Every year in November, National Rural Health Day highlights the innovation, dedication, and resilience of those who provide and support health care in rural and underserved communities. These programs and individuals play a vital role in expanding access to care, addressing workforce shortages, and improving health outcomes for patients.
In recognition of National Rural Health Day, taking place on November 20 this year, the ACGME is highlighting several ongoing initiatives designed to support and strengthen graduate medical education (GME) in rural and underserved areas across the country.
Concurrent Application Pilot
One identified barrier to accreditation for Sponsoring Institutions and programs in rural and underserved areas is the accreditation timeline. The ACGME implemented a Concurrent Application Pilot to expedite the review of Sponsoring Institution and program applications, particularly for those with a mission to serve rural and underserved areas.
In July 2025, the ACGME launched the pilot, which will last for one year and will accept up to 12 new Sponsoring Institution applications through June 30, 2026. This process would allow a Sponsoring Institution and program to submit their accreditation applications at the same time in the ACGME’s Accreditation Data System, and to receive both institutional and program accreditation decisions within a nine-12-month period. Learn more and read FAQs.
Data Enhancements
Rural Track Program Designation
The ACGME has developed processes addressing ACGME-accredited programs that seek to create “rural tracks” as defined in rules and regulations of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in 42 CFR §413.79(k). An ACGME Rural Track Program (RTP) is an ACGME-accredited program in which all or some residents/fellows gain both urban and rural experience with more than half of the education and training for the applicable resident(s)/fellow(s) taking place in a rural area (any area outside of an urban Core-Based Statistical Area (CBSA)).
Rural Data Enhancement (RDE) Project
The ACGME is also implementing data enhancements through the multi-year Rural Data Enhancement (RDE) project to facilitate more reliable identification of programs that educate residents/fellows in rural and underserved areas and to enable the measurement of GME presence within these areas. The RDE project aims to enhance the accessibility, accuracy, and reliability of ACGME location data in alignment with several ACGME strategic objectives.
Advisory Group
The ACGME maintains an Advisory Group that provides consultation for implementing the ACGME’s framework to support rural and underserved GME.
The Advisory Group contributes to the development of:
- organizational knowledge of issues related to rural and underserved GME;
- outreach to designated institutional officials, program directors, and others; and,
- educational opportunities to facilitate the development of GME in rural and underserved areas.
Monthly Interest Group
On the third Tuesday of each month, the ACGME hosts an interest group for GME community members involved in addressing the needs of rural and underserved populations.
These sessions are recorded and are also made available in the Rural and Underserved GME Resource Center in Learn at ACGME. Information about these sessions is provided through the ACGME’s weekly e-Communication and social media accounts, and registration is free.
The next session will take place on Tuesday, December 16 at 1pm Central on “Family Medicine GME in Rural and Urban Underserved Areas.” Click here to register.
Connect at #ACGME2026
If you are planning to attend the 2026 ACGME Annual Educational Conference, consider joining an in-person session of our interest group on Saturday, February 21 from 7:00-8:00 a.m. Spots are available to the first 50 registered conference attendees to sign up by emailing underserved@acgme.org.
Online Resources and an Upcoming Webinar
In the ACGME’s digital learning platform, Learn at ACGME, the Rural and Underserved GME Resource Center features curated content that’s organized by “tribal,” “urban,” “rural,” and “justice-involved populations” as topic areas. Note that a free Learn at ACGME account is required to access this and much of the content in the platform.
On December 2, 2025, 12:00-1:15 p.m. Central, the ACGME will host a webinar entitled “Establishing Resident Experiences in Medically Underserved Areas: New Site Perspective.”
Many areas in the US face a shortage of physicians in various clinical specialties. Research shows that where physicians complete their GME is a strong predictor of where they will end up practicing. Establishing experiences for residents can benefit medically underserved areas in many ways. Join this webinar to learn more and hear this important discussion. Registration is required.
Register for the webinar here. 1.25 CME credit hours will be available for this activity.
Email underserved@acgme.org with questions.
New Series on the ACGME Blog
Launched earlier this fall, a new series called Pathways to Practice: Stories from Underserved in Medicine, features interviews with current residents and fellows, as well as recent graduates, sharing their personal journeys – from formative experiences before medical school to the realities of being in GME programs. Each post highlights the moments, mentors, and motivations that led the interviewee to choose a GME program focused on medically underserved areas. Through these reflections, interviewees explore how their backgrounds and clinical education and training shaped their commitment to providing high-quality health care for all and influenced the paths they plan to pursue, or are pursuing, in practice.
Read this and our other Q and A series, Partnerships to Establish and Sustain Rural GME, on the ACGME Blog.
The ACGME is committed to improving access to and availability of health care in rural and underserved areas. Read more about the ACGME’s work in this area on the ACGME website or email underserved@acgme.org with questions.