Through Montana TRUST, residents in the University of Washington School of Medicine are introduced to rural health care during weeks-long rotations. They are matched with a mentor, or preceptor, at clinics and medical centers in small towns. 

Of those who have chosen to be part of Montana TRUST, the majority pursue careers in family medicine, “which for rural medicine is what we need,” said Dr. Jay Erickson. He oversees clinical training in Montana for the UW's multistate medical-training program, called WWAMI (Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana and Idaho).

“The data is pretty clear if you grow up in a community, you’re three times more likely to return there than the average medical student,” he said. “So the data is on our side.