Now in its second year, the Comprehensive Urban Underserved and Rural Experience (CU²RE) Longitudinal Primary Care Pipeline Program is accepting applications from undergraduate students who are interested in applying to medical school and providing health care in underserved areas. 

Part of the department’s CU²RE program, which was established with a $7 million HRSA grant in 2020, the Longitudinal Primary Care Pipeline Program offers aspiring primary care physicians a wide range of educational experiences. These include opportunities to shadow primary care physicians in clinic, mentorship from current medical students and faculty, service learning and leadership development opportunities, field trips to outpatient clinics and hospitals, learning modules and educational workshops on topics including behavioral health, social determinants of health, cultural competency, practice transformation, telehealth and how to work with interprofessional care teams.

Students also receive stipends toward costs associated with preparing for and applying to medical school.

Last year, 12 students from five Alabama universities enrolled in the program’s inaugural cohort. They completed a robust slate of summer programming and are now shadowing primary care physicians and participating in virtual workshops from their perspective campuses.

Once selected, the second cohort of students will start in May 2023, with programming running until April 2024. The summer program will include weekly discussions in July, with monthly two-hour virtual workshops or discussions throughout the year. Students will be required to attend at least two in-person activities during their time in the program and participate in all virtual sessions.

Eligible applicants include college sophomores, juniors or current seniors planning a gap year before applying to medical school who are from an underserved community or rural background and/or have an interest in serving those communities.

Applications are open until Jan. 15 and can be completed via this form. Students may contact Education Coordinator Carmella Goree (cgoree@uabmc.edu) with any questions.