COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Editor's Note: The attached video aired in May 2023.
On Wednesday, Texas A&M officially launched their new Rural Engagement Program to help provide better health care for rural Texans.
The program is a collaboration between the Texas A&M schools of medicine and nursing and the Rural and Community Health Institute, and was pushed forward by funding from the 88th Texas Legislature.
“Although there are common challenges facing rural health care, each rural community in Texas is unique, with specific needs. By integrating the resources of the Texas A&M School of Medicine, School of Nursing and RCHI, the Rural Engagement Program can provide a robust menu of support capabilities and assistance that best fits the needs of each community,” said Kia Parsi, MD, executive director of the Rural and Community Health Institute in a press release.
In addition to bringing healthcare quality commonly found in more urban areas, the program will also work to bring more medical professionals to rural areas and inspire up and coming students to pursue a career in the healthcare field while they are still in their primary and secondary education stages of academic development.
"I take immense pride in the work being done by the Texas A&M Health Rural Engagement Program and the role the School of Medicine undertakes,” said Amy Waer, MD, dean of the School of Medicine in a post on Vital Record, the online newsroom of Texas A&M Health. “Over the past several years, our Rural Medicine Program has played a pivotal role in advancing health care, particularly in developing our physician workforce. The Rural Engagement Program will enable us to make even more meaningful contributions to the well-being of our rural communities."
As one of the initiatives for this new program, $350,000 in scholarships will be awarded annually to registered nurses in rural areas working towards completing their Bachelor of Science in Nursing or an advanced nursing degree or certificate.
“All Texans deserve access to high quality health care, and the next generation of Aggie nurses must be well-prepared to care for the rural communities that need them most,” said Leann Horsley, PhD, RN, CHSE, CNE, dean of the School of Nursing in a press release. “Nursing’s participation in the Rural Engagement Program signifies our continued commitment to serving the underserved and addressing the complex challenges facing health care in a mostly rural state.”
Click here to read the full announcement at Vital Record, the online newsroom of Texas A&M Health.
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