Bryan Medical Center Awarded $750,000 Federal Grant

Bryan Medical Center has been awarded a $750,000 Rural Residency Planning and Development (RRPD) Program grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). The grant supports development of a new rural family medicine residency program based at Crete Area Medical Center (CAMC) in partnership with the Lincoln Medical Education Partnership (LMEP).

The award is part of a national investment supporting the creation of new physician residency programs in rural communities. This marks the first time a Nebraska organization has received an RRPD grant and places Bryan Medical Center among only 15 recipients nationwide selected for funding this year.

"Our rural communities need a strong pipeline of physicians who are trained to meet the unique healthcare needs of the patients they serve," said Pat Ganyo, system vice president and vice president of rural services, Bryan Health. "This federal investment will help us build that pipeline right here in Nebraska while expanding access to primary care, maternal health services and comprehensive family medicine for future generations."

The grant will fund planning and development activities for the Crete Family Medicine Residency Program, a rural-track residency designed to recruit, train and retain physicians to serve rural Nebraska communities. The residency program is anticipated to welcome its first class of two residents in 2029, growing to six residents at full capacity in 2031. Once fully operational, the program is expected to create a sustainable physician workforce pipeline that will benefit rural communities across the region for decades to come.

Under the program's innovative training model, residents will complete more than half of their clinical training in Crete, immersing themselves in rural practice while also rotating through Bryan Medical Center in Lincoln for specialty and tertiary-care experiences. The program will emphasize full-spectrum family medicine, including obstetric care and maternity services, helping address critical healthcare workforce shortages facing many rural communities across Nebraska.

National research consistently demonstrates that physicians who train in rural settings are significantly more likely to establish practices in rural communities after graduation. According to the U.S. Government Accountability Office, only two percent of residency training occurs in rural areas. By creating a dedicated rural residency pathway, Bryan Health and its partners aim to increase the number of physicians who choose to build their careers in Nebraska's rural communities.

"Training physicians where they are most needed is one of the most effective strategies for improving access to care," said Julie Lacy, president and chief executive officer, Crete Area Medical Center. "This partnership represents a transformational opportunity for Saline County and rural Nebraska."

The RRPD grant provides funding over three years to support accreditation planning, curriculum development, faculty recruitment, resident recruitment and other foundational activities necessary to establish a new residency program. Nebraska faces significant rural healthcare workforce challenges, including physician shortages and limited access to maternity care in many communities. Through this collaborative effort, Bryan Medical Center, Crete Area Medical Center and LMEP seek to create a long-term solution that strengthens access to primary care while supporting the vitality and health of rural communities across the state.

Since the RRPD program was established in 2019, HRSA has invested nearly $77 million across 36 states and one territory to build a pipeline of physicians trained in rural communities. As of July 2026, these investments have resulted in 66 accredited rural residency programs, 818 approved residency positions and more than 850 resident physicians enrolled in rural training settings.