Ryan Spencer, MD, MS, associate professor in the Division of Gynecologic Oncology and UW School of Medicine and Public Health Associate Dean for Graduate Medical Education, co-authored a new study published in the Journal of Rural Health examining the distribution of obstetrics and gynecology residency training sites across rural and urban communities in the United States. The study explores how access to residency training opportunities relates to health care resources and access in rural communities.

In “Rural Versus Urban Distribution of Obstetrics and Gynecology Residency Training and Associated Rural Community Characteristics,” Spencer and co-authors analyzed 294 ob-gyn residency programs and 1,052 training sites during the 2023-2024 academic year. Findings showed that only 2.4% of training sites were located in rural areas. The study also found that rural counties without ob-gyn residency training sites had higher uninsured rates and fewer primary care physicians and psychiatrists compared to rural counties with training sites.

“The findings identify rural communities without OB/GYN training sites that may represent opportunities for future rural training expansion.”

Read the whole study here!

**by Ob-Gyn Communications Intern Tina Lee