A group of future health care professionals will get a firsthand look at rural medicine in northwest Missouri later this month through the Rural Immersion Program.
Hosted by MU Extension's Northwest Region in partnership with the Rural Scholars Program, the four-day event aims to highlight the opportunities and importance of practicing medicine in rural Missouri.
About 20 health professions students from across the state will participate in the program, which will take place June 22-25.
Extension engagement specialist Randa Doty said the program has been held in other parts of Missouri in previous years and is celebrating its 10th year.
“We’re excited to bring them to northwest Missouri,” Doty said. “They will be touring many different counties in the region, starting in Grundy County and visiting Mercer, Gentry, Harrison and Nodaway counties.”
During the program, students will meet with medical professionals, employers, economic developers and first responders. They also will tour hospitals and other health care facilities.
The tour will begin in Grundy County before continuing through several northwest Missouri communities and ending in Nodaway County. While in Maryville, participants will explore the downtown area and meet with local first responders.
Organizers say the Rural Immersion Program is designed to give students firsthand experience with rural health care systems and the communities they serve, while encouraging future careers in rural medicine.
The MU Extension is inviting the public to join for the closing presentations of the 2026 Rural Immersion Program. Registration can be found here.