The Orion Initiative invests in the transformative power of partnership to deliver innovative solutions to health care challenges in rural Wisconsin. We work side by side with frontline rural providers and academic physicians to strengthen the rural health care workforce and support clinicians in rural communities.
From pediatric EMS training to physician recruitment and retention to specialty training, our efforts build bridges between rural providers and the UW academic medical community to increase access to high-quality rural health care.
Here’s how our grant programs work. Our rural partners identify their greatest areas of need. Together, we design and implement practical solutions that work for patients and providers. The voices of frontline rural clinicians guide the process every step of the way.
Our Programs
Rural Provider Training
The Specialty Training at Rural Sites (STARS) program creates a pathway for rural frontline providers to gain specialty training through direct collaboration with academic physicians at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. Current training areas include dermatology, rheumatology and pediatric prehospital care. STARS expands local knowledge and increases access to high-quality health care close to home.
View Specialty Training at Rural Sites
Rural Workforce Recruitment
The Recruit-Primary Care Provider program (Recruit-PCP) helps eligible rural hospitals recruit new physicians. The program provides funding to support a portion of a new physician’s salary while they lead a community project. This approach strengthens recruitment efforts and builds lasting connections between physicians and the communities they serve.
View Recruit-PCP
Rural Workforce Retention
The Retain-Primary Care Provider (Retain-PCP) program helps eligible rural hospitals retain physicians by supporting 10%–20% of their non-clinical time. Physicians use this time to lead a meaningful community health project that responds to local needs. The program supports professional growth while strengthening care in rural communities.
View Retain-PCP
Medical Student Scholarships
The University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health is home to the Wisconsin Academy for Rural Medicine, a four-year medical education program focused on training students committed to rural health. The Orion Initiative funded four full-tuition, four-year scholarships for students in the class of 2029. This investment supports the next generation of physicians who are dedicated to serving rural communities.
View Medical Student ScholarshipsThe Rural Health Care Landscape
The challenge in rural Wisconsin
More than 25% of Wisconsinites, nearly one million people, live in rural communities. Wisconsin has 138 hospitals, and 86 are considered rural based on either the federal Critical Access Hospital designation or the Municipal Urban-Rural Classification System.
Rural communities face growing health care challenges:
- Health care worker shortages, including family physician shortages
- Limited access to specialty care and emergency services
- Longer travel distances and transportation barriers
- Higher risk of death from heart disease, cancer, stroke and other diseases
- Delays in care as hospitals close and physicians retire or relocate
These trends demand new solutions that strengthen the rural workforce and expand access to high-quality health care close to home.
Our Two-Pillar Approach
The Orion Initiative focuses on two connected priorities that respond directly to the rural health care landscape. Together, these two pillars guide our work to improve access, strengthen the workforce and support rural providers across Wisconsin. Orion Initiative programs are already demonstrating early success in addressing these urgent needs.
Workforce development
The severe health care worker shortage in rural areas requires immediate, sustained action. A strong, engaged physician workforce is essential to meeting the needs of rural populations. Through targeted investments in recruitment, retention, training and scholarships, we’re helping to build the next generation of rural physicians and enabling current physicians to thrive.
Clinician support
Rural physicians often practice without the clinical support and access to specialty care that are more common in urban settings. Expanding specialty training, increasing collaboration with academic medicine and supporting community-based innovation are critical.
