Elentra recently hosted an insightful webinar, Regional Considerations in the Healthcare Workforce Shortage, exploring the global healthcare workforce shortage from a regional perspective. The webinar also tackled how medical education programs can strategically address healthcare access gaps, particularly in rural and underserved areas. The webinar featured special guest Dr. Natasha Bray, Dean at Oklahoma State University's College of Osteopathic Medicine, Cherokee Nation Campus.

The Impact of Location and Place on Healthcare Access 

The session opened with a discussion on how geography directly shapes healthcare access and outcomes. According to recent Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) data, more than 83 million people in the U.S. currently live in primary care shortage areas. Likewise, nearly 20% of the population in Canada does not have a regular family physician or nurse practitioner. Elentra highlighted how rural and underserved populations face longer wait times, limited specialist access, and health disparities that urban populations rarely experience. In other words, the healthcare workforce shortage disproportionately affects those living in rural areas and within underserved populations.

Elentra also presented several tools, including the United States Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) High Need Mapping Tool and American Medical Association (AMA) Health Workforce Mapper, showing attendees how readily available public data can inform educational strategies. These resources can support medical programs as they seek to understand and visualize where the greatest needs may exist and strategically align clinical placements in these areas.

The Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine: R3 and T3 Programs

Dr. Natasha Bray discussed, in-depth, OSU-COM's innovative Rural and Tribal medical training programs. OSU-COM was established in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 1972 with the specific goal of addressing healthcare access issues across Oklahoma, where every county experiences some form of health professional shortage. Further, the Cherokee Nation campus in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, was opened in partnership with OSU-COM and the Cherokee Nation in August of 2020 to address healthcare access in tribal communities across the state, specifically.

The Rural and Tribal tracks intentionally recruit students from rural and tribal communities, immersing them in these environments from the start of medical school. Students gain hands-on experiences, leadership training, and significant exposure to rural and tribal health systems throughout their education.

Dr. Bray shared several points of compelling outcome data:

• In the classes of 2024 and 2025, Rural Track students averaged 8.2 rotations in rural areas and Tribal Track students averaged 7.3 rotations.
• These students performed exceptionally well on their licensing exams, with Tribal and Rural Track students exceeding both school and national averages on the Level 1 and Level 2 CE exams (Tribal track students had a 100% pass rate on both).
• Approximately 70% of graduates from these tracks enter residencies in Oklahoma, with nearly all entering specialties of critical need, including family medicine, emergency medicine, pediatrics, and psychiatry.

Training Location Matters

Research underscores the importance of clinical training location in shaping physician practice decisions. According to the Report on Residents published by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), and research published by the AMA, residency training location is one of the strongest predictors of where a physician ultimately chooses to practice. Despite this, nearly 98% of U.S. residency training still takes place in urban settings, highlighting the mismatch between training and community needs.

Dr. Bray emphasized that when students train in rural or underserved areas, they're more likely to practice there, directly impacting community health outcomes. OSU’s data reflects this trend, with a remarkable retention rate within Oklahoma’s underserved communities.

Physicians as Community Leaders

Toward the end of the conversation an essential point was highlighted: physicians in rural communities often wear many hats. Beyond clinical care, they can play crucial roles in addressing social determinants of health – factors like education, nutrition, transportation, and housing that deeply affect health outcomes. Rural physicians may collaborate with local schools, community organizations, and policymakers to advocate for broader improvements that can uplift entire communities.

Turning Data Into Action

The session concluded with practical recommendations for medical schools and programs looking to enhance their geographic impact:

• Start with Your Data: Evaluate existing clinical sites and track precise locations using postal codes to better understand local health needs.
• Align with Your Mission: Ensure your curriculum reflects your program’s core goals, particularly if they emphasize underserved or rural health.
• Begin with Pilot Programs: Begin with small-scale elective rotations to test and refine clinical experiences in rural or underserved settings.
• Advocate and Tell Your Story: Communicate your successes and challenges clearly to stakeholders and policymakers. Highlighting tangible outcomes is essential for influencing policy and securing ongoing support.

Moving Forward with Purpose

Elentra remains committed to supporting programs like OSU-COM that use thoughtful curriculum design and targeted data analytics to address regional healthcare access. Our goal is to empower health professions institutions to deliver exceptional education with confidence, improve student outcomes, and meet desired program goals and objectives – like improving access to healthcare in underserved areas and populations.

Watch the Recording

Did you miss the session? You can request access to the recording on Elentra’s webinars page.

If you're interested in learning how Elentra can support your health professions program, we'd love to talk. For more insights, webinars, and educational strategies, follow Elentra on LinkedIn, Twitter / X, or contact us today.