Impact of Rural Exposure During General Surgery Residency on Practice in a Rural Community

Among graduates of general surgery residency programs, rural exposures during training were associated with eventual practice in rural communities. Programs with rural missions, in rural locations, or offering rural rotations produced graduates who were more likely to work in rural areas, while rural track programs did not, highlighting the need for further study of individual rural exposure to establish effective training paradigms. Specific policies facilitating rural exposure and surgical programs in rural communities may be effective methods for addressing workforce deficits.