By By Kelly Quackenbush/The Meridian Star
April 6, 2001
Local community colleges are teaming up with Mississippi State University to keep family practitioners in Mississippi for years to come.
East Mississippi Community College, Meridian Community College and East Central Community College officials are joining MSU to entice high school seniors into family medicine as Mississippi approaches a critical need for medical professionals. The Rural Medical Scholars Program is an intense six-week program offered at MSU.
Officials at EMCC, MCC, ECCC and 12 other community and junior colleges statewide will select and sponsor high school students for the program, which has a 30-student capacity. The students may be eligible for full scholarships.
The program consists of two pre-med courses, Principles of Zoology and College Algebra. The students will also "shadow" a physician in a hospital or clinical setting, tour a major medical facility, and attend a lecture series relevant to the interests of an aspiring physician.
Applications are due by April 13. Students may obtain an application from one of the three local community colleges or through MSU.
Kelly Quackenbush is a staff writer for The Meridian Star. E-mail her at kquackenbush@themeridianstar.com.