The FARM Program is an initiative designed to combat the rural physician shortage by exposing students to the challenges and unique opportunities inherent in rural medicine. Beginning in July 2014, the first group of students in the FARM program will spend nine intensive months in carefully selected host communities during their third year of medical school, working with local physicians and becoming immersed in the communities. The students listed above will begin their FARM experience in 2015.

“The Frontier And Rural Medicine Steering Committee was again impressed by the quality of the applicants that were interested in the program. The communities are excited to be able to host these students,” said Susan Anderson, MD, director of the FARM Program. “We are appreciative of the ongoing support of Gov. Daugaard, the South Dakota Board of Regents and the South Dakota State Legislature. This is a very exciting initiative for the medical school.”

Anderson added that the FARM students are selected well in advance of their scheduled arrival in the communities so that they can get to know more about their host community and start to build relationships with identified physician coordinators and community ambassadors at each site.

“As we continue to prepare for the launch of the FARM program, we are excited to work with the next cohort of FARM students,” stated Laura Harmelink, RN, the Clinical FARM Site Specialist. “I consider it a privilege to have the opportunity to walk beside our rural communities, assisting in the education of our future healthcare providers.”

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