Rural Health
News by Topic: Health occupations
Oct 23, 2026 - Notice from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) seeking comments on an information collection request titled "National Practitioner Data Bank for Adverse Information on Physicians and Other Health Care Practitioners—45 CFR part 60 Regulations and Forms, OMB No. 0906-0081—Revision." The National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB) aims to improve the quality of healthcare by encouraging hospitals, state licensing boards, professional societies, and other eligible entities providing healthcare services to identify and discipline those who engage in unprofessional behavior, and to restrict the ability of incompetent healthcare practitioners, providers, or suppliers to move from state to state without disclosure or discovery of previous damaging or incompetent performance. Comments are due by November 23, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Oct 23, 2026 - Describes a newly funded project aiming to increase the participation of rural communities in clinical research and strengthen research partnerships with rural areas across the Southwest. Planned clinical research studies will investigate using telehealth to manage chronic disease and the impact of community doulas on maternal health outcomes.
Source: UNM Health Sciences News
Oct 21, 2026 - Discusses a new Minnesota-based fellowship to train family medicine physicians in obstetrics to address limited access to obstetric care in rural communities.
Source: MPR News
Oct 20, 2026 - Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama offers a medical scholarship program to help students pursue healthcare careers. Recipients get financial support for their final 2 years of school and in return they agree to complete their residency and practice in an underserved area of Alabama for at least 3 years.
Source: Bham Now
Oct 20, 2026 - The Mercer School of Medicine in Georgia has been designated the Georgia Grown Medical School for its work in addressing rural physician workforce shortages by training local residents.
Source: The Den, Mercer University
Oct 14, 2026 - Mississippi State University-Meridian and Mississippi Christian University in Clinton will share a $500,000 U.S. Department of Education grant to expand clinical training opportunities for physician assistant students in rural Mississippi. The funding runs through August 2029 and will help strengthen the healthcare workforce and improve patient outcomes.
Source: Mississippi State University
Oct 14, 2026 - Announces a new South Dakota statewide initiative to create regional emergency medical services hubs for the purpose of coordinating resources and strengthening the workforce.
Source: KOTA
Oct 5, 2026 - Discusses recent research finding surgeon workforce shortages in rural communities. Notes that one driver of the shortage is surgeon training not meeting the workforce demand.
Source: The Week
HRSA: Recharter for the Council on Graduate Medical Education
Federal Register
Sep 30, 2026 - The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) announces the renewal of the Council on Graduate Medical Education. The charter is effective through September 30, 2028.
Source: Federal Register
Sep 29, 2026 - Announces a new diabetes management program for rural South Carolina that builds on a previous successful program. The new program uses a community health worker model that coordinates a multidisciplinary team working to aid program participants in managing their diabetes.
Source: Clemson News