As Americans are getting older and living longer, we're going to need more doctors. But the University of Wisconsin says a lot of older people live in rural areas where there just aren't enough physicians to meet their needs.

Now, the UW's Medical School is starting a program to get students thinking about setting up shop in smaller towns.

A Wausau practice is getting a head start.

As Bryan Schmitt grew up in Northern Iowa, he knew he wanted to stay in the Midwest when he finally became a doctor.

"A small practice, I like the idea of being the hometown doctor, the real family physician," says Dr. Bryan Schmitt.

But Dr. Schmitt doesn't have a whole lot of company.

"Fewer and fewer physicians are wanting to practice or are being prepared to practice in rural settings," says Dr. Chuck Shabino, of the UW Wausau Family Medicine Program.
And Dr. Shabino says that includes the smaller communities of Northcentral Wisconsin.

"It has been difficult to recruit and fill the needs, particularly of family physicians in those areas," he says.

So the UW School of Medicine and Public Health hopes it's come up with a solution.

The Wisconsin Academy of Rural Medicine will accept 25 students a year who come from rural areas, and would like to end up in similar places.

They'll spend two years in Madison, and two years with rural physicians.

"So that they can get very practical, state of the art training to prepare them to practice in rural settings," Dr. Shabino says.

Dr. Shabino says going to medical school near a rural area is a first step, but it also helps if doctors continue their training by completing residency at a rural clinic.

"Those folks who train here, tend to stay in rural practices here," he says.

"I'm definitely looking at staying in the Midwest; a rural practice would be great," Dr. Schmitt says.