Challenges and Opportunities in Establishing a Student-Run Clinic in Rural Southwest Georgia
Location
Moultrie, GA
Start Date
7-5-2025 1:00 PM
End Date
7-5-2025 4:00 PM
Description
Student-run free clinics across the United States often act as a safety net for populations with poor healthcare access, specifically targeting uninsured individuals who may fall in between the cracks of the United States healthcare system. Based on the last national research study of student-run free clinics in 2014, 140,000 Americans receive care annually at 208 student-run free clinics with over 75% of accredited medical schools supporting at least one student-run free clinic. Despite this well-recognized, and an array of opportunities and benefits to patients, students, and institutions, these organizations tend to encounter significant challenges to growth and establishment. These challenges can be exacerbated when focusing on a rural area like Moultrie, Georgia with a population of 14,565 where 27.5% of the population lives in poverty. With a small surrounding population, first and second-year students at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine - South Georgia have few clinical volunteer opportunities before starting clinical rotations. Many studies have shown the educational benefits that a student-run clinic can have on students including improving clinical skills, interprofessional skills, confidence, leadership, health literacy awareness, and much more. Therefore, not having an opportunity like this puts students at a disadvantage compared to other schools. With most medical schools being in urban or suburban areas it is not common to have the opportunity to implement a student-run free clinic in a rural area. This article discusses some of the challenges and opportunities that have come with starting a student-run free clinic in a rural, medically underserved area.
Embargo Period
5-20-2025
Challenges and Opportunities in Establishing a Student-Run Clinic in Rural Southwest Georgia
Moultrie, GA
Student-run free clinics across the United States often act as a safety net for populations with poor healthcare access, specifically targeting uninsured individuals who may fall in between the cracks of the United States healthcare system. Based on the last national research study of student-run free clinics in 2014, 140,000 Americans receive care annually at 208 student-run free clinics with over 75% of accredited medical schools supporting at least one student-run free clinic. Despite this well-recognized, and an array of opportunities and benefits to patients, students, and institutions, these organizations tend to encounter significant challenges to growth and establishment. These challenges can be exacerbated when focusing on a rural area like Moultrie, Georgia with a population of 14,565 where 27.5% of the population lives in poverty. With a small surrounding population, first and second-year students at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine - South Georgia have few clinical volunteer opportunities before starting clinical rotations. Many studies have shown the educational benefits that a student-run clinic can have on students including improving clinical skills, interprofessional skills, confidence, leadership, health literacy awareness, and much more. Therefore, not having an opportunity like this puts students at a disadvantage compared to other schools. With most medical schools being in urban or suburban areas it is not common to have the opportunity to implement a student-run free clinic in a rural area. This article discusses some of the challenges and opportunities that have come with starting a student-run free clinic in a rural, medically underserved area.
Comments
Awarded "Best Original Research" at PCOM South Georgia Research Day 2025