Richard Bennett was raised on a small farm in southern Idaho. He began his academic journey at a local community college and went on to earn his bachelor's degree from the University of Idaho in 1999. He pursued graduate studies at the University of Montreal and later earned a PhD in Molecular Biology from the Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. His postdoctoral research at the McLaughlin Research Institute in Great Falls, Montana focused on the molecular genetics of prion diseases using mouse models.

While in Great Falls, Richard began volunteering at the local hospital and developed a strong interest in rural medicine. He went on to complete his PA training at the Yale School of Medicine Physician Associate Program. After graduation, he served as a faculty member and Director of Admissions at the University of Charleston in West Virginia before moving to rural Wyoming, where he practiced as an orthopedic PA for several years.

He later joined the University of Utah’s St. George campus as its first site director, where he also worked to develop an FQHC in the medically underserved community of Hildale, Utah/Colorado City, Arizona. He served both part-time and full-time at Creek Valley Health Clinic as a National Health Service Corps member. Most recently, Richard practiced family medicine in rural Washington.

Richard is passionate about improving access to high-quality healthcare in rural communities and is excited to return to academia. In his free time, he enjoys biking, hunting, fishing, hiking, and rockhounding with his wife and children.