University of Wisconsin–Madison ⋅ Medical College of Wisconsin
WMJ

Health Professional School Enrollment Following Participation in the Rural and Urban Community Health Scholars Pathway Program (RUSCH)

Yer Lee, BA; Keegan J. Reilly, MD; Ryan E. Tsuchida, MD; Vera K. Tsenkova, PhD; Elizabeth Bush, MS, MA; Matthew C. Walsh, MPH, PhD; Elizabeth M. Petty, MD

WMJ. 2026;125(1):162-166.

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ABSTRACT

Background: The University of Wisconsin’s Rural and Urban Community Health Scholars (RUSCH) pathway program was developed to prepare undergraduate students interested in addressing health disparities in Wisconsin for successful medical school matriculation.

Methods: Post-completion enrollment outcomes and demographics of participants who completed RUSCH from 2010 through 2024 were analyzed to assess medical school and health professions school matriculation, with associations evaluated using chi-square tests.

Results: Seventy-four percent of participants enrolled in a health professions degree program, with 49% enrolling in medical school, most at institutions within Wisconsin. Men were more likely than women, and non-Hispanic participants were more likely than Hispanic participants, to enroll in medical school following RUSCH completion.

Discussion: RUSCH participation was associated with success in pursuing a health profession degree; however, demographic differences in enrollment outcomes need to be addressed.

Author affiliations: University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin (Bush, Lee, Petty, Reilly, Tsenkova, Tsuchida, Walsh).
Corresponding author: Elizabeth M. Petty, MD, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, 4201 Health Sciences Learning Center, 750 Highland Ave, Madison, WI 53705; email epetty@wisc.edu; ORCID ID 0000-0003-1171-7608
Financial disclosures: None declared.
Funding/support: Elizabeth Bush serves as principal investigator for a cooperative agreement to support the Area Health Health Resources and Services Administration Serving as PI for cooperative agreement to support the AHEC program.
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