John R. Wheat, MD, MPH
Dr. John R. Wheat is Professor of Community and Rural Medicine in the College of Community Health Sciences at the University of Alabama. His academic training includes the University of Alabama, University of North Carolina and Mayo Clinic. Dr. Wheat has spent his career concentrating on the betterment of medicine for vulnerable and underserved rural populations. Dr. Wheat directs the Rural Scholars program with the goal of meeting the health professional needs of rural Alabama. His expertise has been extended well beyond Alabama’s borders.
Dr. Wheat completed a sabbatical in Australia correlating educational programs for rural medicine there with those in the United States. Dr. Wheat has served as Chairman of the North American Agromedicine Consortium, Bureau Member of the International Association of Agricultural Medicine and Rural Health, and Co-Chairman of the NRHA Rural Medical Educators Group. Dr. Wheat’s numerous awards include the Distinguished Educator Award from the National Rural Health Association for his design and implementation of the Rural Healthcare Leaders Pipeline Program. Dr Wheat has published extensively in the areas of Agromedicine and Rural Health.