In Service to the State
Published on September 23, 2017“Being a Kenan Rural Scholar has been a constant uplifting reminder to me of why I am in medical school. It’s kept me inspired and helped remind me why I decided to do this in the first place,” said Anna McKinsey.
“Being a Kenan Rural Scholar has been a constant uplifting reminder to me of why I am in medical school. It’s kept me inspired and helped remind me why I decided to do this in the first place,” said Anna McKinsey.
Rural North Carolina is home to some of the most vulnerable populations in the state. Small towns have the state’s highest poverty rates, with many exceeding 25 percent. Rural unemployment rates are higher than other parts of the state, and with more financial hardship comes less access to basic health-care services.
UNC Health is working to meet this challenge through the Kenan Primary Care Medical Scholars Program. With a goal of increasing the number of medical students seeking careers in underserved rural and urban areas in North Carolina, the program provides financial support and enrichment experiences to sustain their decisions.
“Being a Kenan Rural Scholar has been a constant uplifting reminder to me of why I am in medical school. It’s kept me inspired and helped remind me why I decided to do this in the first place,” said Anna McKinsey.
Since its inception in 2013, the program has supported more than 40 students, many of who continue to serve North Carolina’s most susceptible rural communities.
