SEATTLE, Wash. — Rural communities in the region continue to face challenges with healthcare access due to fewer facilities and new standards set by the Trump administration affecting smaller clinics.
The University of Washington is addressing these needs through new partnerships, including collaborations with Gonzaga and Eastern Washington University. These partnerships aim to enhance programs that focus on increasing the number of doctors in rural areas.
Students in the ‘Regional Initiatives in Dental Education’ or ‘RIDE’ program are trained specifically to meet the needs of rural and underserved populations.
“The whole idea behind the RIDE program is to train rural dentists in rural areas because they noticed that if you train somebody in one area they’re more likely to stay in that area,” Jeremy Percival, a second-year dental student, said. “So I’ve always thought about northern Idaho, northern Washington where there’s more people that need more help, instead of the more city areas like Seattle or Spokane.”
The University of Washington states that this partnership offers robust clinical skills training in Spokane, matches medical students with primary care physicians and increases the number of medical care workers in the region’s communities.
