TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Fifteen students selected from the Black Belt region recently completed the 2005 Minority Rural Health Pipeline Program at The University of Alabama.

Recent high school graduates who planned to enter college in the next academic year were eligible to attend the six-week summer program. The students attended tutorials and seminars on the UA campus and took field trips to rural medical facilities to learn from African-American physicians. During the last week of the program the students were matched with a health care provider from their home community for a learning experience.

The program was initiated to increase the number of minority students from rural Alabama who qualify for admission to medical school. This is the fifth year of the program in the UA College of Community Health Sciences.

Participants in the 2005 Minority Rural Health Pipeline Program at UA included:

Michael Turner (center) a May 2005 high school graduate from Walker County who plans to attend UA, pictured with Cynthia Moore (right), assistant director of the UA Rural Health Scholars Program, and Dr. John Wheat (left), professor of community and rural medicine in the UA College of Community Health Sciences.

Courtney Chism (center), a May 2005 high school graduate from Bibb County who plans to attend UA, pictured with Cynthia Moore (right), assistant director of the UA Rural Health Scholars Program, and Dr. John Wheat (left), professor of community and rural medicine in the UA College of Community Health Sciences.

Kimberly Beeman (second from left), who plans to attend UAB, and LaDeidra Moore (second from right), who plans to attend Alabama A&M, both May 2005 graduates from Elmore County, pictured with Cynthia Moore (far right), assistant director of the UA Rural Health Scholars Program, and Dr. John Wheat (far left), professor of community and rural medicine in the UA College of Community Health Sciences.

Victoria Lewis (second from left), who plans to attend Xaxier University in New Orleans, and Charmelia Davis (second from right), who plans to attend UA, both May 2005 graduates from Greene County, pictured with Cynthia Moore (far right), assistant director of the UA Rural Health Scholars Program, and Dr. John Wheat (far left), professor of community and rural medicine in the UA College of Community Health Sciences.

Arnelya Cade (second from left), who plans to attend UA, and DeAnna Maura (second from right), who plans to attend Alabama State University, both May 2005 graduates from Marengo County, pictured with Cynthia Moore (far right), assistant director of the UA Rural Health Scholars Program, and Dr. John Wheat (far left), professor of community and rural medicine in the UA College of Community Health Sciences.

Aisha Buford (second from left), who plans to attend Troy State University and Dustin Broughton (second from right) who plans to attend UA, both May 2005 graduates from Monroe County, pictured with Cynthia Moore (far right), assistant director of the UA Rural Health Scholars Program, and Dr. John Wheat (far left), professor of community and rural medicine in the UA College of Community Health Sciences.