Rural Medicine Training Opportunities for Medical Students

In the fall of 2009, Marshfield Clinic was proud to pioneer the future of rural medicine as the first host site for the W​isconsin Academy for Rural Medicine (WARM). Since then, third and fourth year medical students from the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health have become part of a “Rural Pipeline” created to address the physician shortage in Wisconsin’s diverse rural communities.

More than 33 percent of Wisconsin citizens live in rural areas but only 11 percent of physicians have rural practices. Furthermore, 83 percent of Wisconsin counties are designated totally or partially medically underserved and 77 percent of these underserved counties are rural.

The goal of WARM is to recruit students with rural backgrounds and career goals, develop a rural medical education track, and eventually expand rural residency training opportunities in the state.

This strategic plan will be centered around the following measures:

• A four-year curriculum with a rural practice emphasis
• Clinical training provided by faculty located within rural medical centers
• Diverse rural clinical experiences during medical school in many specialties

Benefits include:

• Access to an outstanding medical library
• Variety of specialty rotations
• Opportunity to enjoy the beautiful Wisconsin Northwoods
• Connect back to the Clinic campus and the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health

Visit these sites to learn more about this special part of rural America:

Eau Claire

Marshfield

Minocqua 

Rice Lake

Wausau and Weston  

Marshfield Clinic WARM Director -        Stephen Holthaus, M.D. - Rice Lake Center

Marshfield Clinic Assistant WARM Director - Katie Reimer, M.D. - Marshfield Medical Center

Do not assume an educational request has been approved until you have received confirmation from Marshfield Clinic Division of Education. If you have questions, please contact a Division of Education program specialist.