Rural Residency Medical Education and Training Fund

Rural Residency Medical Education and Training Fund is sponsored by University of North Carolina System. State-funded grants to expand rural health care training programs across North Carolina, including interprofessional student training in medicine.

Rural Health Care Workforce – UNC System Rural Health Care Workforce Keeping health care close to home North Carolina is the second most rural state in the nation, with one in three residents living in rural communities. Despite this need, recent data show that less than 3% of North Carolina’s primary care physicians are practicing in these small towns.

To reverse this trend, the UNC System, with funding provided by the North Carolina General Assembly, is investing in the future of rural health care. In collaboration with UNC Health, ECU Health, Area Health Education Centers, and UNC System health affairs programs, our goal is simple: ensure that more than 3. 4 million people can access care closer to home.

Strengthening the rural physician workforce As one of the leading public university systems in the U.S., we are committed to training the next generation of physicians in high-need specialties like family medicine, pediatrics, OBGYN, psychiatry, internal medicine, and general surgery statewide, so every North Carolinian has access to quality care, no matter their zip code.

Through targeted grants, we’re helping to launch, grow, sustain, and innovate rural residency programs that place physicians where they’re needed most. creating sustainable partnerships Our grant program is designed with flexibility at its core – so rural residency programs can grow without unnecessary barriers.

Our funding approach allows for: Less rural training time requirements More rural training partnerships, including rural regions within counties that contain large cities Four types of grants, supporting everything from launching new programs to expanding existing ones Be part of the statewide effort to strengthen North Carolina’s rural physician workforce – one community at a time.

Rural Residency Medical Education and Training FUnd Grant Program The UNC System Office, in partnership with the North Carolina Graduate Medical Education Technical Assistance Center (NCGME-TAC) housed at the UNC Cecil G.

Sheps Center for Health Services Research , is accepting applications from eligible organizations seeking to develop, expand, sustain, or innovate rural or underserved residency training programs for high-need physician specialties, including family medicine, OBGYN, psychiatry, internal medicine, pediatrics, and general surgery. UNC System awards over $6.

4 million to expand rural health care training programs across North Carolina In April 2026, the UNC System awarded over $6. 4 million in state-funded grants to help its universities, North Carolina Area Health Education Centers, and rural hospitals expand and establish new rural health care workforce training programs. View the list of 2026 grant recipients Establish a newly accredited rural residency training program.

Support existing rural residency programs that do not receive full GME financing and are not covered by other sources of funding. Expand rural training opportunities within existing accredited residency programs. Pilot projects to improve health care provider retention in rural areas through unique health care delivery models.

Grant Type Max Grant Period Max Award Amount Grant Renewal Development Up to 3 years $750,000 No Expansion Annual renewal, dependent on outcomes $150,000 per resident per year Yes Sustainability Annual renewal, dependent on outcomes $150,000 per resident per year Yes Innovation Up to 2 years $200,000 No ECU Health (all hospital system locations) UNC Health (all hospital system locations) ECU Brody School of Medicine Any regional Area Health Education Center that demonstrates a partnership with ECU or UNC schools of medicine or health systems UNC System constituent institution health affairs programs Application and Award Timeline January 20, 2026: Grant applications due January – March 2026: Grant application review March – April 2026 : Grant award notifications and funds issued Download the application information, application checklist, and other supporting documents using the links below to complete your application.

Please submit applications to Katherine Martin, vice president for health affairs at the UNC System Office at krmartin@northcarolina. edu .

Download Application Information Document Form Page Limit Cover Page No form 250-word abstract Project Narrative No form 5 pages Letters of Support No form Work Plan Template Appendix B Sustainability Plan Appendix C Project Budget Template Appendix D Program Academic Budget Template Appendix E Proposed Clinical Training Sites Appendix F GME Readiness Assessment Appendix G Baseline Residency Program Data Appendix H Use the links below to download supporting documents.

See the application information included above for additional information about these documents.

Rural Residency Medical Education and Training Fund Presentation Appendix A: Roadmap for Rural Residency Program Development ( View Online ) Appendix B: Work Plan Template Appendix C: Sustainability Plan Appendix D: Development and Innovation Budget Template Appendix E: Sample of Sustainability or Expansion Application Budget Template Appendix F: Proposed Clinical Training Sites Table Appendix G: NCGME Readiness Assessment Appendix H: Baseline Residency Program Data Table