There are excellent model programs that have successful track records in this area. Harold Rabinowitz has worked for years with his Physician Shortage Area Program in Pennsylvania. With only 1% of Pennsylvania medical school graduates, this program has graduated 12% or Pennsylvania's rural family physicians. Students are picked on the basis of interest in rural practice and family medicine. The program reaches out to the regions small colleges and bridges across admissions and throughout medical school. Admissions Package Few Young People In Rural Areas See guidelines for developing rural med ed.
There are a variety of rural preceptorships available locally through the family medicine department, the state medical association, or the office of rural health. Model preceptorships exist in several states. Other rotations exist at Tribal Reservations, overseas missions, and the Appalachian Preceptorship. The WWAMI program has the SPARX program. The National Health Service Corps has a SEARCH program that students can attend in the first few years of medical school. SEARCH is oriented toward community service. Click here for info on the Nebraska SEARCH program.
See Prepare - Establishing Rural Student Interest Groups