North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo recently hosted 19 students from the Mississippi Rural Physicians Scholarship Program for their last Medical Encounters experience before they start medical school. The program was established in 2007 to address the shortage of primary care physicians, particularly in rural Mississippi.

Students heard from Dr. Dennis Smith, director of NMMC’s Family Medicine Residency Program, and Dr. David Pizzimenti, director of NMMC’s Internal Medicine Residency Program. Faculty and resident representatives from each training program participated in a panel discussion and answered students’ questions. Students also had an opportunity to tour both residency programs’ clinics.

During lunch, students visited with David Barber, president of North Mississippi Medical Clinics, as well as NMMC physician recruiters. Dr. Kaycee Burcham of Iuka Medical Clinic and Dr. Craig Moffett of Maben Medical Clinic—both past scholarship program participants—addressed the students virtually.

Each year the scholarship program recruits 15-25 undergraduate students with a connection to a rural area (population of 15,000 or less) into the program to mentor them, introduce them to rural primary care and help them successfully apply to medical school. Students are supported through medical school, residency and even their initial practice.

Students are also eligible to apply for a scholarship of $35,000 per year for each year they attend medical school, totaling $140,000. Recipients agree to practice one year in rural Mississippi in exchange for each year they receive the scholarship.  

Currently, 66 primary care physicians have been placed in rural, under-served areas around Mississippi. Of these, 15 practice with North Mississippi Health Services and another three are committed to join NMHS in the coming years.