Rural Residency Planning and Development Program
This grant provides start-up funds to create accredited rural physician residency programs in select specialties to increase healthcare access and address doctor shortages in rural areas.
Funder: Health Resources and Services Administration
Due Dates: July 8, 2026: Full application deadline (electronically submitted applications must be submitted no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on this date)
Funding Amounts: Up to $750,000 per award (one-time), 15 awards expected; total program funding $11,250,000 over a 3-year period.
Summary: Supports the development of new, accredited, sustainable rural physician residency programs to address workforce shortages in rural communities.
Description
This grant opportunity supports the creation and development of new, accredited rural residency programs—including rural track programs (RTPs)—in select medical specialties. It aims to expand access to health care in rural areas by increasing the number of physicians trained and prepared to practice in these underserved communities. Awardees receive start-up funding to establish programs that are expected to become self-sustaining through stable, long-term funding sources such as Medicare or Medicaid. The program specifically targets specialties experiencing rural shortages and requires that the majority of resident training occur in rural clinical sites.
