Researchers at the FSU College of Medicine have been awarded a $750,000 grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) for the Rural Residency Planning and Development Program.

The funding will support the development of a Rural Preventive Medicine Residency Program to help prepare physicians to address the health needs of rural communities.

Dolly Penn, M.D., MSCR will lead as the program director. Dr. Penn earned her M.D. from the FSU College of Medicine, completed a Preventive Medicine residency and is board certified in Public Health and General Preventive Medicine.

George Rust, M.D., MPH will serve as senior advisor and core faculty. As co-director of the FSU Center for Medicine & Public Health and Policy, his work has focused on connecting primary care with community health and health access.

Ernesto Diaz, MPH, will coordinate the program, bringing experience in grant administration and proposal development from his work with the FSU College of Medicine, ECRI and the Florida Department of Health.