Outcomes of a Texas family medicine residency rural training track: 2000 through 2007

Physician distribution nationally and in Texas trends away from rural toward more urban areas. Consequently, access to health care in rural areas is adversely affected. The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston (UTMB) Family Medicine Residency established a rural training track (RTT) in 2000 to combat this trend. This paper describes the graduate cohort to date, their practice locations, and strengths and limitations of the program as perceived by its participants. Data were collected from the UTMB Family Medicine Residency Alumni database and from focus group evaluations of the RTT conducted in 2004. Seven family medicine residents completed the RTT through 2007. Most graduates of the RTT (6 out of 7) entered practice in rural areas. Four of the 7 RTT graduates are Hispanic, reflecting the program's success in attracting underrepresented minority physicians.