Welcome to the online portal for 2025 RUSCH Program applications!
*The RUSCH program will be fully in-person with fully in-person or hybrid internship opportunities*
The Rural and Urban Scholars in Community Health (RUSCH) program is a partnership of the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health and UW-Milwaukee, UW-Parkside, UW-Platteville, Spelman College, the Native American Center for Health Professions (NACHP), and UW-Madison. RUSCH is a two-year pathway program designed for pre-health students who aspire to practice medicine in Wisconsin’s rural or urban health professional shortage areas.
The program includes an 8-week summer community health internship where students are placed in a sites throughout Wisconsin (students will be responsible for securing their own housing – there are some limited funds available to assist students) and a summer research placement on the campus of UW School of Medicine and Public Health (students are provided housing in UW residential halls). During the community health internship, students participate in seminars which provide them with an orientation to community & public health principles and practice (depending upon where students are placed these seminars are either held in person or remotely via web). During the research summer, students will conduct research with a UW SMPH faculty mentor and have the opportunity to participate in clinical healthcare experiences (virtual or in-person), participate in health equity seminars and field trips, and MD program admissions information and advising. During the academic year, students are required to participate in monthly activities and/or virtual seminars (at home campus and via Canvas course hosted by the RUSCH program). Students receive a stipend for each summer that they successfully complete the program. Students also have access to one free MCAT preparation resource.
The program typically begins in the first week of June and runs until end of July, which may include a mandatory orientation during the first week of the program.
Participation in the RUSCH program strengthens a student’s preparation for applying to the UW School of Medicine and Public Health and its rural or urban training tracks – WARM (Wisconsin Academy for Rural Medicine) or TRIUMPH (Training in Urban Medicine and Public Health). The program is administered through the UW-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health Office of MD Admissions.
First generation college students, students from a medically underserved area, underrepresented minority background, or socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply.
Acceptance into RUSCH does not guarantee admission to medical school.
Eligibility:
- U.S. citizen, permanent resident, DACA, refugee and asylee
- Enrolled at a RUSCH-affiliated campus as an undergraduate with at least sophomore standing and two years remaining before graduation
- Complete preliminary coursework and have a minimum overall and science GPA of 3.0
- Desire to become a physician addressing health care needs in a medically underserved rural or urban area
- Demonstrated commitment to community service and an interest in public health
- Completion of introductory courses in English, math, and science specific to each campus
- Available to participate in the entire eight-week summer 2024 and 2025 programs
Application Requirements:
Please complete each section of the application.
- Personal Information Form
- Upload your resume
- Upload your written responses to three essay questions
- Upload a 3-5 mins Interview Video
- Upload an unofficial copy of your college transcript(s)
- Provide the names of two references (one academic, one personal) whom you have asked to write a letter of recommendation. Your references will be sent an email from the site with a link that allows them to upload their letters directly to the site.
Please upload all documents in PDF format.
Application Deadline: January 13, 2025, 11:59pm CST
Thank you for your interest in the RUSCH program!
Application FAQ:
- When will I know if I have been accepted?
- Acceptance decisions will be made mid January-early February.
- Can I work on my application intermittently?
- You may work on your online RUSCH application intermittently, as long as you save your work each time.
- Do I need to re-submit my application after the changes?
- You do not need to re-submit your application (the button will be inactive)-your changes will be automatically saved.
- What do I do if my letter writer did not receive notification to submit my reference form?
- Please contact rusch@med.wisc.edu.
- Who will have access to the information on my application?
- Information on your application will be shared with RUSCH contacts on your campus, RUSCH faculty and staff at the UW School of Medicine and Public Health, and potential research mentors.
For questions regarding the RUSCH application process, please contact the program by email at rusch@med.wisc.edu.
RUSCH Program
Welcome to the online portal for 2025 RUSCH Program applications!
*The RUSCH program will be fully in-person with fully in-person or hybrid internship opportunities*
The Rural and Urban Scholars in Community Health (RUSCH) program is a partnership of the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health and UW-Milwaukee, UW-Parkside, UW-Platteville, Spelman College, the Native American Center for Health Professions (NACHP), and UW-Madison. RUSCH is a two-year pathway program designed for pre-health students who aspire to practice medicine in Wisconsin’s rural or urban health professional shortage areas.
The program includes an 8-week summer community health internship where students are placed in a sites throughout Wisconsin (students will be responsible for securing their own housing – there are some limited funds available to assist students) and a summer research placement on the campus of UW School of Medicine and Public Health (students are provided housing in UW residential halls). During the community health internship, students participate in seminars which provide them with an orientation to community & public health principles and practice (depending upon where students are placed these seminars are either held in person or remotely via web). During the research summer, students will conduct research with a UW SMPH faculty mentor and have the opportunity to participate in clinical healthcare experiences (virtual or in-person), participate in health equity seminars and field trips, and MD program admissions information and advising. During the academic year, students are required to participate in monthly activities and/or virtual seminars (at home campus and via Canvas course hosted by the RUSCH program). Students receive a stipend for each summer that they successfully complete the program. Students also have access to one free MCAT preparation resource.
The program typically begins in the first week of June and runs until end of July, which may include a mandatory orientation during the first week of the program.
Participation in the RUSCH program strengthens a student’s preparation for applying to the UW School of Medicine and Public Health and its rural or urban training tracks – WARM (Wisconsin Academy for Rural Medicine) or TRIUMPH (Training in Urban Medicine and Public Health). The program is administered through the UW-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health Office of MD Admissions.
First generation college students, students from a medically underserved area, underrepresented minority background, or socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply.
Acceptance into RUSCH does not guarantee admission to medical school.
Eligibility:
- U.S. citizen, permanent resident, DACA, refugee and asylee
- Enrolled at a RUSCH-affiliated campus as an undergraduate with at least sophomore standing and two years remaining before graduation
- Complete preliminary coursework and have a minimum overall and science GPA of 3.0
- Desire to become a physician addressing health care needs in a medically underserved rural or urban area
- Demonstrated commitment to community service and an interest in public health
- Completion of introductory courses in English, math, and science specific to each campus
- Available to participate in the entire eight-week summer 2024 and 2025 programs
Application Requirements:
Please complete each section of the application.
- Personal Information Form
- Upload your resume
- Upload your written responses to three essay questions
- Upload a 3-5 mins Interview Video
- Upload an unofficial copy of your college transcript(s)
- Provide the names of two references (one academic, one personal) whom you have asked to write a letter of recommendation. Your references will be sent an email from the site with a link that allows them to upload their letters directly to the site.
Please upload all documents in PDF format.
Application Deadline: January 13, 2025, 11:59pm CST
Thank you for your interest in the RUSCH program!
Application FAQ:
- When will I know if I have been accepted?
- Acceptance decisions will be made mid January-early February.
- Can I work on my application intermittently?
- You may work on your online RUSCH application intermittently, as long as you save your work each time.
- Do I need to re-submit my application after the changes?
- You do not need to re-submit your application (the button will be inactive)-your changes will be automatically saved.
- What do I do if my letter writer did not receive notification to submit my reference form?
- Please contact rusch@med.wisc.edu.
- Who will have access to the information on my application?
- Information on your application will be shared with RUSCH contacts on your campus, RUSCH faculty and staff at the UW School of Medicine and Public Health, and potential research mentors.
For questions regarding the RUSCH application process, please contact the program by email at rusch@med.wisc.edu.