Rural Medical Education Program (ROME)

Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine’s (TCOM) Office of Rural Medical Education (ROME) promotes educational opportunities for students who have an interest in practicing medicine in a rural environment. The program we promote for our students is an innovative educational program designed to prepare students for life and practice in a rural community. This rural medicine curriculum includes academic activities and clinical experiences during the second semester of the first year of medical school and continues throughout all four years of pre-doctoral medical education. Students accepted into the ROME Program apply towards the end of the first semester of the first year. They are introduced to early clinical encounters and concepts of primary care during Years 1 and 2 that emphasize the acquisition of knowledge and skills for a career in rural medicine. During years 3 and 4, students work directly with faculty from rural communities across the state of Texas. This program provides students with real-world experience of living and working in rural Texas communities. Under the supervision of community-based faculty physicians, students experience the practice of osteopathic medicine in a rural clinical setting while developing their clinical competence. They learn about the role a physician plays in the community and the unique lifestyle experience of working in this setting.   

Most core rotations are done outside of DFW metroplex in rural communities with a more preceptor based learning style. Service-learning in the form of community activities and involvement is integrated throughout this program. Each student will participate in a ROME research initiative. The initiatives will provide the student experience in “community responsiveness” and leadership through participation in research projects to address a relevant health concern in rural and underserved areas in Texas and internationally. In addition, the ROME students will have additional opportunities for clinical rotations in international settings that provide broad scope of rural and procedural training that augments their training for rural Texas.

Rural electives that provide students in the general TCOM curriculum an opportunity to participate in a four week targeted rural rotation, emphasizing immersion in the health care system of a specific rural community, are also offered. This unique experience offers a brief snapshot of the specific challenges and opportunities within a rural health care setting.