Impact Rural Health IN RUR AL COMMUNITIES, ZIP CODES CAN PREDICT HEALTH MORE THAN GENETIC CODE . PENN STATE COLLEGE OF MEDICINE IS LEADING THE EFFORT TO ENSURE THAT WHERE YOU LIVE DOES NOT DETERMINE HOW WELL YOU LIVE.
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT DISCOVERY PA R T N E R S H I P ACCESS E C O N O M I C I M PAC T
Rural Health Solutions: Built. Deployed. Proven. We don’t just study rural health gaps – we build the infrastructure to close them. By integrating discovery, physician training, clinical care and community trust, Penn State College of Medicine delivers real, measurable outcomes across Pennsylvania.
FIVE WAYS WE TURN NEED INTO ACTION
1 // EDUCATION & WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT Training that puts people where care is needed THE PROBLEM: Rural Pennsylvania has half as many primary care providers per capita as urban areas and 1.2M Pennsylvanians live in a Health Professional Shortage Area.
OUR SOLUTION: We’re building the rural workforce that rural communities need now: through Rural Health Scholars, the Area Health Education Center, regional campuses and accelerated pathways.
THE PROOF: Doctors entering practice a year sooner. 50+ Rural Health Scholars. $4.5 million in new funding support for scholarships. 30% of our trainees stay in PA.
2 // RESEARCH & DISCOVERY Research built to work outside the lab THE PROBLEM: Rural communities have been excluded from clinical research. New treatments often don’t reach rural patients for years – if at all.
OUR SOLUTION: Powered by 1 of only 9 rurallyfocused NIH Clinical and Translational Science Institutes in the nation, we do the research and lead the clinical trials that transform medical breakthroughs into real-world care for rural communities.
THE PROOF: 150+ pilot studies launched. $254 million in new research funding. 20% of our clinical trial participants are from rural populations. Nationally, 83 programs in 41 states are replicating our models.
3 // COMMUNITY & PARTNERSHIP Solutions built with – not for – communities THE PROBLEM: Rural patients have a 43% higher mortality rate than their urban counterparts.
OUR SOLUTION: LION Mobile partners with local institutions to bring specialty care, education and research directly into communities.
THE PROOF: 12,000+ patients served since 2022. 17 counties reached. ~100 events annually. Across 341 active trials in FY25, one in five trial participants is now from a rural community.
4 // CLINICAL CARE ACCESS Care that reaches people where they live THE PROBLEM: Rural populations have 16% higher colorectal cancer incidence than urban counterparts and a 57% higher melanoma incidence rate. Screening rates lag because barriers to access are real.
OUR SOLUTION: PA-CARES, INSPIRE-PA, Federally Qualified Health Center partnerships and community-driven research that improves access to care.
THE PROOF: Operating in 28 counties where screening rates are lowest, PA-CARES screened 3,659 patients in one year while INSPIRE-PA screened 333 individuals through targeted events in 2025, connecting 18.6% to follow-up specialty care.
5 // ADVOCACY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Evidence that moves decisions THE PROBLEM: Opportunity to improve lives of rural communities through partnerships is significant.
OUR SOLUTION: Be a force multiplier. For every dollar of research expenditures generated by medical schools, there is a 2.5% return on investment.
THE PROOF: The College of Medicine has generated almost $450 million in economic impact throughout the commonwealth.
Solutions In Action
CLOSING THE SCREENING GAP // PA-CARES is dismantling barriers to colorectal cancer screening in rural Pennsylvania and screened 3,659 patients last year who otherwise could have gone without care.
BRINGING RESEARCH CLOSER TO HOME // Penn State’s clinical research network is bringing trials directly to rural residents. More than 20% of our participants are from rural areas and we have more than 150 pilot studies so we can accelerate, and innovate, health care solutions.
TRAINING THE RURAL WORKFORCE // Programs like Rural Health Scholars and our 3+ Program are getting more doctors into rural communities faster and changing Pennsylvania’s health care landscape.
MEETING COMMUNITIES WHERE THEY ARE // LION Mobile brings specialty care, education and research directly to rural communities. More than 12,000 patients in 17 counties have been served since 2022.
Statewide Reach. This is our land-grant mission in action. Behind every marker is a community we serve and a promise kept, reflecting our commitment to bringing world-class research, care and medical training directly to the people of Pennsylvania, wherever they live.
College of Medicine (University Park)
College of Medicine (Hershey)
The state of PA
48 of 67 Pennsylvania counties are classified as rural
3.4M+ ~100% Pennsylvanians live in rural communities
Nearly all rural PA counties contain at least one federally designated Health Professional Shortage Area
BY THE NUMBERS
. Local Impact.
The proof is in the work. Here’s our reach and what we’ve done so far.
67 of 67
counties reached through programs from the only land-grant medical school in Pennsylvania
1,100+
32
ospitals in the Penn State Clinical h and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) clinical network
5M+
clinics and health centers
Urban countie
patients represented in the network
Health Profes
MEASURED IMPACT // PA-CARES
Rural counties
PROJECT ECHOPenn State ca
27,554 eligible patients 3,659 screened in one year 28 counties 4 health systems
83 programs Penn State He 66 Pennsylvania counties 41 states Penn State H 16 countries Penn State H $12.8M direct funding
LION Mobile
CLINICAL RESEARCHCTSI Project
20% of Penn State College LION MOBILE
Urban counties Health Professional Shortage Areas Penn State campus locations Penn State Health acute care hospitals Penn State Health clinical joint ventures Penn State Health outpatient centers & practices LION Mobile reach CTSI Project ECHO virtual reach CTSI clinical collaborations (Geisinger, PHN, AHN) Community-connected research projects Penn State Cancer Institute catchment area
MAP KEY
Rural counties
17 counties 12,000+ patients since 2022 ~100 events annually
al
of Medicine clinical trialCTSI clinic participants are from rural populations Community
Penn State
WE ARE the only rurally integrated academic health system in Pennsylvania //
Partner with Penn State College of Medicine:
Proven Leaders in Rural Health We want to hear from you. Collaboration is essential to advancing and innovating rural health solutions. Your questions, ideas and feedback helps us build on Penn State College of Medicine’s proven models, research and partnerships. Together, we can expand what works, develop new solutions and improve health outcomes across Pennsylvania. There is so much more work to do—together. Let’s connect and shape what’s next. LEARN MORE:
med.psu.edu/rural-health STORIES | PROGRAMS | EXPERTS | DATA | CONTACT
WHO WE ARE // At Penn State College of Medicine, everything begins with people. Since 1967, when we became the first U.S. medical school to establish a dedicated humanities department, our mission has been anchored in human-centered care, education and discovery. We excel across the entire spectrum of health and biomedical science. Our $195M+ annual research enterprise powers breakthroughs ranging from artificial organs and novel cancer therapies to advanced diagnostics and fundamental disease research. Across our Hershey and State College campuses, more than 1,800 students and trainees pursue MD, PhD, physician assistant, nursing, public health and interdisciplinary degrees. Whatever the discipline, every program we offer is driven by a singular purpose: serving people and transforming lives. Explore our work at med.psu.edu or contact us for more information.
EDUCATION
1800+
students and trainees
RESEARCH
$195M+ annual research enterprise
Serving people. Transforming lives.
INNOVATION
#1
royalty generating technologies
HUMAN CENTERED
1st
humanities department in a U.S. medical school
CONTACT OUR TEAM COM_MC_12205559089_27 101526