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ecruiting physicians to rural facilities is typically a challenge, but it can be even more difficult when looking specifically for a female physician. Research suggests that female physicians are less likely than males to practice in rural areas. Female physicians' absence in rural hospitals and practices is a particular concern because rural areas rely heavily on primary care providers to meet their healthcare needs, and women tend to gravitate toward primary care specialties. Nearly half of all female physicians practice in family practice, internal medicine, or pediatrics, and women's specialty choices have remained remarkably unchanged for several decades.