Introduction / Rationale:
Rural health disparities, driven by social determinants of health, limited accessibility, and environmental challenges, mirror broader global health inequities. Solutions tailored to rural communities can inspire systemic changes on a global scale. This four-course series equips occupational therapy educators with a curriculum designed to address these challenges while fostering a global perspective in their students. By focusing on population health, accessibility, and sustainability, the curriculum empowers educators to prepare future practitioners for impactful work in underserved and global contexts.
Objectives:
• Present the four-course series as a model for preparing students to address rural health with global health applications.
• Demonstrate how the curriculum equips students with skills to create sustainable healthcare solutions.
• Highlight teaching strategies for addressing systemic barriers and population-specific needs.
Methods / Approach:
The presentation introduces the courses as a framework for educators:
1. Population and Context: Establishing foundational knowledge of rural health disparities and global parallels.
2. Delivery and Accessibility: Equipping educators to teach innovative approaches to care access challenges.
3. Groups and Innovations: Providing tools to guide students in designing interventions for targeted populations.
4. Outcomes and Funding: Emphasizing evaluation and sustainability strategies applicable in rural and global contexts.
Results / Practice Implications:
This series offers educators a framework for preparing students to address health disparities, fostering skills for innovative care delivery with global implications.
Conclusion / Contribution to the Occupational Therapy Profession:
By equipping educators to teach rural health as a catalyst for global change, this series strengthens occupational therapy’s role in advancing equity and sustainability worldwide.