Message from the
Program Directors

Thank you for your interest in the Ph.D. in Rural Health Sciences at Mercer University School of Medicine (MUSM). The School of Medicine was founded in 1982 with the mission of meeting the health needs of rural Georgia, initially through the training of primary care physicians and more recently through its expansion into graduate programs as well.

The Ph.D. in Rural Health Sciences Program prepares graduates for research careers focused on improving the health of rural areas, where approximately 20% of Americans live, using multidisciplinary methods. Our program is unique in that it focuses on the major issues facing rural areas and populations and ways and techniques to possibly address these issues given the economic and social realities of various situations.

Our class sizes are small, our faculty have diverse backgrounds, and our emphasis is on trying to provide hands-on experiences for students to supplement and complement our research-based focus. We encourage critical and creative thinking and believe in the scientific method and an open marketplace of ideas. We want our students to make a difference.

We invite you to join us in making a difference in rural Georgia. Please explore our full program website to learn more details about our program, and do not hesitate to reach out to us with any questions you may have.