Bailee Arthur, a secondyear medical student at OSU College of Osteopathic Medicine at the Cherokee Nation, has returned to her hometown for a clinical externship at the Durant Residency Clinic, aspart of the school’s Rural Track Program. The program is designed to prepare future physicians to serve rural and underserved communities through immersive, hands-on experiences.
The externship provides Arthur with the opportunity to work directly with patients and physicians and other health professionals in her own community, gaining valuable clinical experience while contributing to the health of the area where she grew up. The Durant Family Medicine Clinic is one of several rural sites participating in the OSUCOM Rural Track Program, which aims to address physician shortages by encouraging medical students to train and eventually practice in rural communities.
Dr. Terry Gerard II, DO, a physician at Alliance-Health and The Durant Family Medicine Clinic, added, “We’re proud to support students like Bailee who are dedicated to making a difference in rural healthcare.
There’s something special about seeing someone return to their roots to serve their community.”