Stephenville High School Students Attend Texas A&M Vashisht College of Medicine Regional Rural Medicine Camp at East Texas A&M University

Students performing CPR on training dummies

COMMERCE, Texas, — The Texas A&M University Naresh K. Vashisht College of Medicine welcomed students from rural school districts across East Texas to its Regional Rural Medicine Camp. Hosted in partnership with East Texas A&M University, the two-day event aims to show rural high school students what careers in health care can look like and explore educational pathways to achieve those career ambitions.

“The Regional Rural Medicine Camp is about opening doors for students who may not otherwise see themselves in health care careers,” said Carol Brewer, M.Ed., director of K-12 Rural Medicine Outreach for the Vashisht College of Medicine’s Rural Medicine Program. “By bringing this experience to East Texas A&M, we’re helping students envision a future in medicine, while strengthening the pipeline of health care professionals dedicated to serving rural communities.”

The Regional Rural Medicine Camp provides students with early exposure to medical and health-related professions, with an emphasis on rural practice and improving access to care in underserved communities. Students engage in hands-on learning activities, breakout sessions and discussions led by faculty, medical students and health care professionals.

The Regional Rural Medicine Camp at East Texas A&M marks the first time the program has been held on this Texas A&M University System campus. The Rural Medicine Program has previously hosted regional camps at Texas A&M University - Kingsville, to reach students in South Texas.

The camp supports the Rural Medicine Program’s vision of a future where every rural community has access to quality health care. By bringing this successful regional camp format to East Texas, the college aims to expand access to medical education opportunities for students who may otherwise have limited exposure to health care careers.

Students from Bland ISD, Celeste ISD, Commerce ISD, Cumby Collegiate ISD, DeKalb ISD, Hamilton ISD, Lone Oak ISD, North Hopkins ISD, Pittsburg ISD, Queen City ISD, Quinlan ISD, Rivercrest ISD, Stephenville ISD, and Wolfe City ISD are expected to participate in the camp over the next two days.

Participation in the Regional Rural Medicine Camps is limited to rural school districts that are engaged with the Vashisht College of Medicine’s Rural Medicine Program, which offers health care career enrichment activities for rural students and professional development and other support for educators in rural school districts. Since 2021, the Rural Medicine program has worked to inspire the next generation of rural medicine through efforts designed to strengthen the rural physician pipeline, embrace local communities, and expand health education horizons.

Rural educators who are interested in learning more about how their district can get involved can email med-ruralk-12@tamu.edu.