The Rural Experiences for Health Professions Students (REHPS) summer program is designed to bring health professions graduates back to rural South Dakota for rewarding careers. Students, selected in a competitive process, are enrolled in one of the following programs at DWU, MMC, SDSU or USD: Bachelor of Nursing, Clinical Psychology, Family Nurse Practitioner, Medical Doctor, Medical Laboratory Science, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Physician Assistant, Pharmacy, and Social Work. After selection, students are placed in interprofessional pairs in communities with a critical access hospital and a population under 15,000 people.
Previous REHPS communities were: Bowdle, Britton, Chamberlain, Canton, Custer, Deadwood, Dell Rapids, Faulkton, Flandreau, Lead, Hot Springs, Huron, Martin, Miller, Parkston, Platte, Redfield, Scotland, Sturgis, Tyndall, Wagner, Webster, Wessington Springs, and Winner. REHPS celebrated its 13th anniversary during the summer of 2023. Over 300 students have participated in this program to date.
REHPS receives funding from the Office of Rural Health/South Dakota Department of Health and is managed by the Southeast SD Area Health Education Center.