Physician Graduate Medical Education Grant Program

The Wyoming Department of Health is administering funding opportunities under the Rural Health Transformation Program, a statewide initiative enabled by federal legislation known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. This program is supported through a financial assistance award from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The broader program is designed to strengthen rural healthcare systems in Wyoming through coordinated investments across multiple priority areas, including workforce development, emergency access, health technology, and population health improvement. Within this structure, the Physician Graduate Medical Education initiative focuses specifically on addressing physician shortages by expanding training capacity within the state. The primary purpose of this funding opportunity is to establish and expand graduate medical education programs that increase the number of physicians trained and retained in Wyoming. The initiative emphasizes long term workforce sustainability by encouraging physicians to complete substantial portions of their residency training in rural and underserved communities, with the expectation that they will remain and practice in those areas for at least five years. This effort directly addresses persistent workforce shortages and aims to build a stable pipeline of healthcare professionals committed to rural service. The scope of the program begins with a required feasibility study. Applicants must assess leadership structures, potential program locations, and the number of residency positions that can realistically be developed over a five year period. This study must also include a sustainability plan, including the creation of a statewide coordinating body referred to as a Wyoming Graduate Medical Education Council. This council is expected to oversee program alignment, support physician retention strategies, and ensure long term viability of training programs across the state. Funding is intended to support the development and expansion of residency training opportunities, particularly in family medicine and behavioral health. Additional emphasis is placed on enhancing clinical exposure in obstetrics and other specialties experiencing workforce shortages. Training must occur within established healthcare systems and community partnerships that are capable of delivering high quality clinical education while exposing residents to the realities of rural healthcare practice. The program also allows for the establishment of new clinical training sites that meet these criteria. Eligible applicants include organizations, individuals, and entities that have the capacity to operate a graduate medical education program within Wyoming. This includes healthcare systems, educational institutions, and other qualified entities capable of supporting accredited residency training. Applicants must demonstrate the ability to design, implement, and sustain such programs, including partnerships necessary for clinical training and community integration. Applications are submitted through an online portal, where all applicants must first complete a required eligibility information form before proceeding to initiative specific applications. The submission process may include dynamic questions that appear based on prior responses, requiring careful navigation of the application interface. Applications for this initiative are due by August 4, 2026. Awarded organizations are expected to enter into one year agreements with the possibility of renewal, and all awarded funds must be fully obligated by October 30, 2026 and expended by September 30, 2027 unless otherwise extended. Evaluation is expected to focus on feasibility, sustainability, alignment with rural workforce goals, and the ability to create meaningful training pathways that lead to long term physician retention in underserved areas. While specific scoring criteria are not detailed, the emphasis on workforce outcomes, rural exposure, and system level coordination indicates that proposals will be assessed based on their strategic impact and implementation readiness. No specific contact person is listed, but applicants may seek technical assistance through the application platform support resources.

Focus on strong feasibility study and sustainability planning including clear physician retention strategies and rural training alignment