TUPELO This January, Blue Mountain College student Andria Barnes will take the Medical College Admission Test, a major step toward her dream of becoming a doctor for rural communities.

Barnes is one of two Lee County students selected for the Mississippi Rural Physicians Scholarship Program, which has been identifying college sophomores and juniors who demonstrate the necessary commitment and academic achievement to become competent, well-trained rural primary care physicians in Mississippi.

Barnes and University of Mississippi student Mikayla Johnson, also in MRPSP, are both from Mooreville.

There are a total of 10 students from North Mississippi participating in the program: Conner Caldwell of Belmont; Cailey Crawford of Randolph; Ramona Crum of Falkner; Cali Edwards of Aberdeen; Yesenia Gonzalez of Pontotoc; Hannah Laird of Starkville; Houston Orr of Fulton; Austin Urvina of Booneville; Barnes and Johnson.

Created in 2007, MRPSP offers undergraduate academic enrichment and a clinical experience in a rural setting.

Upon completion of all medical school admissions requirements, the student can be admitted to the University of Mississippi School of Medicine or William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine.

During medical school, each MRPSP scholar may also receive $30,000 per year based on available funding. This allows many scholars to graduate from medical school debt-free.

Upon completion of medical training, MRPSP scholars must enter a residency program in one of five primary care specialties: family medicine, general internal medicine, medicine-pediatrics, obstetrics/gynecology or pediatrics. They must also provide four years of service in a clinic-based practice in an approved Mississippi community with a population of 15,000 or fewer located more than 20 miles from a medically-served area.

Barnes, 21, a rising senior at BMC, said shes always wanted to be a doctor, and MRPSP will help her achieve that goal as well as continue to prepare her for medical school while shes still an undergraduate.

Being from a small community, Barnes said she likes the close relationships rural doctors can form with their patients.

Thats the way Ive grown up, and I feel like I can understand the patients and the people because Im one of them, Barnes said.

In the midst of medical school applications, Barnes said MRPSP also gives her peace of mind knowing she doesnt need to worry about taking out loans.

Thats going to help me tremendously, Barnes said. It takes off the extra stress and worry.

Johnson, 20, a rising junior at Ole Miss, said the shadowing as part of the program has solidified her decision to become a rural physician.

After being accepted to MRPSP, undergraduate students must complete 40 hours per year of shadowing under a rural physician.

She said she plans to return to Mooreville as a pediatrician.

I always wanted to be a doctor, and I knew that I wanted to come back and work with local people because I love the community, Johnson said. I thought this program was a great opportunity to meet other people who want to practice rural medicine, and its helped me get the big picture of what I really want to do.

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Local students chosen for rural physicians scholarship - Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal