OSU announces plan to increase rural doctors in Oklahoma
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Oklahoma State University officials have announced a six-year, $3.8 million grant from the state's Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust to help fund a medical residency program in mostly rural parts of the state.
University and state officials announced details of the plan Wednesday during a news conference at the state Capitol.
OSU President Burns Hargis says the $3.8 million in funding from the trust fund will be matched with $5.6 million in federal funding through the Oklahoma Health Care Authority.
The money will be used to establish medical residency programs in Ada, Ardmore, Lawton, McAlester, Norman and Oklahoma City.
Health officials hope the program will help address a severe shortage of doctors in rural parts of the state that is expected to get worse over the next several years.