Keeping health care close to home
North Carolina is the second most rural state in the nation, with one in three residents living in rural communities. Despite this need, recent data show that less than three percent of North Carolina’s primary care physicians are practicing in these small towns.
To reverse this trend, the UNC System, with funding provided by the North Carolina General Assembly, is investing in the future of rural health care. In collaboration with UNC Health, ECU Health, Area Health Education Centers, and UNC System health affairs programs, our goal is simple: ensure that more than 3.4 million people can access care closer to home.
Strengthening the rural physician workforce
As one of the leading public university systems in the U.S., we are committed to training the next generation of physicians in high-need specialties like family medicine, pediatrics, OBGYN, psychiatry, internal medicine, and general surgery statewide, so every North Carolinian has access to quality care, no matter their zip code.
Through targeted grants, we’re helping to launch, grow, sustain, and innovate rural residency programs that place physicians where they’re needed most.
creating sustainable partnerships
Our grant program is designed with flexibility at its core – so rural residency programs can grow without unnecessary barriers. Our funding approach allows for:
- Less rural training time requirements
- More rural training partnerships, including rural regions within counties that contain large cities
- Four types of grants, supporting everything from launching new programs to expanding existing ones
Be part of the statewide effort to strengthen North Carolina’s rural physician workforce – one community at a time.
Rural Residency Medical Education and Training FUnd Grant Program
The UNC System Office, in partnership with the North Carolina Graduate Medical Education Technical Assistance Center (NCGME-TAC) housed at the UNC Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research, are accepting applications from eligible organizations seeking to develop, expand, sustain, or innovate rural or underserved residency training programs for high-need physician specialties, including family medicine, OBGYN, psychiatry, internal medicine, pediatrics, and general surgery.
Grant Types
Development
Establish a newly accredited rural residency training program.
Sustainability
Support existing rural residency programs that do not receive full GME financing and are not covered by other sources of funding.
Expansion
Expand rural training opportunities within existing accredited residency programs.
Innovation
Pilot projects to improve health care provider retention in rural areas through unique health care delivery models.
Compare
| Grant Type | Max Grant Period | Max Award Amount | Grant Renewal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Development | Up to 3 years | $750,000 | No |
| Expansion | Annual renewal, dependent on outcomes | $150,000 per resident per year | Yes |
| Sustainability | Annual renewal, dependent on outcomes | $150,000 per resident per year | Yes |
| Innovation | Up to 2 years | $200,000 | No |
Who is eligible?
- ECU Health (all hospital system locations)
- UNC Health (all hospital system locations)
- ECU Brody School of Medicine
- UNC School of Medicine
- Any regional Area Health Education Center that demonstrates a partnership with ECU or UNC schools of medicine or health systems
- UNC System constituent institution health affairs programs
Application and Award Timeline
- January 20, 2026: Grant applications due
- January – March 2026: Grant application review
- March – April 2026: Grant award notifications and funds issued
How to Apply
Download the application information, application checklist, and other supporting documents using the links below to complete your application. Please submit applications to Katherine Martin, vice president for health affairs at the UNC System Office at krmartin@northcarolina.edu.
Application Checklist
| Document | Form | Page Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Cover Page | No form | 250-word abstract |
| Project Narrative | No form | 5 pages |
| Letters of Support | No form | |
| Work Plan Template | Appendix B | |
| Sustainability Plan | Appendix C | |
| Project Budget Template | Appendix D | |
| Program Academic Budget Template | Appendix E | |
| Proposed Clinical Training Sites | Appendix F | |
| GME Readiness Assessment | Appendix G | |
| Baseline Residency Program Data | Appendix H |
Supporting Documents
Use the links below to download supporting documents. See the application information included above for additional information about these documents.
- Rural Residency Medical Education and Training Fund Presentation
- Appendix A: Roadmap for Rural Residency Program Development (View Online)
- Appendix B: Work Plan Template
- Appendix C: Sustainability Plan
- Appendix D: Development and Innovation Budget Template
- Appendix E: Sample of Sustainability or Expansion Application Budget Template
- Appendix F: Proposed Clinical Training Sites Table
- Appendix G: NCGME Readiness Assessment
- Appendix H: Baseline Residency Program Data Table
- Sample Letter of Support
Resources
Hospital Analyzer Tool
This searchable Hospital Analyzer tool provides detailed information related to hospital types, locations, and funding implications associated with potential partner sites.
Rural Residency Roadmap
This Roadmap for Rural Residency Program Development framework outlines the specific steps to developing a functional, accredited, and financially sustainable rural residency program.