Project Grant P1355808

The Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration Bureau of Health Professionals awarded Western Reserve Health Education, Inc., $750,000 on August 1, 2026, under the Rural Health Research Centers program (CFDA 93.155) to establish a new ACGME-accredited rural general surgery residency program.

The program will operate as a GME consortium pathway with a new rural track at Sharon Regional Health System in Sharon, Pennsylvania, targeting 10–15 residents per cohort. The initiative addresses surgical workforce shortages and expands access to high-quality surgical care across Mercer County and surrounding Appalachian communities. Mercer County contains multiple federally designated health professional shortage areas, serves approximately 110,000 residents including older adults and low-income populations, and currently faces limited access to specialty surgical services. Western Reserve Health Education will serve as the sponsoring institution, leveraging its GME infrastructure and residency development experience; Sharon Regional Health System will function as the primary training site, supported by regional hospitals, specialty providers, outpatient clinics, and emergency departments.

The award covers the period August 1, 2026, through July 31, 2029, with place of performance in Warren, Ohio. Expected ACGME accreditation is Spring 2027, with the first matriculation cohort scheduled for July 1, 2028. The assistance type is a Project Grant.