Rural Health Scholars Program (RHS)
One RHS, Two Cohorts: Bowling Green and Elizabethtown
Rural Health Scholars is a 4‑week program hosted by AHEC for undergraduate students pursuing pre‑professional tracks such as medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, physical therapy, and related fields. The program immerses students in rural Kentucky healthcare through hands‑on experiences designed to deepen their understanding of the challenges, strengths, and community resources that shape care for rural populations.
Program Dates: May 26 – June 19, 2026
Program Locations: Bowling Green and the newly expanded Elizabethtown cohort
To apply:
- Complete the online application (opens late January).
- Specify to which cohort (Bowling Green or Elizabetown) you are applying on your application.
- Email your personal statement (750 words max) in a Word document to ahec@wku.edu that addresses your interest in your respective field, why you want to participate in RHS, and what experience you have in the health field.
- Applicants attending a college or university other than WKU must also email your unofficial transcript with your personal statement.
- Application Deadline: March 15, 2026
- Preference given to students from rural and medically underserved regions of Kentucky.
- Must reside in and/or attend college within the Southcentral Kentucky AHEC service area
- Reliable transportation
- Pass a criminal background check (paid for by AHEC).
- Must be available to participate in the entire program.
The 2026 Rural Health Scholars program focused on the following three themes. Participants will receive a detailed schedule outlining all workshops, trainings, and field trips before the start of the program.
Learn more about the unique healthcare needs of:
- Farmers
- Mennonite and Amish communities
- Individuals experiencing homelessness
- Refugees and Immigrants
- Vulnerable populations
Learn about behavioral health issues impacting rural areas.
Meet with local organizations that are addressing the behavioral health needs of Kentuckians, including:
- Addiction treatment options
- Suicide prevention programs
- Behavioral health hospitals
- Become American Heart Association BLS CPR certified
- Learn about the admissions process to your professional school
- Practice mock interviews
- Personal statement workshop and feedback
- Resume writing workshop and feedback
- Complete a service project
Up to ten scholars will be chosen for the Bowling Green campus program. Five scholars
will be chosen for the Elizabetown campus
Both the Bowling Green and Elizabethtown cohorts run May 26 – June 19 on their respective WKU campuses and surrounding communities. Each program follows the same three core themes:
-
Increasing Intercultural Competency
-
Rural Health Focus: Behavioral Health
-
Preparing for Life After Undergrad
Participants from both sites will come together for several shared activities, including tours of the professional schools, Zoom workshops, and selected program‑wide events. However, each location also offers its own distinct experiences.
No. Students attending college in SCKY AHEC service area (ECTC, SKYCTC, Campbellsville University, Lindsey Wilson College, and WKU) are eligible to partcipate. In addition, students from the SCKY AHEC service region attending other institutions are also eligible to participate.
AHEC may be able to provide a limited number of on-campus housing scholarships for students participating in teh Bowling Green program in need of housing. Housing is provided in the summer term residence hall (to be determined by HRL) for the duration of the program. (Living on campus is not required to participate in RHS.)
There is no typical day, but most activities take place from 8-5pm.
You will be exposed to a variety of health professionals, but you will not be doing extensive shadowing.
Students are required to attend all days. Exceptions are made on a case-by-case basis.
Students received a $1,500 stipend to help off-set living expenses during the month.
You can work as long as your total hours between the two programs don't exceed 40 hrs/week and your other job is not during RHS program hours.
Please contact Cameron Carr-Calvert or Emily Ann Pride Sutton if you have questions.
Some of the links on this page may require additional software to view.