Rural Health Certificate
This track can enhance your training through clinical rotations in isolated communities.
The Rural Education and Community Health Certificate is a specialized elective program designed for Physician Assistant/Associate (PA) and other health professional students who wish to gain advanced knowledge and skills in addressing rural health concerns.
Highlights
The Touro University California Joint MSPAS/MPH Program is dedicated to improving the health outcomes for all. The Rural Education and Community Health (REACH) Certificate offers further training to better serve rural communities, introduce students to rural health systems, and provide hands-on clinical training.
Our goal is to build the rural health workforce through didactic support, mentorship, and clinical exposure. The REACH Certificate will demonstrate to future employers your passion for rural health and extra training.
Participation in the REACH Certificate program will receive priority to Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) funding through REACH-PA HRSA grant. The REACH-PA HRSA grant provides students stipends for completing a 12-week rotation in pre-determined rural locations. The stipends are over $10,000 to support housing, travel, and health insurance.
Application
Program Start: September 1 in your first year of PA school
Program Length: 12 Weeks
How to apply:
- Apply by September 1st in your first year of PA school.
- Declare your interest by completing the interest form for rural health track which will be provided to you at orientation.
- There is no extra cost to participate in this certificate program.
To obtain the REACH Certificate, students must:
- Participate in Six Rural Health (1-hour) Seminars
In these seminars, you will explore public health and clinical perspectives affecting rural communities. Topics may include migrant/agricultural worker health, access to specialist telehealth, Indigenous People’s Health, Mental Health in small communities.
- Complete at least one 6-week Clinical Rotation in a Rural Setting
Rotation options include FQHCs, CAHs, tribal clinics, or other sites in rural areas. This rotation could be a core rotation (e.g., primary care, pediatrics, etc.) or the medicine elective. To be considered rural, the rotation site must meet the HRSA Rural Grants eligibility criteria.
- Write a Short Summative Paper
Students will write a 5-page reflection paper or clinical case on their experiences due on the first day of their summative course. Students will not be awarded a certificate if they do not complete this paper.
Enhancing Rural Health
A major grant from Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has expanded support for the Rural Education and Community Health (REACH) initiative. Discover how this transformative funding is expanding clinical rotations and shaping the future of rural health.