News Alabama Farmers Federation Supports Rural Medicine Program 

Alabama Farmers Federation Supports Rural Medicine Program 

Alabama Farmers Federation Supports Rural Medicine Program 
September 15, 2022 |

The Alabama Farmers Federation continues to support the development of rural physicians for Alabama by gifting $500 book stipends to Rural Medicine Program (RMP) students at Auburn University.

The RMP program, now in its 17th year, began in 2006. Alfa Farmers has made annual gifts to each class. 

RMP students were raised in rural Alabama and have a commitment to return home to practice primary care medicine. They are selected for admission to the University of Alabama at Birmingham Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine after completing a year of post-graduate study at Auburn. 

Seven students of the 2022 entering class had a matriculation ceremony at the East Alabama Medical Center in Opelika Aug. 16.  During the program, Alfa Farmers book stipends were presented. This was the first year since 2019 the students were allowed to have parents and guests join them.

The first RMP class graduated in 2011. Since then, 59 are now physicians with 31 (53%) practicing in rural Alabama. The national average currently sits at 10% of physicians working in rural areas.

2022 Recipients

  • Jake Beede, University of Alabama, Fayette
  • Savannah Blackwell, Jacksonville State University, Collinsville
  • Noah Blackwood, Auburn University, Athens
  • Harley Grayson, UAB, Athens
  • Christian Just, Auburn University, Sterrett
  • Jillian Kurtts, Mississippi State University, Elberta
  • Emma Pierce, Samford University, Holly Pond 
View Related Articles