NATCHEZ — Whether they’re just out of medical school or just starting their residencies, young doctors from Natchez are considering where they’ll hang their slates.

And as those students complete their training, doctors and healthcare professionals in Natchez, and across Mississippi, are hoping new med students won’t leave the state but will instead head to rural areas like Natchez.

Natchez Community Hospital Chief Executive Officer Tim Trottier said rural areas, like Natchez, all across the state have problems recruiting new and retaining new doctors.

“Natchez, and most of the state is medically underserved,” Trottier said.

Third year University of Mississippi Medical Center student, and Natchez native, Benjamin Tillman said the need for the state’s students to practice in the state is a message that’s driven home regularly on campus.

Tillman, currently in his first month of clinical rotations, said he’s not sure what area he’ll specialize in when the time comes.

But while Tillman is unsure of what he wants to practice, he’s sure he wants to stay in Mississippi, and possibly Natchez.

Tillman said he has concerns in selecting a specialty in a small town like Natchez because, in some areas of practice, like neurosurgery, there might not be enough patients to sustain a practice or there simply aren’t any existing practices to join.

“And setting up your own practice is huge challenge,” Tillman said.

And Tillman is not alone in his concerns.

Natchez Regional Medical Center Vice President of Medical Affairs Dr. Kenneth Stubbs said medical schools traditionally don’t provide much training on how to set up a practice and new doctors are intimidated by the process.

“It’s a scary thought having to hire a nurse, buy equipment, get insurance and start a business,” Stubbs said. “They need a welcoming environment where they feel comfortable to get their feet on the ground.”

And Stubbs said while it often takes a leap of faith on a physician’s part to set up a new practice in a small town, not doing so can be detrimental to the towns.

“There are no practices to join so no doctors come, other doctors see a lack of business in the area and they go elsewhere,” he said. “Before long medical service can dry up in a small community, and you’re left with nothing.”

While Tillman still has years of schooling left, he said the prospect of setting up a private practice is daunting.

Natchez native and recent UMMC grad Barr Biglane is an intern in his first year of residencey and is also considering Natchez as the city where he’ll root his career.

But much of where Biglane ends up won’t depend just on him.

“My wife is in law school and we want to see what all of our options are,” Biglane said. “We’ll go were we have the best opportunity.”

But Biglane did say he and his wife would like to end up in Natchez.

“When you’re ( in Natchez) it’s kind of like a weekend away, like a vacation” he said. “But some people are looking for more than what’s in Natchez.”

Biglane said in talking to other students or interns, he hears that many are looking for more of a big city atmosphere than they had in the town they came from.

“I can take pleasure from the simple things,” he said. “But that’s not for everyone.”

And while Stubbs and Trottier agree Natchez may not have a boisterous social scene, there is one to be found.

“Natchez is a great town,” Trottier said. “It’s very unique, but it’s not for everyone.”

And Trottier said often, if a doctor’s spouse doesn’t like a town, the doctor won’t be there long.

“And that’s something no one can control,” Trottier said.

But for students like Biglane and Tillman, there’s something more than just the ease of setting up a practice or the social scene in a city.

“When you’re younger you don’t consider things like being near your family,” Tillman said. “As you get older, you see it’s important and you want to be close to home.”