Kansas Health Science University (KHSU) in the US has secured $750,000 in federal funding from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) through the Rural Residency Planning and Development Programme.

This grant will aid KHSU and its Kansas College of Osteopathic Medicine (KansasCOM) in creating a new residency programme.

This residency programme is aimed at training family medicine physicians and increasing access to healthcare in underserved communities throughout Kansas.

KHSU president Kimberly Long said: "We have a serious deficit of primary care physicians in this country and especially rural Kansas.

“By creating this new residency programme, we aren't just training a new generation of family medicine physicians. We're establishing a long-term pipeline of dedicated practitioners.

“This grant allows us to make a lasting, generational impact on health care access for the communities that need it most."

Kansas ranks 40th nationally for its number of active physicians per capita, according to the state’s Department of Health and Environment.

Of its 105 counties, 69, mainly rural, are identified as health professional shortage areas in primary care.

The Association of American Medical Colleges estimates a national shortfall of 37,800 to 124,000 physicians within 12 years, with HRSA data indicating approximately 70% of primary care shortage areas are in rural communities.

The HRSA grant will enable KHSU to build the necessary infrastructure for Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education approval. It will also prepare regional partner sites to host residents, including funding for facilities, faculty development, and equipment.

Once accredited, KansasCOM will admit four residents annually, focusing on recruiting those interested in rural practice.

Faculty and residents will collaborate with local organisations to address social determinants of health, such as mental well-being, nutrition, and transport.