By Harvey Lee Moody, MS, Communications and Events Specialist

This summer, the Georgia Rural Health Innovation Center, at Mercer University School of Medicine, hosted seven recipients of the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Rural Pediatric Scholarship for a six-week program designed to give them a firsthand look at their future in rural pediatric medicine. The seven second-year Mercer University School of Medicine students spent the summer shadowing rural pediatricians throughout the state, visiting specialty health care centers, engaging with residency programs, participating in journal club discussions and completing a research project.

Throughout the program, students shadowed and connected with 10 rural pediatric and family medicine providers across Georgia. During their visits, students saw how rural providers connect with and care for patients. They also observed how vital primary care providers are to a community.

“Watching the trust and familiarity between the family and physician made me realize how special it is to serve a rural community,” said Children’s Scholar Ritij Sarvaiya. “As a pediatrician in this setting, you have the unique opportunity to build lasting relationships across generations and become a trusted part of a family’s life.”

The program also gave students an idea of where they may want to practice medicine after residency and allowed them to begin making early connections. One scholar hopes to return to her hometown of Harris County and shadowed a provider who currently sees patients there.

Children’s Scholar Haley Holloway said, “Working with Heather Scrimpshire, FNP-C, showed me how impactful compassionate, comprehensive care can be in a rural community, and it inspired me to bring that same level of care to the children here as well.”

Alongside visits to a variety of rural clinics, students took part in multiple medical simulations to assist with their hands-on and clinical knowledge. Scholars participated in ultrasound and labor-and-delivery simulations with MUSM faculty Robert Sarlay, MD, MPH, and Yahya Acar, MD, as well as pediatric intubation, intraosseous line insertion and surgical scrub training with Simulation Clinical Educator Kenya Jones, BS, RRT.

On July 16, Atrium Health Navicent hosted the group for meetings with the pediatric education and residency teams; a presentation on child neurology by Lalitha Sivaswamy, MD; tours of the Beverly Knight Olson Children’s Hospital and NICU; and conversations with pediatric chief residents.

“Being able to experience a day in the life of a medical resident at Atrium highlights the importance of growing my medical knowledge, relying on the team around you and enjoying where you live and work,” said Children’s Scholar Logan Dominique.

On July 17, students visited Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta for the annual Children’s Scholars Day. They attended a resident lecture on toxicologic emergencies, participated in a Q&A session with Children’s residents and toured the new Arthur M. Blank Hospital. Afterward, students shadowed providers in several specialties, including neurology, nephrology, behavioral and mental health, gastroenterology and rheumatology.

An ongoing part of the program was a problem analysis research project, led by Anne Montgomery, PhD, and Samantha Johnson, MPH. Each scholar identified a barrier to pediatric care in rural Georgia, analyzed potential interventions and presented their findings as academic posters.

Research topics included:

“Barriers to Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM) Access in Rural Communities and Potential Solutions,” by Addison Clark
“Optimizing Outcomes in Pediatric Dentistry for the Rural Medicaid Population,” by Logan Dominique
“Bridging the Gap: Pediatric Readiness in Rural Georgia Emergency Departments,” by Haley Holloway
“Limited Language Proficiency in Rural Pediatric Patients: Addressing Interpretation Challenges,” by Reed Resendiz
“Rural-Urban Disparities in Pediatric Appendicitis Outcomes: A Post-COVID Analysis of Access, Delays and Innovations in Care,” by Ritij Sarvaiya
“Parental Perception of Pediatric Mental Health Treatment: Barriers and Potential Solutions,” by Jordan Simmons
“Pediatric Asthma and Indoor Propane Combustion: Assessing Rural Health Risks in Georgia,” by Ke’Aysha Willis

The summer concluded with the Maternal Health Observership and Children’s Scholars Summer Research Exhibition and Awards Ceremony, where students shared their research with peers, families and guests. Georgia Rural Health Innovation Center staff recognized each scholar with an award for research and advocacy.

“Witnessing compassionate, skillful communication showed me the importance of trust, active listening and family-centered care,” said Children’s Scholar Ke’Aysha Willis. “I found this impactful because it demonstrated how involving the whole family in a patient’s care can strengthen relationships, improve communication and lead to better outcomes.”