McPHERSON, Kan. — McPherson College and the University of Kansas School of Medicine are partnering to promote rural healthcare in Kansas. Over the next 12 months, this collaboration will provide students with experiential, service, and research learning opportunities.
“The collaboration will offer a wide range of opportunities for McPherson College students,” said McPherson College President Michael Schneider. “Building a partnership with the KU School of Medicine expands opportunities for our students statewide and allows us to work with KU School of Medicine admissions on joint recruitment efforts. These initiatives will help better prepare students for careers in rural healthcare.”
Together, McPherson College and KU School of Medicine’s Salina campus will explore partnerships in academic health science scholarships, rural health promotion, healthcare career development, and community health resources, including joint grant funding. The collaboration also aims to establish partnerships with the Health Occupations Students of America organization, develop new service projects, and co-host tabletop simulation events.
McPherson College students will have increased access to KU School of Medicine’s Rural Scholars and Urban Scholars programs, providing guaranteed admissions for qualified undergraduates. Additionally, faculty, staff, and students from KU’s Salina campus will visit McPherson College as guest lecturers in classes and at pre-professional organization activities. The collaboration will also facilitate connections between McPherson College undergraduate researchers and KU School of Medicine students. As part of the collaboration, KU School of Medicine will provide a scholarship for one McPherson College student to participate in mentored student research and team-teaching experiences.
“Rural healthcare is in crisis,” said Dr. Tyler Hughes, dean of the University of Kansas School of Medicine-Salina. “This collaboration is aimed at helping rural students have access to the pathway that leads to a satisfying career in the medical field. Teamwork between KU School of Medicine-Salina and liberal arts colleges in Kansas will aid in building a pipeline of excellent medical professionals for rural patients throughout our state.”
McPherson College’s commitment to healthcare education continues to grow. In addition to its well-established natural science program, the college launched a new Health Science program in 2020, offering academic tracks in clinical, administrative, behavioral, and community health. The college also partnered with the McPherson Center for Health to provide hands-on learning experiences in clinical and non-clinical areas of the hospital. In June 2024, McPherson College received $2.1 million in congressionally directed funding from Senator Jerry Moran to support rural and community health initiatives.
About McPherson College
McPherson College’s mission is to “develop whole persons through scholarship, participation, and service” within a career-focused liberal arts environment. In 2023, the college secured an unprecedented $1B commitment to its endowment, marking one of the largest single endowment commitments of any small liberal arts college in the U.S. Nationally recognized by U.S. News & World Report, Money Magazine, and the Chronicle of Higher Education’s “Great Colleges to Work For,” McPherson College is renowned for its innovative programs. Its Automotive Restoration program, the first four-year degree program of its kind, made history when a student-restored Mercedes-Benz 300 S earned a class award at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance – the first time a student-restored car received such an honor at the prestigious Concours. Learn about all of its programs at www.mcpherson.edu.
About the University of Kansas School of Medicine
With three locations in Kansas, the KU School of Medicine has gained a national reputation, particularly for educating family, primary care, and rural physicians, and it is one of only 16 medical schools nationally ranked in the top tier for primary care by U.S. News and World Report. At the Kansas City campus, students train at a large academic medical center with innovative and accomplished educators and researchers from around the world. The Wichita campus provides a community-based medical education environment with opportunities for clinical experiences inside three partner hospitals and physician offices across the state. The Salina campus is designed for students with a strong interest in rural medicine and those wishing to work with a smaller group of peers on a rural regional campus with opportunities for early clinical experiences.
