For 35 years, the Huntsville Rural Premedical Internship (HRPI) at the UAB Heersink School of Medicine has helped cultivate pathways of future physicians committed to serving communities across rural Alabama. What began as a summer opportunity for college students interested in medicine has grown into a program whose influence can be seen in clinics and hospitals across the state. As HRPI celebrates its 35th anniversary, the program's success is reflected not only in the number of students it has reached but in the physicians who have returned to care for the communities they call home.
Through hands-on opportunities, HRPI has introduced rural Alabama students to clinical medicine, training 51 physicians in 19 rural counties in Alabama and another 69 practicing throughout the state since 1992. HRPI continues to exceed the national rural physician average of approximately 10 percent, with 26.5 percent of alumni practicing in rural areas in the state. The program's influence extends beyond individual participants, helping strengthen healthcare access and supporting communities throughout the state. The Alabama Family Practice Rural Health Board of the Alabama Department of Public Health has funded HRPI since it became rural medicine focused.
As the program celebrates 35 years, David Bramm, M.D., director of Rural Programs at the Huntsville Regional Medical Campus, reflected on the role HRPI has played in connecting rural students with opportunities to pursue careers in medicine while addressing healthcare needs across the state. “We seek to put qualified primary care physicians in the places where they are needed the most in rural Alabama,” Bramm explained. He noted that the impact of those physicians extends beyond patient care, often supporting local healthcare systems and improving health outcomes through access to medical services. Through the program, students gain insight into the critical role rural physicians play in the well-being of their communities.
HRPI is exclusively designed for students from rural Alabama communities. The program's application season runs from December 1 – February 2. Students complete a four-week primary care experience, followed by two weeks of shadowing in their home communities. Participants are introduced to a variety of healthcare career paths that highlight the importance of serving medically underserved communities. Through these experiences, students gain a better understanding of how crucial the physician role plays in rural communities and in medicine.
After seeing the HRPI program brochure while attending Samford University in the summer of 1995, April Ponder, M.D., was drawn to the program's focus on students from small towns and saw it as an opportunity to gain exposure to primary care. While attending the program, she gained experience learning more about family and rural medicine. "My previous shadowing experience had been in hospitals and with specialty physicians," Ponder said. "I thought the HRPI program would give me an experience to see what family medicine was like, and also about rural medicine."
During the then-eight-week program, Ponder gained a significant amount of hands-on experience through the family medicine residency clinic, working alongside residents and attending physicians, giving her a head start before medical school. Though Ponder initially planned to pursue a career in pediatrics, HRPI introduced her to the variety of care in family medicine. Today, she practices family medicine in Lincoln, Alabama, alongside her husband, whom she met during the HRPI program. Reflecting on the impact that the HRPI program had on her life, Ponder said "I'm so grateful that I got to be a part of that program. I'm grateful that the program is still around and that so many people are getting to participate in it."
For Jansen Blackwell, D.O., HRPI provided the guidance he needed to turn an interest in medicine into a career. He learned about the program through his college mentor, Rodney Land, who works at Northeast Alabama Community College. Land connected Blackwell with then-HRPI director William Coleman, M.D., Ph.D., just days before the application deadline. After being accepted, Blackwell joined the program’s 2015 cohort. This experience he credits with giving him a clear understanding of the path required to become a physician while also providing him with valuable experiences. "Coming from a non-medical background, HRPI laid the foundation, and I credit the program greatly for helping me navigate the medical school application process," he said.
Today, Blackwell practices family medicine in Rainsville, Alabama, where he focuses on helping patients improve their health through education and prevention. For students interested in the program, Blackwell encourages them to pursue it. “HRPI will help you take every step in stride. Enroll in the program, enjoy the experience, and make valuable connections.”
As HRPI marks 35 years, its legacy continues to grow following the recent retirement of David Bramm, M.D., after more than 10 years of dedicated leadership and service to the program. HRPI enters its next chapter under the direction of Alexis Mason, M.D., who is an experienced rural physician committed to continuing the program's mission. With every new class of students, the program is committed to preparing future rural physicians and enhancing the health of communities across Alabama.
For more information about the application season, contact Anna Cottingham at