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Office of Rural Initiatives

The Office of Rural Initiatives (ORI) exist to address the health care disparities in rural North Carolina through the recruitment and retaining of a diverse primary care provider workforce to meet the unique needs of our rural and underserved communities.

Our office exists to promote the school’s mission of educating future physicians who can help meet the health care needs of our state, the nation, and the global community. Along with recruitment and retention of minority and underrepresented students at the UNC School of Medicine, our office provides academic and social support, leadership opportunities, professional development, and additional resources to potential and current students who have a commitment to join us on our mission.

The Office at a Glance

The Office of Rural Initiatives was created in summer 2017 to align efforts related to the education, training, and retention of primary care physicians to rural and underserved areas in North Carolina. The office works with campus and community partners to strengthen and build pipeline programs to support students from rural and underserved backgrounds on a pathway to medicine. Housing the Kenan Primary Care Scholars Program (Rural and Urban) the NC Rural Primary Care Fellowship, Rural Medicine Pathway Program in partnership with the Office of Scholarships and Student Aid at UNC-Chapel Hill, Rural Medicine Summer Academy, and the First Gen Fellows Program, the Office of Rural Initiatives is working to establish connected resources, support, and programs to expand the number of primary care physicians seeking to serve rural and underserved North Carolina. The office directly reflects the mission and commitment of the UNC School of Medicine and UNC Health Care to serve the people of the state of North Carolina.

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Who We Are

Contact Us

UNC School of Medicine
037 MacNider Hall, CB 7001
Chapel Hill, NC 27599
Felicia Crawford – ORI Coordinator
fncrawf@email.unc.edu

TWITTER: @UNC_ORI_SOM
Phone: 919-966-4390