Rural Health Research Core

Federal agencies estimate that approximately 15% to 19% of U.S. residents, about 56 million people in 2020, live in rural areas. People living away from major population centers are less likely to have access to quality health care, including primary care, emergency care, mental health treatment and public health services. This can have a significant impact on diagnosing and treating illness, and on overall well-being.

The Rural Health Research Core at Mayo Clinic provides services to investigators studying health care in rural settings. The goal is to nurture research that investigates the specific health care challenges faced by rural residents. By working directly with rural communities, researchers can explore methods for improving health care outcomes for residents of less populated areas.

The Rural Health Research Core provides Mayo Clinic researchers with resources necessary for protocol development and grant submissions for rural health research, including resources for defining rural populations, links to national organizations, and a list of faculty members willing to serve as connectors, advisors and mentors for interested individuals.

Through this program, Mayo Clinic experts in dissemination and implementation science collaborate with rural residents to understand how health care fits within a rural setting. The goal is to nurture research that cultivates the unique strengths of people in rural communities while working to overcome geographic and digital barriers to health improvement.

Rural health research consultation

The Rural Health Research Core offers consultative services to researchers and to community members and organizations interested in improving the health of rural communities. For more information or to request a consultation, please contact ruralhealthcore@mayo.edu.