The Arkansas Rural Health Scholarship was created by Dr. Rhys Branman to support, empower, and encourage first-year medical students in Arkansas who are interested in practicing medicine in rural areas of Arkansas. The scholarship award of $2,500 is to be used toward tuition fees and educational expenses, including but not limited to: textbooks, supplies (paper, pens, notebooks, etc.), and required technology. The scholarship award will be disbursed directly to the student in the form of a cash prize. The selected student will be required to furnish information necessary to issue a 1099 tax form, including social security number, as part of the process for dispersing scholarship monies. Student will be responsible for any resulting tax obligations. Background ?? Rural areas face a documented shortage of essential healthcare professionals, especially in primary care fields. According to a 2013 federal report, Projecting the Supply and Demand for Primary Care Practitioners Through 2020, the demand for healthcare professionals is only expected to grow. In addition, the rising cost of education directly impacts the ability of students to pursue a healthcare degree, compounding the rural health workforce shortage. Financial aid is an important tool in building the health workforce in rural communities through recruitment and retention. To help address this national and regional problem, Dr. Branman has developed a scholarship program to assist new healthcare students with the burden of cost while encouraging them to serve and practice in underserved areas. This brand-new scholarship program is intended to attract and support those who will thrive and remain in a rural community in the state of Arkansas.