Texas’ rural communities face some of the toughest healthcare challenges in the state — and a new wave of support from Texas A&M University is helping prepare the next generation of leaders to meet them. With 202 of Texas’ 254 counties classified as rural, and one in five lacking a licensed primary care physician, the need for skilled administrators and innovative solutions has never been greater.
The Rural Engagement Program, launched by Texas A&M Health, is expanding its reach thanks to new funding from the Texas Legislature. The School of Public Health has stepped forward with three major initiatives: a scholarship, a postgraduate fellowship, and a forthcoming 10‑week practicum designed specifically for Master of Health Administration (MHA) students. These programs aim to strengthen rural healthcare by preparing administrators who understand the unique pressures facing small hospitals and clinics.
Carla Stebbins, instructional professor and MHA director, emphasized how often administrative professionals are overlooked — even though they keep rural hospitals running. “If a healthcare leader is doing their job right, most people don’t know they exist… So, for this funding through the Rural Engagement Program to hit our doors and help fill these vital roles in rural areas is just amazing.”
Scholarship Spotlight: Rustin Qualls
The first Rural Health Scholarship was awarded to Rustin Qualls, COO of Goodall‑Witcher Healthcare in Clifton. The scholarship supports rural professionals seeking to enter the executive MHA track. For Qualls, the opportunity is both personal and professional: “This degree will strengthen my knowledge of healthcare and allow me to better serve my hospital and community.”
Fellowship Spotlight: Jessica Ball
In Moore County — home to a 23‑bed hospital recognized as a top critical access facility — new funding is supporting a postgraduate fellowship for recent MHA graduate Jessica Ball. Ball’s passion for rural health grew through hands‑on work in El Campo, where she helped rural hospitals address insurance claim denials. “Being from a smaller town… that was something important to me,” she said.
This fellowship is rare in rural healthcare, where tight budgets often prevent hospitals from offering advanced training. With help from the Texas Organization of Rural and Community Hospitals (TORCH), the program is connecting graduates with facilities eager to build stronger leadership teams.
Looking Ahead: A New Practicum for Rural Training
Next summer, MHA students will have the chance to participate in a 10‑week rural practicum, giving them early exposure to rural healthcare operations. Many rural hospitals operate on slim margins, making it difficult to host students — but new Rural Engagement Program funding removes that barrier.
Stebbins notes that students from rural backgrounds are increasingly choosing to return home after graduation, motivated by firsthand experiences with language barriers, aging populations, and limited access to specialists. “They see all those issues… and then they’re choosing to go back to rural communities after graduation, and I think that’s great.”
A Stronger Future for Rural Texas
From scholarships to fellowships to new practicum pathways, Texas A&M’s Rural Engagement Program is creating opportunities that didn’t exist before — and strengthening the healthcare backbone of rural Texas. These initiatives not only support students but also help ensure that small hospitals and clinics remain open, staffed, and ready to serve the communities that depend on them.
