Rural Health Policy Postdoctoral Program

Address knowledge gaps in health policy, with a focus on rural areas and geographic inequities.
- Train as a scholar to be an innovative research leader in rural health
- Receive mentorship and support from the Rural Health Research Center
Apply to be a postdoctoral fellow
Program overview
- The Postdoctoral scholar will be expected to co-lead, with RHRC faculty or staff, a one-year rural health focused project (September-August) that is specified by the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy.
- The scholar will also have an opportunity to develop and implement an independent rural health research project focused on rural Minnesota. The specific focus and methodology of this project will depend on the expertise and interest of the scholar, but may include quantitative analysis, qualitative data collection and analysis, and community-engaged work.
- The Postdoctoral scholar has access to many professional development opportunities to support their growth as a leader in rural health policy research.
Rural Health Policy Postdoctoral Fellows

Clara Busse, PhD, MPH
Clara's research focuses on providing maternity care to people living in small towns and rural areas.

Bridget Basile Ibrahim, PhD
Bridget's research focuses on ways to improve health equity in maternity care.

Hannah MacDougall, PhD, MSW
Hannah's research focuses on policies involving health care systems that promote addressing the social determinants of health.

Alexis Swendener, PhD
Alexis' research focuses on housing as a social determinant of rural health and addressing elder abuse in rural areas.