Overview
Research shows that medical students who come from a rural area are more likely to practice in rural areas, and those who receive training in a rural area are three-times more likely to practice in a rural area. However, often only 4% of incoming medical school students come from rural areas. Together, we can change this.
Commitment to our Rural Communities
CentraCare is committed to rectifying this access disparity for rural Minnesotans by creating a third University of Minnesota Medical School location in St. Cloud. We have developed a four-year medical school campus at a St. Cloud CentraCare facility, in partnership with the University of Minnesota Medical School. Beginning in the Fall of 2025, we will educate 24 students per academic year.
Developing Residency Programs
Once a student graduates from medical school, they must train at a health system for multiple years before they become a licensed physician. CentraCare is committed to expanding its residency training program to accommodate the additional graduates from the new medical school campus.
Providing Student and Graduate Financial Support
To encourage prospective students from rural areas and underrepresented groups to consider a career in healthcare, scholarships will be available to lessen the financial burden for the prospective students and their families. We will develop creative programs for those who commit to practicing in rural Minnesota, to help incentivize new physicians to practice in these areas.
Creating a Rural-Focused Research Institute
CentraCare serves over 900,000 rural Minnesotans. The healthcare needs of rural residents are often different of their urban counterparts. That's why CentraCare, in partnership with the University of Minnesota Medical School, is committed to creating a Rural Health Research Institute located at CentraCare to conduct research specific to bettering the health of rural residents.
Renovating a Medical Education Facility
CentraCare has repurposed an existing 60,000-square-foot building to house the medical education program, a simulation center, and more. The new medical school education facility includes state-of-the-art classrooms that feature active learning spaces, small-group teaching spaces, and technology that allows St. Cloud students to collaborate with their peers on the Twin Cities and Duluth campuses.
Research shows that medical students who come from a rural area are more likely to practice in rural areas, and those who receive training in a rural area are three-times more likely to practice in a rural area. However, often only 4% of incoming medical school students come from rural areas. Together, we can change this.
Commitment to our Rural Communities
CentraCare is committed to rectifying this access disparity for rural Minnesotans by creating a third University of Minnesota Medical School location in St. Cloud. We have developed a four-year medical school campus at a St. Cloud CentraCare facility, in partnership with the University of Minnesota Medical School. Beginning in the Fall of 2025, we will educate 24 students per academic year.
Developing Residency Programs
Once a student graduates from medical school, they must train at a health system for multiple years before they become a licensed physician. CentraCare is committed to expanding its residency training program to accommodate the additional graduates from the new medical school campus.
Providing Student and Graduate Financial Support
To encourage prospective students from rural areas and underrepresented groups to consider a career in healthcare, scholarships will be available to lessen the financial burden for the prospective students and their families. We will develop creative programs for those who commit to practicing in rural Minnesota, to help incentivize new physicians to practice in these areas.
Creating a Rural-Focused Research Institute
CentraCare serves over 900,000 rural Minnesotans. The healthcare needs of rural residents are often different of their urban counterparts. That's why CentraCare, in partnership with the University of Minnesota Medical School, is committed to creating a Rural Health Research Institute located at CentraCare to conduct research specific to bettering the health of rural residents.
Renovating a Medical Education Facility
CentraCare has repurposed an existing 60,000-square-foot building to house the medical education program, a simulation center, and more. The new medical school education facility includes state-of-the-art classrooms that feature active learning spaces, small-group teaching spaces, and technology that allows St. Cloud students to collaborate with their peers on the Twin Cities and Duluth campuses.