UA Rural Programs

08/19/2026

Happy First Day of Class!🎉
We are excited to welcome the newest cohorts of Rural Medical Scholars, Rural Dental Scholars and Rural Community Health Scholars. These students are committed to making a difference in rural communities by improving access to care and serving where they are needed most.

Rural Medical Scholars:
Chloe Cater-Calhoun County
Rebecca Chancey-Houston County
John David Harrell-Walker County
Jake Hays- Colbert County
Zachary Love- St. Clair County
Tevin Pauley-Colbert County
Christy Xie- Chilton County

Rural Dental Scholars:
Kirby Payton-Cleburne County
Lynn Pham-Marengo County
Trenton Roden-Colbert County
Jack Stoudenmire- Clarke County

Rural Community Health Scholars:
Abbi Calhoun-Chilton County
Erica Doss-Covington County
Nia Jones-Etowah County

👏 Join us in congratulating them as they begin this meaningful journey toward becoming the next generation of rural healthcare leaders.

08/03/2026

It is with great sadness that we share the passing of Dr. John Brandon, a beloved physician, educator, and champion for rural healthcare.

Dr. Brandon dedicated his life to serving others as a primary care physician in a small rural community, where his compassion, leadership, and unwavering commitment to his patients made a lasting impact. Through his role as Medical Director of The University of Alabama Rural Medical Scholars Program, he mentored and inspired countless future physicians, helping shape generations of healthcare leaders committed to serving rural communities.

In recognition of his extraordinary contributions to rural health and medical education, the Rural Medical Scholars Program proudly renamed its annual Sage Award to the Dr. John Brandon Award in 2026, an honor that reflects the lasting legacy he leaves behind.

We extend our deepest condolences to Dr. Brandon's family, friends, former colleagues, students, and all whose lives he touched. His legacy will live on through the many physicians he mentored and the countless rural communities that continue to benefit from his life's work.

07/16/2026

🎉Congratulations to our very own, Ms. Cynthia Moore, for 40 years of service! Ms. Moore serves as Program Coordinator for our Rural Health and Rural Dental Health Scholars as well as the MOORE Scholars. We are thankful for your dedication and commitment to serving our students and helping prepare the next generation of rural health care leaders. Congratulations again on this wonderful milestone!

Help us congratulate Cynthia Moore, assistant director for CCHS’s Rural Programs, for achieving 40 years of continuous service at The University of Alabama 🎉!

Moore was recognized during a Service Recognition Celebration Ceremony Thursday, July 16, at UA’s Bryant Conference Center.

06/17/2026

🎉 Please join us in welcoming Tommie Bolden, Jr. to our team!

Tommie is an administrative professional, educator, and organizational leader with a passion for service, community engagement, and leadership development. A graduate of The University of Alabama with a degree in Music Administration and a minor in Business, he brings valuable experience in education, nonprofit leadership, program administration, and community outreach.

Currently serving as an Administrative Assistant with The University of Alabama’s Rural Programs and as National Secretary of his organization, Tommie is dedicated to fostering collaboration, strengthening communication, and creating meaningful impact through servant leadership.

His commitment to excellence, leadership, and community engagement continues to inspire those around him, and we are excited to have him as part of our team.

👏 Welcome, Tommie! We look forward to all the great things ahead.

06/17/2026

We are officially 1️⃣ month away from the 30th celebration of the Rural Medical Scholars Program. This milestone event is more than a celebration. It will be a chance to connect, reflect, and honor the legacy of a program that continues to change lives and communities.
⏰️Don't wait to secure your spot! Register today!

https://universityofalabama.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0TwOsAJ3Q9RnKfQ

06/09/2026

06/03/2026

Can you name everyone pictured? If not, you need to make sure you are registerd and meet us at the 30th Reunion Celebration for the Rural Medical Scholars!🎉

For three decades, the Rural Medical Scholars Program has opened doors, created opportunities, and inspired students to make a difference in their communities.

From rural roots to meaningful careers in healthcare, this program continues to leave a powerful legacy.

Join us as we honor the past, celebrate the present, and look ahead to the future!

Register here: https://universityofalabama.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0TwOsAJ3Q9RnKfQ

05/15/2026

2️⃣ months until the biggest party of the summer!🎉 Have you signed up yet?
You don’t want to miss this incredible celebration of 30 years of Rural Medical Scholars!

From building lifelong friendships to shaping future healthcare leaders, this program has made a lasting impact across Alabama and beyond.

Come celebrate the journey, the memories, and the future with us—register now!

https://universityofalabama.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0TwOsAJ3Q9RnKfQ

05/11/2026

What a wonderful semester for Rural Programs!

On April 25, we celebrated the end of our 2025–2026 cohort of Rural Medical, Rural Dental and Rural Community Health Scholars at our annual Convocation. This year’s speaker was Toni Ann Richard, and we were proud to announce Dr. Beverly Jordan as our 2026 Sage Award recipient.

On May 1, we had the privilege of witnessing the hard work and dedication of our RMS, RDS and RCHS as they crossed the stage at Coleman Coliseum. Thank you for an amazing year. We look forward to many more years to come!

04/29/2026

🎉Congratulations to Director of Education and Evaluation for Rural Programs, Dr. Antonio Gardner, on being sworn in as President-elect of The Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE).

SOPHE is a nonprofit, independent professional association that represents a diverse membership of health promotion and health education professionals and students in the United States and several international countries.