Ribbon cutting marks start of rural medicine education at UMKC 

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) -- The University of Missouri Kansas City officially cut the ribbon Tuesday morning, opening the door to a new chapter in rural medicine right here in St. Joseph. 

The celebration marks the launch of a program designed to give students hands-on training in rural health care and prepares the next generation of doctors to meet the unique needs of smaller communities. 

The facility promises cutting-edge resources and guidance from experienced professionals, helping students learn modern medicine while staying rooted in local care.  

"I can't even explain it. We are recruiting people from all over the nation and the first class believed in us and now that we are four years into this we are having top-notch students come in this University," Brenda Shields, state representative said.

 The expansion is especially important for rural areas, where it can take months just to get a doctor’s appointment. University leaders say their priority is to train physicians who will serve Missouri first, then eventually expand the model nationwide.  

University leaders say their priority is to train physicians who will first meet the needs of Missouri’s rural communities, then expand to serve the broader region  

“My expectations and my hopes are that we train lots of rural physicians and that we improve the health outcomes for all rural Missouri,” Shields said.  

Chancellor Mauli Agarwal echoed those goals, pointing to the shortage of health care in smaller towns. He says the university wants to bring training into rural clinics across northwest Missouri.  

“We are hoping for students to come back here who are trained and practiced, and we have beginning to see some of that so we are hoping it will be a national model,” Agarwal said.  

Students are also sharing their excitement by learning in real-world settings that directly impact the health and well-being of rural communities.  

“Its going to give us an opportunity to be around physicians who really care about rural health in these setting and maybe a little more resource-limited, Mikhayla Brock, current student said. 

With strong support from the community and the staff at UMKC Health Care in St. Joseph, the goal remains clear: making sure every Missourian has access to the care they deserve.