By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    UV damage to eyes
    Warning Signs of Long-Term UV Damage to Your Eyes
    December 9, 2021
    degree for healthcare job
    The Ultimate Healthcare Recruiting and Staffing Guidebook
    March 21, 2022
    medicare part d benefits
    Everything that You Need to Know About Medicare Part D
    August 15, 2022
    Latest News
    Beyond Nutrition: Everyday Foods That Support Whole-Body Health
    June 15, 2025
    The Wide-Ranging Benefits of Magnesium Supplements
    June 11, 2025
    The Best Home Remedies for Migraines
    June 5, 2025
    The Hidden Impact Of Stress On Your Body’s Alignment And Balance
    May 22, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    Conservatives: The Utah Health Exchange is Not a Model
    July 23, 2011
    Medical Malpractice Reform Losing Physician Support
    November 7, 2011
    Hospitals Aim to Apply Direct Payments of Care Delivery to Increase Resources
    August 28, 2012
    Latest News
    Top HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps for Healthcare Teams
    June 25, 2025
    When Healthcare Ends, the Legal Process Begins: What Families Should Know About Probate and Medical Estates
    June 20, 2025
    Preventing Contamination In Healthcare Facilities Starts With Hygiene
    June 15, 2025
    Strengthening Healthcare Systems Through Clinical and Administrative Career Development
    June 13, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Rebranding Rural Medicine for Young Doctors
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Wilderness Medicine > Rebranding Rural Medicine for Young Doctors
Wilderness Medicine

Rebranding Rural Medicine for Young Doctors

MythicVoice
Last updated: August 12, 2011 9:04 am
MythicVoice
Share
4 Min Read
SHARE

Some people who know me personally, know that I just started medical school at Mercer University School of Medicine.

Some people who know me personally, know that I just started medical school at Mercer University School of Medicine. Mercer’s goal is to train doctors to work in rural and underserved areas of Georgia. As part of our orientation exercises a few days ago, we all took field trips out to many of Georgia’s rural and underserved areas. Honestly, living in a rural area isn’t what I thought it was going to be.

My group went to a town with a population size just shy of 10,000 people called Fitzgerald, GA. I guess for me, the reason I went was because I knew my dad worked there. Over the years, he had developed a knack for going to work in all these rural communities that are so far out of the way, that it’s sometimes caused his friends to question his sanity. After this experience, I think I’m starting to understand his passion for these places a little bit more.

When most people think of rural medicine, there’s this idea that you’ll likely have very few patients and keep herds of cows and flocks of chickens for company. While it is true that Fitzgerald is unabashedly proud of its wild (and legally protected) chicken population, the rest is largely a misconception. Even though towns like Fitzgerald have relatively small populations, young doctors actually build a large patient base fairly quickly. The fact is that patients in rural communities have very few options for doctors, hence, young physicians will often find they may be the only ones offering their specialties in certain areas and in some cases, their comparatively large patient base allows them to maximize their scope of practice.

More Read

Copperhead Snakebites
Blister Prevention, Management & Treatment
Lyme Disease Even Scarier? Maybe
Spider Season: The Brown Recluse
How To Stock Your Baby’s Medicine Cabinet Like A Pro

The city and many other stakeholders have spent a pretty large sum to renovate and expand the scope of available services at Dorminy Medical Center which is the only hospital in Fitzgerald. Aside from the fact that they needed cost-effective ways to reduce the distance that residents of Ben Hill County travel for medical care, they’re using the hospital as a means of planning the future of the city. The recently retired mayor, Gerald Thompson said

The only way businesses are gonna come to our city is if they know that they will be taken care of when they get here. Without a proper hospital, we can’t bring developers, business, or arts organizations, so we really need you guys.

Maybe it’s because of my idealistic tendencies that this statement resonated with me. A lot of times, I think med schools tend to advertise the fact that med students can get their loans paid off faster by working in rural areas and they often fail to make the case for the social impact that the presence of the right doctors can make in the community. To some degree, many people who go into medicine go with a certain sense of purpose and not just for the money and the lifestyle that it can afford them. Getting young doctors to understand the indirect value of the service they provide to the community may very well be the most crucial step in raising the next generation of rural doctors.

Related articles
  • Future Physicians being Placed in Rural America (hospitalphysicians.com)
  • Why We Need A More Cohesive Rural Medicine Support Group Online (md2bgrecoa3.com)
  • Rural areas badly in need of physicians (bendbulletin.com)
Enhanced by Zemanta

TAGGED:Rural Medicine
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

women dental care
What Is a Smile Makeover and How Much Does It Cost?
Dental health
June 30, 2025
HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps
Top HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps for Healthcare Teams
Global Healthcare Policy & Law Technology
June 25, 2025
recovering from injury
Rebuilding After Injury: Path to Physical and Emotional Recovery
News
June 22, 2025
scientist using microscope
When Healthcare Ends, the Legal Process Begins: What Families Should Know About Probate and Medical Estates
Global Healthcare
June 18, 2025

You Might also Like

10 Myths About Outdoor Medicine – Debunked

January 13, 2012

Are You Tasty to a Mosquito?

July 15, 2013
fitness
Wilderness Medicine

Hyponatremia – Overhydrating on the Trail

February 28, 2013

The Coldest Journey: Q&A with Dr. Rob Lambert, Expedition Team Doctor

January 17, 2013
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?