The Texas Legislature established the Rural Rotation program in 1989 and added Public Health rotations in 1997. It is statutorily mandated that all accredited Texas family practice residency programs provide residents with an opportunity to participate in a one-month rotation in a rural or public health setting.

Rural and public health rotations are supported by Family Practice Residency program funds, as required by a rider in the Appropriations Act. Both the participating resident and the residency program receive funding under the program. However, the rural and public health supervisors serve as volunteers and are not compensated for their services.

 

Rural Rotation Program

Effective September 1, 2006

The Family Medicine Faculty Development Center (FDC) will administer the Family Medicine Resident's Rural Rotation Program (FMRRR) for the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (Coordinating Board). FDC will be responsible for collecting and reviewing applications and required evaluation documents from each rotation participant and residency program director. The FDC will notify the Coordinating Board when rotations have been completed and required paperwork is submitted. The Coordinating Board staff will retain responsibility of funding the rural rotations.

Note the following changes:

1. Program information and application forms are available on FDC's web page located at http://www.wacofdc.org/.
2. Resident Application, Letter of Agreement and Grant Request forms will be submitted by program director via mail to the FDC.
3. At the conclusion of each rural rotation, FDC will notify the resident and program director and provide the necessary information for completion of their evaluation of the rotation. Resident and Director evaluations of rotations, as well as the Residents' Evaluation of the Supervisor will be completed and submitted electronically.

The new administrative changes have been initiated to streamline program administration, increase program response time, and enhance data collection. Additionally, these changes will allow the FDC to monitor participating residents as they complete their training and begin their family medicine practices, which will lead to a better understanding of the impact of this program on the Texas physician workforce.

If you have questions or require additional information about the Family Medicine Resident Rural Rotation Program, please contact:

Debbie Burke
Faculty Development Center
1600 Providence Drive
Waco, Texas 76707
Phone: (254) 752-2636
Fax: (254) 756-0358
dburke@wacofdc.com

Public Health Rotation Program

• Curriculum Guidelines for an Elective Rotation in Public Health
• Resident Application (Form A1)
• Letter of Agreement (Appendix A)
• Grant Request (Appendix B)
• Evaluation of Rotation (Appendix C)