Exceptional RUUTE Scholars Award

Maddie Bernardo was among the first RUUTE scholars onboarded in 2021 and has since become an integral part of RUUTE & Regional Affairs. A trailblazer for Idaho students, she set a high standard for future cohorts to follow. Maddie eagerly embraced every opportunity that came her way, always finding meaningful ways to contribute to the School of Medicine, RUUTE, and her home state of Idaho. 

During her first year of medical school, Maddie actively participated in Rural Outreach Program (ROP) trips to junior high and high schools near her hometown of Boise, attended nearly every RUUTE Rural Speaker Series, and became a familiar and valued presence within the RUUTE team. By the summer before her second year, she pioneered the RUUTE Community Engagement Experience (CEE) in Cascade, ID. Over five weeks, she fully immersed herself in the community, working closely with Dr. Katie Camarata at Cascade Medical Center (CMC) and deepening her commitment to rural medicine. 

Within her first week at CMC, Maddie recognized a major challenge in the community—limited access to fresh, affordable, and healthy food. In response, she developed an informative pamphlet outlining current nutritional recommendations and listing local and national resources to help residents access and enjoy healthier food options. The success of Maddie’s project helped shape CEE into one of RUUTE’s most popular and impactful initiatives, continuing to grow and serve rural communities today. Later, Maddie was able to return to Cascade and complete an Emergency Medicine rotation with Dr. Camarata and her team. 

Building on her extensive experience in Cascade, Maddie further deepened her commitment to rural healthcare by completing a Longitudinal Integrated Clerkship in Tooele, Utah. As one of the first students to pilot this model, she gained firsthand insight into the unique challenges and rewards of practicing medicine in rural communities. This experience reinforced her passion for improving healthcare access in underserved areas, solidifying her belief in the importance of rural medicine and shaping her vision for the future of her medical career. 

Maddie also served as the Idaho Medical Association (IMA) Student Representative for the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine, a role that allowed her to advocate for key federal and state legislation impacting Idahoans' health, physician training, and medical practice. Working closely with her fellow Idaho Cohort, she helped shape discussions on critical healthcare policies. Maddie also attended annual IMA meetings, where she played an active role in reviewing and making recommendations on current health policies before they were submitted to the Idaho legislature. 

Maddie is a trusted voice within RUUTE, often called upon to share her valuable experiences in key meetings. Her insights and dedication played a vital role in shaping the program’s direction. Thanks to Maddie’s contributions, RUUTE continues to grow and actively seeks new opportunities to expand programming in Idaho, further strengthening its impact on rural medical education.