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Published on October 06, 2024
University of Minnesota Tackles Looming Health Care Workforce Shortage With Strategic Investments in Rural and Indigenous CommunitiesSource: Unsplash / camilo jimenez

As the University of Minnesota doubles down on its efforts to stave off a healthcare workforce shortage on the horizon, a significant push is being made to fortify the healthcare labor pool in Minnesota's rural areas and Indigenous communities. According to a report by Twin Cities UMN News, one in three rural physicians in the state is expected to exit the workforce within the next five years, a trend echoed among other critical healthcare roles. U of M President Rebecca Cunningham underscored the University’s role in addressing this impending crisis, saying, "The University of Minnesota is uniquely positioned to improve the health and well-being of people across Minnesota and beyond."

The U of M is spotlighting its long-standing and fresh strategic investments during an upcoming special committee meeting. Notably the Duluth campus, with its health science programs for decades, has been integral in delivering qualified medical and pharmaceutical practitioners to rural Minnesota. These programs have proven to be a crucial asset as they produce a high percentage of graduates who serve in Minnesota's rural areas after finishing their studies. UMD also ranks highly for graduating Native American medical doctors and deploys its pharmacy graduates throughout over 60 counties in the state, effectively strengthening Minnesota's healthcare framework at its core, and yet, there's still a notable shortage of healthcare professionals that's projected to continue into the foreseeable future, which is a cause for considerable concern.

Included in the University's array of initiatives is the Rural Physician Associate Program which provides hands-on training across 55 statewide locations, allowing medical students to deeply engage with patient care under the guidance of seasoned primary care preceptors. Another notable effort is through the Center for American Indian and Minority Health, which fosters pathways for Native American and minority groups to pursue medical careers starting as early as elementary education. "These interprofessional and community-based efforts give our students hands-on health care career training while strengthening resources for Minnesotans living in rural, Tribal and other underserved communities," Dean Jakub Tolar told Twin Cities UMN News.

The ripple effects of U of M's investments are felt beyond Duluth's boundaries, augmenting healthcare educational offerings systemwide and building robust healthcare delivery teams, these partnerships not only prepare the next generation of healthcare professionals but also reinforce the local economies by bolstering an industry critical to the state's wellbeing, also considering how health care is a leading industry throughout northern Minnesota and how these partnerships have been identified as critical to the region's economy and health now and into the future. The Board of Regents will be gathering public input through their Virtual Forum, inviting video, audio, and written comments that will be reviewed and incorporated into their materials—liberating the public to voice their thoughts on the University’s outreach. The Board's next meeting will be multifaceted, spanning from discussing updates to international education policies to evaluating AI's future impact on higher education.

For those interested in learning more or contributing their perspectives, details on future meetings and forums can be accessed at the Board of Regents website, giving stakeholders and the general public alike an avenue to engage with the University's efforts and directives.