Rural and Urban Scholars in Community Health
Rural and Urban Scholars in Community Health (RUSCH), launched in 2009, is a pre-med pathway program that has been developed by the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health in partnership with four Universities of Wisconsin campuses (UW-Milwaukee, UW-Platteville, UW-Parkside and UW–Madison), Spelman College in Atlanta and Wisconsin’s Native American college students enrolled in any campus.
Preparing Future Medical Students
The aim of RUSCH is to select and nurture students who show an interest in practicing medicine in rural and urban underserved areas of the state. Underrepresented or disadvantaged students from partner schools are encouraged to apply, as well as Native American applicants from schools in Wisconsin and surrounding states. Nearly one-third (32 percent) of students in recent incoming RUSCH student cohorts have self-identified as belonging to racial and ethnic groups that are defined as underrepresented-in-medicine (URM).
RUSCH gives you the opportunity to increase your exposure to, and expand your knowledge of, careers in medicine. You’ll work side by side with current UW School of Medicine and Public Health physicians, faculty and medical students and develop knowledge, skills and attitudes to strengthen your application to medical school.
Medically underserved areas in rural and urban Wisconsin need physicians now and the need will continue to grow. RUSCH is a strong pipeline for the UW School of Medicine and Public Health’s two medical education training programs:
Learn how premedical students at UW-Parkside are gaining valuable experience in the health sciences through Rural and Urban Scholars in Community Health.
Program Structure
RUSCH is a two-year program that includes research and enrichment internships, health equity seminars and field trips to underserved rural and urban areas, MD admissions workshops and advising, and career development.
- The Academic Year Enrichment Experience spans two years and links RUSCH students to mentors, provides seminars on various medical and health care topics, and facilitates student involvement in research and community service. The RUSCH academic year offerings enhance the existing pre-med advising and campus health career organization programming at our partner campuses and provides MCAT preparation support.
- Research Summer Experience offers an eight-week research experience coordinated by the UW School of Medicine and Public Health. Students live on campus at UW-Madison and participate in MD admissions workshops, health equity seminars, campus experience, community service and field trips to Wisconsin areas with health disparities.
- Community Summer Experience is an eight-week summer enrichment program that provides academic seminars and community health hands-on work experience. Students encounter public health concepts and community health resources while they participate in community health improvement projects and work with underserved populations through Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) internship placements along with additional support in Milwaukee, Parkside or Platteville.
Benefits and Rewards
Housing and meals are provided during the summer on campus at UW School of Medicine and Public Health, and a stipend is awarded for each summer. You will also have the opportunity to:
- Experience life on campus at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health in Madison
- Establish relationships with faculty mentors and interact with current medical students
- Increase your understanding of health disparities of both rural and urban communities
Meet the Contacts
Meet key contacts within the School of Medicine and Public Health and partner schools in the RUSCH program.