Research, observations, and models all agree on one thing. In order to have more rural physicians, rural medical educators must have leadership positions. In most instances this means rural doctors who have become educators and leaders. This means positions as deans, chairs, and directors.
Admissions chairs and deans are the key positions. Without admissions impact, there will be no need for rural medical school or graduate programs. Deans at medical schools and admissions chairs have had great impact at WWAMI, Mercer, Nebraska, and other locations - Role of admissions chair, dean. See Basco research at Admissions for generalists and rural physicians
Research demonstrates that having a rural mission and rural faculty leaders is a key part of graduating physicians into rural areas. Academic Leaders Deans Organizations
Family Practice and Medical School Leadership
In the following article on Rural Graduation Rates of FP Residency Programs, Family Practice residency programs where Program directors were the rural contacts were more likely to graduate rural physicians. Leaders get to decide the mission and budget issues, and therefore the emphasis of the program Fam Med Res Prog and Grad of RFP
Leadership development is one of the focal points in long term preceptorships and accelerated programs. Meeting the Needs of Underserved Rural and Inner City Areas with Accelerated Graduate Training
Predoctoral directors with rural experience have also had a key role (Jeff Stearns, Paul Paulman, others)
Why Doctor's Don't Go Where They Are Needed if this leader understood more about small towns and what they need...
Why Doctors Do Go To Small Towns
George Washington was a unique leader in his willingness to step away and allow others to take over, after the war, and after 2 terms, even though he could have been a king! One of his most difficult challenges was just after the war had been won. Congress had not paid the officers for many months and they were restless. They were proposing their own rebellion. Washington found out about a meeting they were having and "happened to show up". In their respect they allowed him to address them as a group. Rather than berate them or cause further division, Washington used other talents that he had studied over the years, including the theatre and other forms of entertainment. Before he spoke any words, he had them back as colleagues and friends and fellow leaders in a new endeavor. All he did was reach into his pocket and slowly and deliberated placed reading spectacles on his nose. He then apologized that his vision had deteriorated over the years. With this he basically brought their senses back to them with all the shared efforts over many terrible years, the many defeats and losses of friends and health, and the few victories. The rebellion was over. During the deliberations over the formation of the Constitution that he lead, he contributed one thing again and again, urging them to unity!
Eisenhower did much the same in his leadership, and so did Kennedy. Kennedy and Crisis
Colson regarding Lincoln - Strength for Anxious Days
What IfAcademic Leaders Deans Organizations
General Robert E. Lee was asked what he thought of a fellow officer in the
Confederate Army who had made some derogatory remarks about him. Lee rated him
as being very satisfactory.
The person who asked the question seemed perplexed. "General," he said, "I guess
you don't know what he's been saying about you."
"I know," answered Lee. "But I was asked my opinion of him, not his opinion of
me!"
