For the Love of Rural Georgia
Our love for rural Georgia inspires everything we do. Beyond educating the next generation of healthcare professionals, we are leading impactful initiatives that help create a healthier future for rural communities across our state.
Mercer University School of Medicine was founded to improve the health of rural Georgia, and that mission continues to guide everything we do.
As a leader in rural health, our faculty, researchers and providers are doing more than educating the next generation of healthcare professionals — they are actively working to address rural health challenges across the state. Through impactful initiatives, research, education, community partnerships and patient care, we are helping shape the future of rural healthcare in Georgia.
Committing to Rural Georgia
Rural Scholarship Programs
Core Specialities
Nathan Deal Scholarship
Named in honor of former Governor Nathan Deal, this scholarship supports future physicians committed to serving rural Georgia. Recipients receive financial assistance in exchange for practicing full-time in a medically underserved rural Georgia county for four years after residency in an approved specialty.
Pediatrics
Children's Rural Pediatric Scholarship
This partnership between Mercer University School of Medicine and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta helps increase access to pediatric care in rural Georgia. Scholarship recipients commit to practicing full-time in a medically underserved rural Georgia county for four years after residency.
Mental Health
Children's Family Therapy Scholarship
This scholarship program helps expand access to pediatric mental healthcare in rural Georgia by supporting future marriage and family therapists. After completing autism training, recipients commit to working full-time for two years in a pediatric or family medicine practice located in an approved rural Georgia county.
Primary Care
Accelerated Track Program
This innovative three-year medical school program allows students to earn their M.D. degree and gain early entry into a primary care residency in Family Medicine, Internal Medicine or Pediatrics. In return, graduates commit to practicing full-time in a medically underserved rural Georgia community for three years after residency.
Psychiatry
Rural Critical Need Accelerated Track Program
Designed to address Georgia's shortage of rural psychiatrists, this accelerated three-year program prepares students for careers in psychiatry and addiction medicine while reducing tuition costs and time to degree. Graduates commit to practicing in a rural Georgia community after completing residency.
Improving rural health outcomes
Innovation Centers and Health Initiatives
Georgia Rural Health Innovation Center (GRHIC)
Center for Rural Health and Health Disparities (CRHHD)
Mason Center for Organ Donation and Transplant Education and Policy
Autism Early Detection and Resources
Expanding Healthcare Access
Clinical Practices
Bringing healthcare services closer to communities across Georgia that need it most.
Mercer Medicine
Mercer Medicine is our network of clinics serving patients in Macon and rural communities across Georgia. By bringing high-quality healthcare closer to home, we help expand access in rural medically underserved areas.
Center for IDD Care
The Mercer Center for IDD Care provides comprehensive healthcare services for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in a welcoming, accessible environment designed around each patient's unique needs.
Family Therapy Center
The Mercer Family Therapy Center expands access to affordable mental healthcare for individuals, couples and families. At the same time, it provides hands-on training for our marriage and family therapy graduate students.
Early Exposure Through Pathways Programs
From middle school to post-college, Mercer University School of Medicine's Pathways Programs help students discover healthcare careers and build a pathway to success.