Dear Amerigroup, 

Thanks to your generosity and support, we had the most magical mission trip to West Texas this summer.  The students had training on so many levels- They advanced their skills quickly over the course of a week, and have returned to start their second year with increased confidence and experience compared to their peers. They learned firsthand of the health care challenges faced for those living in rural areas, and are inspired now to step up and advocate.   

We further solidified relationships in the communities we served, through engagement and accompaniment. Our consistency in this outreach has built trust within these communities, offered continuity in health care for their residents, and brought preventive counseling and health promotion into the region. Every patient encountered was additionally screened for SDOH, and matched with resources if needs were identified. I know we can do even more. 

It has also now served as a foundation for other institutions to send volunteers and learners to join us on our trips, enabling us to expand our efforts. After reading of the Amerigroup-supported mission trip of 2021, pre-health students from Colorado have brought themselves down to volunteer twice now, and the experience they gained has inspired most of them to strive to become rural osteopathic physicians- with 3 out of 9 of them from this trip applying to TCOM! 

Experience drives passion, and these trips are an experience of a lifetime-  creating future physicians that are passionate about improving rural health outcomes.  The communities of Alpine, Van Horn, Sanderson, and Marathon TX are grateful. TCOM and the Office of Rural Medical Education are grateful. From the bottom of our hearts, THANK YOU. 

Sincerely, 

Maria Crompton DO, DipABLM, Director Rural Medical Education
Lesca Hadley, MD, MBA, ROME Faculty
Didi Ebert, DO, MPH, MS, CPPS, FAAFP ROME Faculty
Ann Smith, Research Assistant Director ROME
Kaily Stone, Executive Assistant ROME
Leslie Allsopp, PhD, MSN, MPH, Safer Care Texas