At the UAB Heersink School of Medicine, we're committed to training primary care physicians to serve our state. We have partnerships with The University of Alabama and Auburn University to offer two, five-year programs for students committed to pursuing careers in rural primary care medicine.

The Rural Medical Scholars Program includes a year of prematriculation study that leads to a master’s degree in Rural Community Health from the College of Community Health Sciences at The University of Alabama, followed by four years of medical school. RMSP students complete their clinical training at our Tuscaloosa Regional Medical Campus. 

The Rural Medicine Program includes a year of prematriculation study at the post-baccalaureate level in the College of Sciences and Mathematics at Auburn University, followed by four years of medical school. RMP students complete their clinical training at our Huntsville Regional Medical Campus.

About Rural Medicine

Students who enroll in either of UAB’s Rural Medicine Programs commit to becoming primary care physicians in rural and small town communities in Alabama.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must meet the minimum requirements for consideration for the regular admission program. The admissions committee selects Rural Medical students based on experiences, attributes and academic metrics that predict applicants' abilities to become outstanding rural physicians.

Specific Requirements to be eligible for consideration:

• Be a legal resident of Alabama
• Have lived in a rural area of Alabama for no less than eight years or graduated from a rural Alabama high school
• Committed to practicing family medicine or primary care in a rural area of Alabama
• Have a minimum 3.30 GPA and a 3.0 BCPM GPA in previous coursework
• Have a minimum MCAT total score of 495
  • Earliest exam date: Three years prior to medical school matriculation (example: 2023 exam date for students starting medical school in 2026)
  • Latest exam date: Score release date prior to application deadline (typically September of the year the application opens)
  • For applicants seeking to complete their senior year of undergraduate education at the same time as the pre-matriculation year in a Rural Medicine program, the committee will consider applicants with ACT total scores of 24 and above (or equivalent SAT). These students would be expected to take and earn the minimum MCAT prior to the start of the pre-matriculation year.

Specific requirements in order to matriculate into the School of Medicine as a Rural Medicine student:

• Students must earn a minimum GPA of 3.50 or higher in the pre-matriculation undergraduate or graduate program
• Have earned a bachelor's degree prior to matriculation in medical school

Applicants provisionally accepted will be notified of specific contingencies in their official letter of acceptance. All contingencies must be met in order to matriculate.

Application Requirements

1. Complete the Special Programs Application. One application is used for both programs. Preferences for either the Rural Medical Scholars Program or the Rural Medicine Program will be requested from applicants after they interview.

2.  Submit the Special Programs supplemental material, which requires:

• An official transcript from all colleges and universities applicants have attended.
• Transcripts can be submitted electronically to medschool@uab.edu or to the address below by the application deadline:

• A non-refundable $100 application fee.
• Letters of reference submitted online. The letters of recommendation should include:
  • A rural community letter that talks about involvement or commitment to the community (examples could be a rural physician or community leader)
  • A pre-health professional committee letter at their undergraduate school OR two science faculty letters

• Transcripts, letters of recommendation, MCAT scores and the application fee must be received by the application deadline.

3. After submitting the online application, you may return to the admissions portal to check which documents have been received by our office.

4. If accepted into the program, applicants must complete an AMCAS application on the AMCAS website after June 1. This application is required of all applicants applying to U.S. medical schools. 

Interview Information

Interviews for the 2026 entering class will be held on February 27, 2025.

All applicants are notified of their admission status shortly after the interview. Students offered acceptance to a Rural Medicine program will be allowed to hold a Regular MD waitlist spot until April 30. At that time, students will need to choose between remaining on the Regular MD waitlist or accepting a seat in the Rural Medicine program.