Getting Started
The NCGME Technical Assistance Center supports rural and underserved GME training in high-need specialties across North Carolina through technical assistance, resource sharing, and research.
Get started with training with these key resources:
- Learn more about the UNC System Rural Residency and Medical Education Training grant.
- Use our Roadmap to Rural Residency Program Development to learn the steps to developing a program.
- Identify your progress towards GME program readiness using our Readiness Assessment.
Rural GME Development Portal
The NCGME Development portal is open to anyone interested in rural and underserved GME. Access free resources including webinars, sample documents, and planning tools. Create a free account at NCGME.org to access today.
Hospital Analyzer Tool
Access the most popular tool in the portal!
As you plan for a rural track program, use this searchable tool to gain detailed information on hospital types, locations, and funding implications associated with potential partner sites.
Featured Story
ECU Health recently launched its Internal Medicine rural track. One resident per year will have the opportunity to train at ECU Health Medical Center Beaufort Campus in Washington, N.C., and ECU Health Chowan Hospital in Edenton, N.C. During these rotations, residents will work in the inpatient units under the supervision of experienced rural hospitalists. They will gain increasing autonomy in patient care, learn the structure and operations of local community hospitals, participate in medical staff meetings, and engage in community activities.
Current Internal Medicine residents are already participating in elective hospitalist rotations at these sites. Recruitment is underway for the first dedicated rural track resident, who will enter training through NRMP’s 2026 Match and begin in July 2026. For more information about this program, please contact Internal Medicine Program Director Dr. Thomas Blair at blairt17@ecu.edu.
Interested in NCGME?
Rurally-focused programs are a critical tool in recruiting and retaining future physicians who will serve rural communities. Medical residents who train in rural settings are two to five times more likely to practice in a rural area.
Who do I contact if I am interested in learning more about how the NCGME-TAC can help me?
Please email us at info@ncgme.org. We can schedule an initial meeting with someone on our team to learn more about your plans and share details about how we can support you. We can also add you to our program development and program vitality listservs so that you can receive information about upcoming events, relevant new research, funding opportunities, and other resources to assist in developing and sustaining your rural program.
How do I get access to the resources the NCGME-TAC has available?
Register for a NCGME.org account. The account is free and will give you access to the over 360 tools for program development and sustainability that we have available. More tools are added regularly.
UNC System Fund Applicants and Grantees
The TAC provides technical assistance, tools, and resources to current and future grant recipients to help overcome significant challenges and barriers involved in developing and sustaining rural programs. Support is offered in many ways, including:
- Matching each grant recipient with an experienced advisor to create personalized action plans
- Offering individualized, in-depth consultations, when needed, through our preferred partnered consultant organizations
- Hosting monthly webinars on topics such as financial sustainability, faculty, resident recruitment, and more
- Providing resources, slides, and webinar recordings on the Portal for easy access
- Hosting an annual grant recipient meeting where all grant recipients, advisors, and partners come to network and learn from each other