JOPLIN, Mo., July 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Kansas City University (KCU), the #1 producer of physicians practicing in Missouri, has announced its new Rural Health Scholars program—an innovative, partnership designed to fast-track students from rural, medically underserved counties in Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Arkansas into careers as osteopathic physicians or dentists.
KCU launched Rural Health Scholars in collaboration with Missouri Southern State University (MSSU) in Joplin, Missouri, Pittsburg State University (PSU) in Pittsburg, Kansas, and eight area community colleges in Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma. The track enables qualifying students to earn a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) or Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) degree in seven years—a year earlier than the traditional route.
Students begin the program at a participating community college, where they complete their first year of undergraduate coursework. Those who meet academic requirements then transfer to MSSU or PSU for their second and third years. After their second year, qualified students are invited to interview for early admission to KCU's College of Osteopathic Medicine or College of Dental Medicine. Students accepted into the program complete their third year at MSSU or PSU before transitioning to KCU for four years of medical or dental school.
Participating community colleges include:
The need for this type of initiative is urgent. Across the nation, rural communities face a critical shortage of both physicians and dentists. Nearly 65 percent of primary care Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) are in rural regions, yet less than 12 percent of physicians practice there. Meanwhile, nearly 67 percent of dental HPSAs are located in rural America, where many communities have fewer than five dentists per 10,000 residents—well below urban levels.
According to the latest report from the Kaiser Family Foundation, the shortages are especially pronounced in the states served by KCU's new initiative. Kansas requires an estimated 113 additional physicians and more than 50 dentists to meet current health care needs. Oklahoma faces a deficit of nearly 300 primary care physicians and more than 200 dentists. In Missouri, the need is even greater, with a shortfall of almost 500 primary care physicians and close to 350 dentists. These disparities leave millions of Americans without access to essential care—a gap KCU's Rural Health Scholars program is designed to address.
While several fast-track pathways to medical or dental school exist across the U.S., most follow a single-institution, single-state and medical-only model. In contrast, KCU's Rural Health Scholars program spans three states and multiple institutions, includes both medical and dental pathways and offers conditional early acceptance.
"With this multi-institution, multi-state collaboration, we're expanding opportunity through a pipeline for students with substantial rural backgrounds—students who are well-positioned to serve in rural areas and help close critical care gaps," said Richard Schooler, DO, vice president of KCU's Joplin campus. "This effort is unique in its scope, bringing together eight community colleges across three states, two state universities in two additional states and a private, not-for-profit health sciences university—all united by a common goal to increase access to medical and dental education and improve health in the rural communities we collectively serve."
Leaders at MSSU and PSU emphasized the impact of this new pipeline for students in their regions.
"Missouri Southern State University is excited to be part of the Rural Health Scholars program, which provides an additional, innovative pathway for students to pursue careers in the medical or dental professions," said Dean Van Galen, PhD, president of MSSU. "The program is a great example of institutions working together to serve students, retain talent in the Four States and ultimately improve the health and vitality of our region. Rural scholars who choose to come to MSSU will have an outstanding and immersive educational experience."
Chris Childers, PhD, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at PSU, echoed that support.
"Southeast Kansans need greater access to health care, which means we need more doctors and dentists. The Rural Health Scholars initiative connects PSU and KCU, two institutions with outstanding records of training health professionals, so that students can complete a high-quality education quickly and affordably. PSU is proud to help build the future of health care in our region, one student at a time, through this innovative partnership."
By creating a clear, structured route to medical or dental school for students from rural communities, KCU is taking meaningful steps to address the shortage of health care providers in underserved areas. This bold initiative reflects the University's ongoing commitment to its mission—improving the well-being of the communities it serves—ensuring that more patients, in more places, have access to high-quality, compassionate care.
About Kansas City University
Founded in 1916, Kansas City University (KCU) is a fully accredited, private not-for-private health sciences university with Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine, Biosciences and Dental Medicine, and campuses in Kansas City and Joplin, Mo. The College of Osteopathic Medicine is the fourth-largest medical school in the U.S. and the leading producer of physicians in Missouri. It ranks #1 for producing physicians who practice in primary care, rural areas and underserved regions in the state. KCU's Center for Population Health and Equity addresses the variables that affect a population's health and contribute to health disparities, while better preparing students for professional practice. KCU offers doctoral degrees in osteopathic medicine, dental medicine and clinical psychology and a master's degree in biomedical sciences. Dual degree offerings include master's degrees in business administration in health care leadership, public health, and bioethics. A new Master of Health Sciences – Anesthesiologist Assistant program is scheduled to launch in January 2026.
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SOURCE Kansas City University
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