Generosity Collective Grantmaking Program 2024

The Rural and Underserved Clinical Rotations (RUCR) grant program, authorized by Minnesota Statutes Sec 144.1505, aims to enhance health professional training by funding eligible physician, physician assistant, advanced practice registered nurse, pharmacy, dentistry, dental therapy, and mental health professional programs. The core mission is to augment existing clinical training to include rural and underserved rotations or specialized training experiences like credential or certificate rural tracks. This initiative aligns with a broader strategic priority to improve healthcare access and quality in Minnesota's rural and underserved communities by strengthening the pipeline of healthcare professionals willing and trained to serve in these areas. The target beneficiaries of this grant program are healthcare training programs located in Minnesota, and, by extension, the students enrolled in these programs who will gain critical experience in rural and underserved settings. Ultimately, the program seeks to impact the healthcare landscape of Minnesota by increasing the availability of primary care and mental health services in areas that currently face shortages. The grant's focus is on expanding training opportunities, facilitating recruitment and retention of students and faculty, and connecting students with appropriate clinical training sites. Key priorities and focuses include establishing or expanding rotations and clinical training, supporting recruitment, training, and retention of students and faculty, and facilitating connections between students and clinical training sites, internships, practicums, or externship activities. Emphasis is also placed on travel and lodging for students, faculty, student, and preceptor salaries, incentives, or other financial support, and the development and implementation of cultural competency training. For physician and dentist training, a specific requirement is that expanded training must involve rotations in primary care settings within rural communities. Expected outcomes and measurable results include MDH anticipating awarding $1,500,000 through approximately 4-6 grants, with an estimated award maximum of $400,000 per grant. The grant duration is 1 year, from September 1, 2024, to August 31, 2025. The success of the program will likely be measured by the number of new or expanded rural and underserved rotations established, the number of students participating in these experiences, and the subsequent impact on the availability of healthcare professionals in targeted communities. This reflects a theory of change where targeted investment in training infrastructure and student support will directly lead to a more robust and equitably distributed healthcare workforce.