Rural Ohio receives a boost in physician training with local partnership launch

ZANESVILLE, OH- A new medical training partnership is bringing third and fourth year students from Ohio University’s Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine to Zanesville and Cambridge for hands-on rotations in local clinics, hospitals, and emergency rooms. The program launched in July and links the college with Muskingum Valley Health Centers, OhioHealth Southeastern Medical Center, and the Physicians Group of Southeastern Ohio to grow the region’s physician workforce.

The collaboration offers clinical mentorship and community-based learning in rural and underserved areas. Officials say immersing students in local practices could encourage some to return after graduation as primary-care providers.

“We really formed a coalition with all of our medical practices in order to create educational opportunities for third and fourth year medical students, a unique opportunity for them to get their training in both the emergency room settings, the OGBYN platforms, or surgical rotations in addition to both inpatient and outpatient primary care for both adults and pediatric patients,” said MVHC Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Danielle Roberts.

The east central cohort lets students live in the communities they serve while gaining experience across specialties. MVHC is a federally qualified health center that focuses on care for underserved populations.

“The hope would be that they would want to join forces with any of us in the future and work alongside of us and continue to care for the patients in the community, so we’re certainly hopeful to have more physicians join our community in the future,” said Dr. Roberts.

Heritage College leaders say the initiative builds on existing statewide clinical networks and aims to close gaps in regional health care access.