health care. Many rural hospitals within the state are struggling financially and are at high risk of closing, causing further barriers for rural citizens to access healthcare. Increasing primary care physicians help provide adequate healthcare access and provides rural citizens access to preventative care and early treatment for health problems.

This study, conducted at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, seeks to determine if rural medicine courses help impact a student’s choice of specialty and if demographic, social, and environmental factors play a role. The findings of this study could impact how medical schools integrate rural medicine into their curriculum to increase students' choosing a primary care specialty and how their admissions process reviews student information. A greater understanding of motivations to practice in rural areas can aid medical education programs in engaging students in a way that provides them with the exposure necessary to consider rural practice, which could help alleviate health disparities in rural communities.

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