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Western Colorado Rural Health Scholars Program

The Western Colorado Rural Health Scholars program that unites Colorado Mesa University and the University of Colorado Health Science Center in an effort to provide opportunities for tomorrow's rural health care providers.

  • 25 counties (or 40%) have two or fewer active dentists in the entire county.
  • 15 Colorado counties have two or fewer MDs providing patient care for the entire county.
  • There isn't a single dentist in eight rural Colorado counties and not one dentist accepts Medicaid patients in 24 counties.

While there is no commitment for future practice in a rural area, it is our hope that students who have experienced the health care shortage firsthand will bring with them a passion to change the future of rural Colorado.

WCRHS students will have access to additional advising, volunteering and shadowing opportunities and much more.