The department of veterans affairs rural interprofessional faculty development initiative (RIFDI): A novel approach to expanding the rural workforce

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Health Administration (VA) is an important source of health care in rural locations. The Veterans Access Choice and Accountability Act of 2014 authorized 1500 new graduate medical education positions in high need specialties and locations. Program implementation necessitated supporting clinicians representing multiple professions with the skills to build and sustain an interprofessional healthcare workforce training program. The VA Office of Academic Affiliations and the Office of Rural Health partnered to create the Rural Interprofessional Faculty Development Initiative (RIFDI), a curriculum focused on interprofessional education and practice, designed to prepare rural educators to create or enhance small, typically rural, geographically diverse training sites. Eighty-four health care providers, representing eight professions are enrolled or have completed the program. President Biden has characterized the initiative as innovative and directed the VA to launch a new joint initiative with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to add non-VA clinicians to the program in 2022. •Health professions trainees are more likely to consider rural practice if they have had a positive rural training experience.•Faculty development, key for training programs, yet resources to support it are less available in rural locations.•The VA developed a longitudinal, interprofessional faculty development curriculum to respond to rural training program needs.•Outcomes include more trainees, improved faculty self-assessment, job satisfaction, and interprofessional collaboration.