The National Center for Rural Health Professions

10/13/2026

AMSA Infofest! Turning Data into Action: Advancing Rural Health Through Policy & Innovation!

Two familiar NCRHP faces will be on a panel that will take place Wednesday, October 14, from 6:00–7:00 PM Eastern Time.

This session will explore how rural health data, research, and innovation can move beyond identifying disparities to inform advocacy, policy, and meaningful systems-level change. We're excited to bring together perspectives from rural health research, policy, and community advocacy.

Our panelists include:

Monica L. Coleman — Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

Hana Hinkle, PhD, MPH — NCRHP/RMTC

Carrie Cochran, MD — National Rural Health Association

Mina Tanaka, MD — National Center for Rural Health Professions

Meeting Details

Date: Wednesday, October 14, 2026
Time: 6:00–7:00 PM ET
Google Meet: https://meet.google.com/qhw-iamx-bbf
Dial-in: +1 501-737-0162
PIN: 170 500 065 #
Additional phone numbers: https://tel.meet/qhw-iamx-bbf?pin=3893208619081

Special thanks to RMED M4 student, Avery Keese for Organizing this event!

10/09/2026

Health education starts early, and our future healthcare professionals are helping make it happen!

Through Health Jam, a longstanding partnership with 4-H and Oregon Elementary School, RMED and RPHARM students work in teams alongside faculty advisors to develop and deliver health education sessions for 5th- grade students. This year’s topics included Medication Safety, Injury Prevention, Screen Time, and Va**ng Prevention.

Programs like Health Jam give our health professions’ students valuable experience translating health information into messages that are clear, understandable, and meaningful for the communities they serve. At the same time, elementary students gain knowledge and skills that can support lifelong healthy habits.

10/07/2026

The first-year students took part in the Agricultural Hazards and Toxicology course, which provided them with an understanding of the health risks associated with agricultural work and rural environments. The course examined common occupational hazards faced by farmers and agricultural workers, including exposure to pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, agricultural dust, machinery-related injuries, heat stress, and respiratory hazards.

Students learned the principles of toxicology, including the effects of agricultural chemicals on the human body, routes of exposure, recognition of poisoning symptoms, diagnostic evaluation, and treatment strategies. The course also addressed injury prevention, workplace safety practices, environmental health concerns, and public health approaches to reducing agricultural injuries and illnesses. Upon completion, students were better prepared to recognize, manage, and help prevent health conditions related to agricultural exposures in both clinical and community settings.

10/05/2026

The 2026 'Making Strides Against Breast Cancer' walk was on Saturday, October 3rd, 2026 and we'd like to thank everyone that was able to participate this year! Our team, "White Coats for Hope", raised $1,025 dollars which will support breast cancer research as well as other American Cancer Society programs.

Beth Squires said, "I so appreciate everyone's generosity as well as the time for those who walked with me Saturday morning to celebrate being a survivor. It was a fun morning with beautiful weather and amazing people!"

We look forward to continuing on our tradition of walking with Beth and raising money for the American Cancer Society for many years to come!

10/01/2026

More local news coverage! Thank you, Rockford News First, for visiting us yesterday for our Building Illinois' Rural Health Workforce Together Symposium.

The symposium invited health care leaders from around the state to share their ideas.

10/01/2026

Thank you, MyStateline, for visiting us yesterday and for covering our Building Illinois Rural Health Workforce Together Symposium on your local news station!

Health care authorities from across the state and nation assembled at the UIC College of Medicine in Rockford for a summit addressing systemic shortages facing rural medical centers.

10/01/2026

Yesterday, NCRHP welcomed rural healthcare leaders, educators, policymakers, workforce organizations, and community partners from across Illinois to the University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford for our inaugural Building Illinois' Rural Health Workforce Together Symposium.

The symposium focused on a critical challenge facing rural communities: ensuring that rural residents have access to the healthcare professionals they need. Participants explored strategies to recruit, train, and retain physicians and other healthcare providers, while sharing successful workforce initiatives from across Illinois and the nation.

NCRHP hosted the event through its work with the Illinois Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP). As one of three organizations leading efforts to advance the state's Build a Resilient Workforce priority, NCRHP is helping strengthen healthcare career pathways, expand rural training opportunities, and support partnerships that address workforce shortages throughout rural Illinois.

The day featured presentations from state and national leaders, as well as roundtable discussions that allowed participants to share challenges, exchange ideas, and identify opportunities for collaboration. One theme was clear throughout the day: addressing rural healthcare workforce shortages will require strong partnerships and coordinated efforts across healthcare, education, government, and community organizations.

Thank you to everyone who participated and contributed to these important conversations. We look forward to continuing to work together to strengthen the future of rural healthcare in Illinois.

09/25/2026

The 5th Annual RMED Hospital Student Networking Event, sponsored by ICAHN, brought together RMED students and representatives from 21 healthcare organizations across Illinois. Organized by Jessica McGuire, Assistant Director of Experiential Rural Training and Program Development, the event provided valuable opportunities for students to explore clinical training and career pathways while healthcare partners showcased opportunities within their communities.

One hospital participant shared,"Seeing the excitement from future physicians," while a student noted,"I loved the face-to-face contact of this event. It really solidified my commitment to rural!"

Thank you to all participating healthcare organizations and to ICAHN for supporting the next generation of rural physicians!

09/23/2026

Happy Wednesday!

We are excited to be back again this week with another fun feature on a first year RMED student. Without further ado, we'd like to introduce you to Lauren Crowe!

1. What is your hometown?
Red Bud, IL

2. Which college did you attend and what is your undergraduate degree in?

UIUC with a degree in Human Nutrition and Food Science

3. Why did you choose to focus on rural medicine?

Growing up in a rural town meant that my family often had to travel for various doctor's appointments which was inconvenient, however, once my grandparents started getting sicker, it became a very scary reality that they might have worse outcomes due to the distance they would have to travel in an emergency. I want to give back to these communities and hope to help people like my grandparents in their time of need.

4. What has been something you have found to be an unexpected, yet pleasant surprise during your RMED experience so far?

Everyone still has such a different background! While I have met lots of people I can bond with about growing up in the country and outdoor chores, I have also met people from all over the state who lived in town or had to work on their family farm growing up. I was so used to my hometown and then being the most rural person my friends knew in college, now I finally get to see other versions of rural life!

5. What advice would you give to students applying to medical school? How would you encourage them to consider rural health?

Make sure you show your interests! Don't just get involved in things that you think will look good for your application, do things where you can express what you are passionate about, and help people that mean a lot to you. Rural populations are particularly vulnerable, and getting involved in these communities can be very rewarding as it can be easier to see the differences you can make as an individual or small organization!

6. What hobbies/interests do you have outside of school?

I love to cook! As a nutrition major I became very aware of how our diet plays a huge role in our long-term health and it eventually became fun and rewarding to cook food that tasted good and made me feel good. I also love cats and will show pictures of mine to anyone who will look (and will always love to see pictures of other people's cats)!

Thank you, Lauren, for taking the time to let us get to know you a little better! We are looking forward to continuing to learn more about your fellow "Class of 2030" classmates over the next couple of months. See you next week!

09/17/2026

Reminder, RMED Alumni -

For more than 30 years, RMED alumni have been making a difference in rural communities. Now we need your help.

The RMED Alumni Survey closes September 24, and we want to hear from you! Your experiences and career journey provide valuable insights that will help inform the future of the program and rural healthcare workforce development.

Check your email for your personal survey link and complete the survey before September 24. Didn't receive a link? Reach out to Vicki at [email protected].

Thank you for being an important part of the RMED legacy and helping us build healthier rural communities.