2026 Grant opportunity, easy application!
The University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health and the Orion Initiative are partnering with rural hospitals to make specialty training more accessible.
“As a busy rural physician, I appreciated how easy the STARS-R program was to implement. The process was clear, efficient and required very little extra lift on our end.”
The Richland Hospital and Clinics
The Orion Initiative Difference
Through Specialty Training at Rural Sites–Rheumatology (STARS-R), primary care physicians can gain hands-on rheumatology and musculoskeletal skills right at their hospital over a six-month project period or take advantage of a mini-fellowship opportunity — with a simple, straightforward application process to secure grant funds.
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Grant Funds Cover:
- Primary care physician time spent training
- Travel
- Supplies and equipment-includes an ultrasound machine when participating in a mini-fellowship
- Implementation costs
Physician Benefits
- Paid CME and hands-on training
- New skills, including ultrasound techniques
- Greater professional fulfillment and stronger connections with UW rheumatologists
Hospital and Community Benefits
- More care delivered locally and fewer costly referrals
- Increased revenue and capacity
- Improved physician retention and recruitment
- Access to local expertise and advanced equipment
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What partners are saying
“I’ve seen an impact through my community with the confidence it has given my collaborating physicians and myself as a family doctor.
I have the fortunate ability now to do ultrasounds to give more diagnostic clarity and even perform procedures to help these patients get pain relief without waiting and suffering for months on end.”
-Dr. Brian Kroll, The Richland Hospital and Clinics
Interested in learning more?
Contact Jennifer Stegall, Administrative Associate Director, at Stegall2@wisc.edu for details about this Orion Initiative-funded opportunity. Opportunities will be considered on a case-by-case basis as we hear from sites.
