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The ‘why’ and the ‘who’ of choosing a rural Longitudinal Integrated Clerkship: medical graduates’ perspectives from a qualitative study

The ‘why’ and the ‘who’ of choosing a rural Longitudinal Integrated Clerkship: medical graduates’ perspectives from a qualitative study

  • August 12, 2025
  • Binder M, Beks H, Fuller L, Beattie J.

This study explored the perceptions of rural Longitudinal Integrated Clerkship (LIC) graduates from Deakin University (2011–2020) regarding student selection and admission to the program, an area with limited prior research despite LICs’ effectiveness in producing rural doctors. Through semi-structured interviews with 39 graduates and reflexive thematic analysis, two themes emerged: the ‘why’ (factors influencing students’ decision to choose an LIC, such as aspirations, learning environment, and disruptions) and the ‘who’ (the types of students best suited for success, including adaptive learners, strong relationship builders, and those with rural familiarity or relevant life experiences). Linking these insights highlights how aligning student selection with program goals can optimize learning, wellbeing, and the likelihood of graduates pursuing rural practice, offering valuable guidance for medical schools designing rural training pathways.

  • Source: Rural and Remote Health

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Dr. Charlie Labarda

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Charlie Labarda, MD, PhD, is a Professor of Medicine and Dean of the School of Health Sciences at the University of the Philippines Manila (UPM-SHS), where he has taught for more than a decade. He is a regular member of the National research Council of the Philippines, belonging to the Medical Sciences Division (Division III). Before joining the medical faculty at UPM-SHS he trained in at the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the Philippine General Hospital. He finished his PhD in the Department of Psychology at The University of Hong Kong, his Master in Development Management from the Asian Institute of Management (high honors), Doctor of Medicine (cum laude) at the Our Lady of Fatima University-College of Medicine, and his undergraduate Social Sciences studies (cum laude) at UP Tacloban College. He was a topnotcher in the Physician Licensure Examination (8th place).

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His career includes leadership roles as regional director for early childhood development and poverty alleviation in East Africa with the Aga Khan Development Network, founding associate dean of the School of Osteopathic Medicine at the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, dean of the College of Health Sciences at the University of Texas at El Paso, and senior advisor to the provost at New Mexico State University.

 

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