Leading excellence in healthcare for rural communities
Our Vision
Leading excellence in healthcare for rural communities.
Our Mission
As experts in rural health, our mission is to improve the health and well-being of rural communities through education, workforce development, community partnerships, and policy.
The National Center for Rural Health Professions (NCRHP) at the UIC Health Sciences Campus-Rockford strives to meet the health care needs of rural residents and their communities in Illinois, around the nation and throughout the world. Certified by the Illinois Board of Higher Education since 2003, this University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford center has programs and collaborative partnerships that have become successful models for education, service, research and policy related to rural health involving multiple health professions.
Rural Health Professions (Academic Programs)
NCRHP’s academic programs in medicine, nursing, pharmacy and social work offer comprehensive add-on curriculum which gives students the unique opportunity to train directly in rural communities across the State of Illinois. Students learn firsthand about the issues facing rural health care and are prepared to serve as leaders in underserved rural communities.
IL AHEC
Established in 2010, the HRSA funded Illinois Area Health Education Center (AHEC) Network Program has nine regional centers throughout the state to serve both rural and urban underserved residents through access to health professions education, health careers development and community and public health promotion activities.
Native American Pathways
This program is designed to identify, recruit, support and graduate Native American students interested in pursuing a health professions degree and returning to their tribal communities to practice rural medicine, pharmacy or nursing.
Rural Health Internships and Experiences
The NCRHP pathway programs address the rural health provider shortage by offering students learning opportunities as early as middle school and high school. Students can participate in summer camps, multi-week immersion experiences, and job shadowing rotations in rural communities. Participants of the NCRHP pathway programs will increase their awareness of and experience with many healthcare disciplines.
Research
Faculty and students at the NCRHP are passionate about rural health issues, policy and advocacy. Read some of the powerful research driving our efforts to address rural health inequities and improve access to health care in rural and underserved urban communities.
Research
Faculty and students at the NCRHP are passionate about rural health issues, policy and advocacy.
Read some of the powerful research driving our efforts to address rural health inequities and improve access to health care in rural and underserved urban communities.
News
📣 Attention medical students: We are co hosting a brand new event to connect directly with our participating programs-August 11th 5-7 pm PT-event is FREE for students to participate!!
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RMTC Rural Residency Connection for Medical Students
app.brazenconnect.com
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Happy Thursday! We're continuing to take some time this spring to introduce you to some of our UIC Retzky College of Pharmacy RPHARM students through our popular "Get To Know Me" social media features! Without further ado, we're excited to introduce you to Piper Rhoads!
1. What is your hometown?
My hometown is Charleston, IL
2. Which college did you attend undergraduate?
I got my bachelor's degrees in Bio & Neuroscience from Eastern Illinois University in my hometown.
3. Why did you choose to focus on rural pharmacy?
I chose to focus on rural pharmacy after growing up in a rural community and seeing the healthcare challenges that come from that.
4. What has been something you have found to be an unexpected, yet pleasant surprise during your RPHARM experience so far?
The collaboration between pharmacy and medical students as well as being able to be around others that grew up in rural communities.
5. What advice would you give to students applying to pharmacy school? How would you encourage them to consider rural health?
My advice would be to be open to anything and try new experiences. Shadow pharmacists in different environments if you can to see their typical day to day. Rural health is such an underserved area that has so much variety and connection with patients.
6. What hobbies/interests do you have outside of school?
I love to bake and decorate cakes, photography, and watch movies.
Thank you, Piper, for taking the time to let us get to know you a little better! We are so happy to have you in the RPHARM program! ... See MoreSee Less
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It was a wonderful day at the University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford as we welcomed Senator Dick Durbin to campus in recognition of his receipt of the NCRHPs’ Rural Health Hero Award.
In addition to meeting with UIC and College of Medicine leadership, Senator Durbin spent time visiting with first-year students from RMED. The students enjoyed the opportunity to talk with the Senator about rural healthcare, medical education, and the importance of serving communities across Illinois.
Experiences like these provide our future rural physicians with valuable opportunities to engage with leaders who understand the importance of strengthening the rural healthcare workforce and improving access to care in underserved communities.
Thank you again, Senator Durbin, for taking the time to visit with our students, faculty, and campus leadership. ... See MoreSee Less
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We were honored to welcome Senator Dick Durbin to the University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford campus this week to formally present him with the National Center for Rural Health Professions’ Rural Health Hero Award.
The Rural Health Hero Award recognizes individuals and organizations that demonstrate exceptional leadership and commitment to improving rural health and strengthening the rural healthcare workforce. Senator Durbin has been a longstanding advocate for rural communities across Illinois through his support of rural hospitals, healthcare workforce development, medical education, telehealth expansion, and improved access to care in underserved areas.
The NCRHP at the University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford is deeply grateful for Senator Durbin’s continued leadership and commitment to rural Illinois.
Thank you, Senator Durbin, for your dedication to improving the health and wellbeing of rural communities throughout our state. ... See MoreSee Less
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This spring, we reached out to our graduating M4 RMED students to prompt them to reflect on their overall experience with our RMED program! The responses we received were thoughtful, honest, and such a wonderful representation of the type of students we are honored to accept into each and every incoming class. Without further ado, we'd like to share Blaine Calloni's reflections on his experience with our RMED program!
1. What kept you going when you needed it most throughout the 4 years you spent in RMED?
One of the strongest motivators for me throughout my 4 years in RMED was dedication to community. I mean this in both our RMED student community, and the greater rural community for ourselves and our patients. I always felt I had someone I could rely on when the going got tough thanks to RMED and our community at UIC Rockford, whether it was a fellow student, faculty member, staff member, or clinician. I never felt alone. For my patients, knowing that our exposure and training in rural communities helped them feel seen and gave them hope motivated me to keep going, even when things were rocky. My RMED rotations were some of the best in medical school, and the kinship and rapport I was able to find with my rural patients through shared experience was invaluable.
2. What is the best advice you’ve received from a Physician thus far?
One of the best pieces of advice I have received from a physician was from one of the RMED preceptors, Dr. Marc Katchen. Dr. Katchen provided much sage advice, both about medicine and things beyond medicine, but the words he said that stuck with me the most were “Do not go where your talents will not be properly compensated”. This advice has stuck with me through exploring rural medicine and through my residency application season and I find it very profound. It is very easy to lose sight of oneself and to put the needs of ourselves as physicians by the wayside for our patients, whether that is through medical school, residency, or as an attending. It is important that we not only remain dedicated to our patients, but to ourselves as people and as physicians. I interpret this advice not just as financial wisdom, but as a testament to life beyond the clinic or unit. As rural physicians, our impact on the community can be far greater than just our treatment outcomes, and I think it is important to keep that in mind as we build our careers.
3. What will you miss the most about RMED?
There are a few things I will truly miss about RMED. The first are my classmates. I have had the privilege of knowing some of my RMED cohort for longer than I have been in medical school and it is so bittersweet that we are now parting. I would not have been able to do this without them and I am so grateful to have been able to do this journey along with them. I will also miss the tight-knit community at Rockford through the RMED program. I am so thankful that each member of the faculty is so welcoming and have all been instrumental in my time at UICOM. I will miss my rural attendings as well. My RMED rotations were some of the most impactful and instrumental rotations and the time I spent one-on-one with my attending was truly formative in becoming the physician I aspire to be. Lastly, I will miss some aspects of the drives to and from clinical sites. While there were times that driving up, down, and around rural Illinois could become taxing, many of my hours spent on the road were times that I had a moment to breathe throughout the blitz that is M3/M4 year. I spent a lot of this time behind the wheel talking with family and friends or diving back into music that I had needed to catch up on. I believe the RMED program is the ideal way to experience medical school for a rural student and will greatly miss it.
Thank you, Blaine, for taking the time to let us hear how impactful RMED has been for you in your life thus far! We truly look forward to keeping in touch with you on your journey to practicing rural medicine for many years to come! Congratulations!
UICOM-R White Coat Ceremony 2022 --> UICOM-R Research Day 2026 ... See MoreSee Less
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We welcome you to take a few minutes to catch up on our most recent 'Access Newsletter' from the National Center for Rural Health Professions! ... See MoreSee Less
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