Are you a Physician?

What We Do

Connect motivated pre-medical students with rural physicians
Reduce barriers to rural clinical exposure
Promote professionalism, respect, and meaningful learning
Help students understand the real rewards and challenges of rural practice

How You Can Help

There are many ways to support the Rural Health Initiative, and participation is completely flexible based on your availability. Here are a few ways to get involved by donating shadowing time:

Host a student for a single shadowing day
Offer shadowing once a month
Provide opportunities once a week or twice a week for a specified/unspecified period of time

Whether you are able to offer one day or recurring shadowing opportunities, your time provides invaluable early exposure to rural medicine and helps students better understand the role rural physicians play in their communities. Even a single experience can make a lasting impact.

Why It Works

Early, hands-on experiences helps future doctors by:

Developing appreciation for rural healthcare
Understanding community-centered medicine
Exploring rural medicine as a long-term career path
Becoming advocates for underserved populations

What We Ask of Our Members

All students are required to review our Shadowing Tips & What to Expect guide before participating. This ensures a respectful, professional, and smooth experience for both students and providers. By registering for a Rural Health Initiative shadowing experience, students agree to follow these policies:

Shadowing RSVP Policies & Agreement

By registering for a Rural Reach Initiative shadowing opportunity, you agree to the following three policies:

1. Commitment, Reliability & Safety

Your RSVP is a professional commitment.
Do not register unless you are fully available on the scheduled date.
Cancellations within 48 hours are not permitted except in cases of emergency or severe weather.
In unsafe driving conditions or official weather advisories, notify both Rural Reach and the clinic as soon as possible.
No-shows or repeated last-minute cancellations (outside of emergencies or severe weather) may result in removal from future opportunities.
Physicians are volunteering their time — reliability and communication are essential.

2. Professional Conduct & Communication

Students are expected to:
Arrive 10–15 minutes early (unless weather conditions require delay — communicate promptly)
Dress in business professional attire unless otherwise instructed
Follow all directions from physicians and staff
Maintain respectful, professional behavior at all times
Respond promptly to emails and complete all required paperwork before the experience
Receive written confirmation before attending
You represent both yourself and the Rural Reach Initiative.

3. Patient Privacy & Confidentiality

Shadowing is a clinical privilege. By RSVPing, you agree to:
Maintain strict HIPAA compliance
Never record, photograph, or share patient information
Not discuss patient encounters outside the clinic
Step out immediately if requested by staff
Any breach of confidentiality may result in permanent removal from the initiative.

Acknowledgment

By submitting your RSVP, you acknowledge that shadowing is a privilege, physicians are donating their time, and you agree to uphold these standards.

Have Questions?

Thank you for your willingness to teach, mentor, and share your passion for rural medicine. Your time and generosity will help sustain healthcare access in rural and underserved communities, and inspire the next generation of physicians.

Your personal contact information will not be shared with students and will be kept confidential by the initiative’s co-founders. All coordination and expectations are handled to respect your time, privacy, and practice.