The Rural Outreach Clinic is a student-led medical program that delivers free health care services to underserved rural communities. The clinic is overseen by Daniel Spogen, M.D., a physician in the Department of Family Medicine and Medical Director of all student outreach programs. In this program, day-to-day events are coordinated by volunteer medical students. Faculty physicians provide supervision and mentorship during clinics, while students handle patient intake, exams, lab work, immunizations and referrals.
Access to medical care in rural Nevada poses some unique challenges; residents often face long travel distances, limited specialty services, and high rates of uninsured or underinsured patients. The Rural Outreach Clinic was designed to help close those gaps by bringing free medical services directly into underserved communities through combining hands-on medical training and community service.
Impact data from 2025 showed that 15 clinicals were held, and 179 patients were seen throughout the year. During these clinics, 14 referrals to specialists were made, and 18 patients were immunized. Another 99 patients received lab draws.
One of the clinic’s most notable accomplishments in 2025 was the launch of a pop-up pediatric clinic in Fallon. Staff noticed that many families were traveling long distances for required school physicals. In opening the pop-up, medical students brought care directly to the community.
The clinic operated out of an empty preschool building equipped with exam tables, lab services, and vaccines. Benjamin D. Smith, student manager of the Rural Outreach Clinic, stated, “We were able to set up a pop-up clinic at their preschool and see more pediatric patients than we would in a regular clinic.”
This clinic was successful enough to prompt plans for pop-up pediatric clinics in Fallon and Yerington. Students agreed to do two a year. According to Smith, “The limitation is really just the amount of work it takes for medical students to run these clinics.”
As the program continues to grow, both faculty and students note that the impact of rural outreach extends beyond the care provided on clinic days. Research shows that doctors are more likely to remain in areas where they train. Smith highlighted how the program influenced him by saying, “Even if I’m not practicing in a rural area, I definitely have an interest in serving our rural populations.” According to Spogen, “The more experiences we can offer in Nevada sites, including rural sites, the more likely students are to stay in our area.”
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