Retention of primary care providers is critical to the success of rural health care, yet burnout among physicians remains prevalent, especially in rural communities.
The Retain–Primary Care Provider (Retain-PCP) grant program, offered through the Orion Initiative at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, provides an innovative approach.
Research on rural physician retention shows that a sense of belonging is built through active community engagement and social integration, and that this social connection is central to well-being and retention.¹
Invest in Your Community. Invest in Yourself.
The Retain-PCP grant opportunity supports 10%–20% of physician non-clinical time at eligible rural hospitals to lead a meaningful community health project.
This opportunity allows you to:
- Dedicate time to work that brings professional fulfillment
- Strengthen connections beyond the clinic walls
- Address a priority identified by your community
- Build lasting partnerships that improve local health
Community engagement is strongly linked to physician satisfaction and sense of belonging. Both are important contributors to a satisfying, sustained career in rural practice.
What We Provide
- Protected time for 10%–20% effort
- Strategic guidance and partnership support
What You Bring
- A commitment to your rural community
- A community-informed idea or area of focus
- A desire to lead meaningful change
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must be employed by a hospital that:
- Is located in a rural area, defined as a Critical Access Hospital or a hospital with “small urban” or “rural” status under the Municipal Urban-Rural Classification
Eligibility will be verified in collaboration with the Orion Initiative. Contact us at orion@med.wisc.edu with any questions.
Are you interested in leading a community health project?
Let’s strengthen rural health care together.
Contact Dr. Nicole Bonk, Chief Medical Officer for Clinical Operations and Recruitment Initiatives, at orion@med.wisc.edu for details about this Orion Initiative-funded opportunity.
¹Mandal, A., & Phillips, S. (2022). To stay or not to stay: the role of sense of belonging in the retention of physicians in rural areas. International Journal of Circumpolar Health, 81(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/22423982.2022.2076977
