Rural Medical Educators (RME)
We are a small group with a big vision – geographically dispersed, ethnically and culturally diverse, each in our place uniquely challenged, yet together facing common political, economic, and academic obstacles. Therefore, our organization is designed to be doable and efficient, with a focus and a structure directed toward action. Central in this structure is an effective and committed core of individuals (Core Members). The efforts of this group in turn are embedded in a larger community of stakeholders in rural health. We recognize that our success is rooted in the health of our rural communities (including our Associate Members and Affiliated Organizations).
The structural goal of our organization is (1) to foster collaboration both among members and with a larger community of stakeholders, (2) to promote creativity and to generate new ideas in rural medical education, and (3) to remain uncomplicated and adaptable to changing circumstance.
Led by an Executive Committee with staff support from the NRHA, the Rural Medical Educators meet annually, generally in conjunction with the NRHA Annual Conference. This meeting serves as the anchoring event of each year’s activity. Additional activities are "spawned rather than sponsored" with the group fostering interaction through participation in a list serve and an e-Community throughout the year.
To learn more about the Rural Medical Educators, please click here to download and view a slideshow.
Join the Rural Medical Educators!
Check the member type descriptions below and download the appropriate survey application Excel file. Complete the Excel file and e-mail to Randall Longnecker, M.D. at rlongenecker@embarqmail.com.
Core Member — "Voting Member"
- Must be a full member of the NRHA (Membership # required)
- Must be actively involved in rural premedical student, medical student, and/or resident education through teaching, research or advocacy
- Must complete and return a core membership dataset annually prior to the annual meeting
- Must participate in at least one national rural medical education related group meeting every two years (RME Meeting, NRHA Annual Conference, AAFP Committee on Rural Health, STFM Group on Rural Health, NAPCRG, AHEC Annual Meeting)
Download the core membership dataset survey to complete and submit
Associate Member — "Interested Party"
- NRHA membership is not required
- Completion of a limited membership dataset each year through an online form on the RME web site is required.
- Associate members are encouraged to participate in the rural list serve
- Associate members are maintained on a dynamic, rolling basis, i.e: Individuals may enroll or un-enroll at any time.
Download the associate membership dataset survey to complete and submit
History of the Rural Medical Educators Group
During a rural graduate medical education conference in February 2000, attendees proposed a medical education entity to be named the National Association of Rural Medical Educators (NARME). Members included physicians, rural medical education faculty and graduate program directors.
This membership evolved into the Rural Medical Educators Special Interest Group, an integral part of the National Rural Health Association's Research and Education Constituency. The RME special interest group combined the functions of program directors and faculty with the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine and rural family physicians to help recruit, train and orient medical students for careers in rural medicine.
The first annual meeting of rural medical educators was held in May 2001, in conjunction with the NRHA Annual Conference in Dallas. At this meeting, goals were established to address its development agenda for rural medical education.
The Rural Medical Educators have continued to meet each year in conjunction with the NRHA's Annual Rural Health Conference.
Rural Medical Educators Executive Committee, 2009-2010
Past Co-Chair:
Matthew L. Hunsaker, MD, Director, Rural Medical Education Program, National Center for Rural Health Professions, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford
Senior Co-Chair:
Carol Q. Galper, EdD, Assistant Dean for Medical Student Education and Clinical Assistant Professor of Family and Community Medicine, PI-Arizona AIDS Education and Training Center, University of Arizona College of medicine
Junior Co-Chair:
Baretta Casey, MD, MPH, FAAFP, Director, UK Center for Excellence in Rural Health, Professor, UK College of Medicine, Vice Chair, Department of Family & Community Medicine, East Kentucky Campus
Member at Large:
Maggie Blackburn, MD, Director of Rural Health, Department of Family Medicine and Rural Health, Florida State University College of Medicine
Member at Large:
Michael Kennedy, MD, Director, Office of Rural Medical Education, Kansas University School of Medicine
Member at Large:
Michael Woods, MD, Director, Family Practice Residency Program, University of Oklahoma College of Medicine
Chair, NRHA Research & Education Constituency Group:
Roxanna Jokela, Director of Rural Health Education Network (RHEN), University of Nebraska Medical Center, Deputy Director, Nebraska Area Health Education Center (AHEC)
Resident Representative:
Andrew McCormick, MD
Medical Student Representative:
Gena Cooper, student, University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health
Membership Chair (appointed):
Randy Longenecker, MD, Assistant Dean for Rural Medical Education, The Ohio State University College of Medicine and public Health, Associate Rural Program Director, Mad River Family Practice: The Ohio State University Rural Program
NRHA RME Program Liaison:
Gabriela Boscan, MPH, Manager, Program Services, National Rural Health Association, Washington, D.C.
NRHA Government Affairs Liaison:
Maggie Elehwany, JD, Vice President, Government Affairs & Policy, National Rural Health Association, Washington, D.C.
Additional Links and Information
World of Rural Medical Education Web site
Rural Medical Education Curricular Resource
