University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center

RURAL MEDICINE

Background
New Mexico is a rural, ethnically diverse state.  Over 60% of the population is rural and the majority of the population is ethnic minority (43% Hispanic, 10% Native American and 2% African American).  The medical school is known nationally and internationally for its Department of Family and Community Medicine’s rural programs both for students and residents.  In fact, recognition of this role accounts for U.S. News and World Report ranking UNM 2nd in Rural Medicine and 6th in Family Medicine.

Resident Curriculum
All UNM Family Medicine residents receive considerable exposure to rural practice. Residents spend at least two months during their second and third year in rural rotations and they can take more as electives.  These may be taken on one of the many Native American reservations, in frontier Hispanic villages, or in smaller cities around the state.  For more information on this aspect of the curriculum, contact Dr. Sally Bachofer at sbachofer@salud.unm.edu

Practice Relief Opportunities
In addition, second and third year residents are encouraged to obtain their state license and can then work in the “Locum Tenens” program run by our department.  All upper level residents are given one week per year to cover rural practices in the state for family physicians needing coverage for vacation, continuing education, or illness.  Most do more such coverage on their own time.  Many residents have decided upon their practice community after graduation by working in those communities through our locums program.  For a more detailed description of this program, click on Derksen DJ et al. New Mexico’s academic model for providing practice relief for rural physicians.  Acad Med 1996;71:708-9.  For more information on this option, contact Dr. Dan Derksen at dderksen@salud.unm.edu

Fellowship in Rural Medicine
The Department runs a Rural Fellowship for interested residents who want to spend an extra year gaining more advanced skills in particular areas of rural medicine, working on a project in rural health related to the kind of practice they plan, or working on completion of research projects or the Masters in Public Health program.  For more information on this option, contact Dr. Saverio Sava at ssava@salud.unm.edu

For more information
To read more about UNM Family Medicine Residency’s role in improving access to care in rural New Mexico, you can read a recent research article written by the residency program directors of the state’s four family medicine residencies. Click on Pacheco M, et al. The Impact on Rural New Mexico of a Family Medicine Residency. Academic Medicine. 2005; 80: 739-744.