For Current and Former RRPD, THCPD, & THCGME Grant Recipients
Open to all who are interested in rural and underseved GME
2026
Rural and Underserved
National Graduate Medical Education Conference
August 31-September 2
Rockville, MD
ABOUT US
The ShepsGME Technical Assistance Centers (TACs) are hosting the 2026 Rural and Underserved National Graduate Medical Education Conference (formerly the Annual Grantee Meeting) on August 31-September 2, 2026 at the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel and Conference Center in Rockville, Maryland.
This annual conference is open to the public and is for anyone interested in rural and underserved graduate medical and dental education program development and sustainability. This two-and-a-half day event will foster a collaborative learning community focused on developing and sustaining residencies in rural and underserved areas. We hope this conference will encourage the continued sharing of outcomes and successful practices in residency start-up and vitality.
The U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) funded Rural Residency Planning and Development (RRPD) Program is supporting the development and sustainability of new rural residency programs in family medicine, internal medicine, psychiatry, obstetrics and gynecology, general surgery, preventive medicine, and other specialties as determined by HRSA in future notices of funding opportunity.
U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education (THCGME) Program helps communities grow their health workforce training in outpatient settings with a focus on rural and underserved communities to increase access to care in areas with dentist and physician shortages.
Rural & Teaching Health Center Residencies
BY THE NUMBERS
1368
1350+
ACGME-approved resident positions in HRSA-funded planning and development programs since 2018
Resident dentists and physicians training in THCGME-funded programs each year
103
RRPD Grant Recipients
90+
THCGME
Grant Recipients
Last year, we had nearly 350 individuals attend the annual meeting. Grant recipients, content experts, partners and graduate medical education (GME) professionals came together for the Rural and Health Center National GME Conference in Rockville, Maryland to connect, learn, and share their experiences regarding GME in their communities. Attendees represented Rural Residency Planning and Development (RRPD) grant recipients, Teaching Health Centers Planning and Development (THCPD) grant recipients, Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education (THCGME) grant recipients, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) representatives, partners, advisors, TAC team members, subject matter experts and others interested in rural and health center GME.
2025 Conference Video
REGISTRATION
We’re excited to welcome you to the 2026 Rural and Underserved National GME Conference. Register today to gain access to engaging sessions, expert speakers, and valuable networking opportunities.
Registration is free for current and former RRPD grant recipients, former THCPD grant recipients, current THCGME grant recipients, federal agency staff, TAC staff, TAC advisors, TAC content experts, and the first registrant from a TAC partner and key stakeholder organization; all other general attendees will be required to pay a registration fee. Additional details, including pricing and eligibility, can be found on the registration platform. Click below to be directed to registration and complete your sign-up. Registration closes on July 24, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.
CALL FOR PROPOSALS
Have outcomes to share? Lessons learned you wish you'd known sooner? We want to hear from you.
The Call for Proposals for the 2026 Rural and Underserved National Graduate Medical Education
Conference is now open. Planned conference sessions will cover topics including program accreditation, financial sustainability, curricular design, faculty recruitment, and community engagement, among others.
Proposals are accepted for poster or lecture-discussion formatted presentations and must be submitted via Qualtrics by 11:59pm on April 26, 2026; acceptance notifications will go out by mid-May, and final materials are due August 2, 2026. Click the link below to submit your proposal today.
CALL FOR AWARD NOMINATIONS
The 2026 Rural and Underserved National Graduate Medical Education Conference is excited to introduce four awards for excellence in rural and underserved residency program leadership and administration.
Rural Community Impact Award
This award recognizes an entire residency program whose primary training site is designated as rural per the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy. The program demonstrates an unwavering commitment to rural medicine training and practice and actively fosters future rural physicians to serve rural communities.
Health Center Community Impact Award
This award honors an entire medical or dental residency program whose primary training site is a community-based outpatient center. The program demonstrates strong commitment to training within community-based ambulatory settings while serving the community members who rely on these centers.
Program Administrator of the Year
This award recognizes a coordinator, administrator, or manager who demonstrates in-depth knowledge of the accreditation process, strong communication skills and a proactive, solutions-focused approach to supporting the program. This individual continually strives to improve the program and the learning environment. This award is limited to medical or dental residency program coordinators, managers, and administrators.
Program Leader of the Year
This award recognizes leaders who model excellence in graduate medical education or graduate dental education. These individuals demonstrate strong leadership, foster innovation and improvement, and serve as exemplary role models. They show unwavering commitment to developing the physician workforce and expanding training opportunities. This award is limited to medical or dental residency Program Directors, Designated Institutional Officials, and Chief Executive Officers.
Please complete the below form by May 31st, at 11:59 p.m., to nominate a program or individual. Contact info@shepsgme.org with any additional questions.
Full conference agenda coming this summer
AUGUST
31st
Monday
Full Day of Sessions with Workshops
SEPTEMBER
1ST
Tuesday
Full Day of Sessions
SEPTEMBER
2ND
Wednesday
Half Day of Sessions
LOCATION
Bethesda North Marriott Hotel
and Conference Center
5701 Marinelli Rd
Rockville, MD, 20852
Click here to reserve your room at the conference rate today!