Future rural physicians stepped beyond the classroom and into conversations about leadership, advocacy and community health during the Montana WWAMI TRUST Student Leadership Retreat, held June 24–27 in Bozeman. The annual retreat brought together second- and third-year TRUST students for several days of learning, mentorship and reflection as they prepare to serve rural and underserved communities.
A highlight was an advocacy panel featuring Montana healthcare leaders, including State Senator Cora Neumann, Katie Lowe, M.D., Heidi Duncan, M.D., JJ Carmody and Stacey Anderson. The panel explored how physicians can use their experiences and voices to advocate for patients and communities, followed by student reflections on advocacy.
Senator Neumann encouraged students to bring their firsthand experiences into conversations that affect their communities. She explained that advocacy can come in many forms.
“It can mean coming up to testify and bringing the stories and voices of your patients with you,” she said. “You will walk into these conversations with credibility that almost nobody else in the room has, and I hope you use it.”
She also highlighted the strength of Montana WWAMI’s commitment to recruiting students with ties to rural communities.
“What makes this program work is who is in it,” Senator Neumann said, noting that many students grew up in Montana or come from communities that feel like home. That connection, she said, gives future physicians an understanding of their patients and communities that can be essential to effective care.
Throughout the retreat, students explored rural healthcare topics including federally qualified health centers, population health, critical access hospitals and diverse practice settings. They also connected with clinicians working across academic medicine, private practice, the Veterans Affairs system and rural health settings.
The retreat concluded with recent TRUST graduates and fourth-year medical students sharing firsthand insights into the transition from medical school to residency and rural practice.
