Rural Underserved Opportunities Program (RUOP)

The Rural Underserved Opportunities Program (RUOP) is a four-week, elective immersion experience in community medicine for students between their first and second years of medical school. During their four-week rotation, students live in rural or urban underserved communities throughout Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, and Idaho (WWAMI ). They work side-by-side with local physicians providing health care to underserved populations.

Administered by the Office of Rural Programs, RUOP is a collaborative effort of the UW School of Medicine, WWAMI campuses and the Area Health Education Centers. It is governed by a Steering Committee of major participants. The program has strong support from the many volunteer physician preceptors and the communities they serve. It is also supported by the Washington and Idaho Academies of Family Physicians.

Read more about RUOP at the Office of Rural Programs website >