The National Center for Rural Health Professions

Day 2 of our Salud Scholars Program included healthcare career presentations in Imaging Services and X-Ray, an "Introduction to Suturing" lab, and the RMED student mentors led them in a Vital Signs activity!

We are so proud of these students who have joined us for our Salud Scholars program this week!

Rural high school students are participating the ¡Salud! Scholars Program, a three-day health career camp held at the UIC Health Sciences Campus-Rockford. Medical students from the Rural Medical Education (RMED) Program through the National Center for Rural Health Professions serve as mentors.

¡Salud! Scholars participants are introduced to the world of health care through hands-on activities, like checking vitals, practicing suturing using fake skin and preparing medical prescriptions.

Day 1 of our Salud Scholars Program included healthcare career presentations in Medical Biotechnology with a DNA extraction activity, OB Nursing, and a Scavenger Hunt that took them around the entire campus of UIC COM-R!

This week we are hosting 11 students from 7 different rural high schools at UIC COM-R for our 2025 Salud Scholars program! Three of our rising M2 RMED students are also serving as mentors helping to lead the healthcare career activities, alongside the presenters. Stay tuned for more photos of the fun we've been having with them on our campus!

Happy Thursday! We're happy to be back again this week with another feature to "get to know" our NCRHP staff on a deeper level. Without further ado, I'd like to introduce you to Dr. Kiruthika Balakrishnan!

Name and Degree:
Kiruthika Balakrishnan, PhD

Position at the NCRHP (Since Year):
Postdoctoral Research Associate (Since October 2024)

Primary Duties of Your Position:

I lead and support research focused on advancing rural healthcare delivery through the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and data analytics. My responsibilities include developing predictive models to improve health outcomes, supporting grant writing, writing journal articles, mentoring students, and collaborating with community partners to drive innovation in rural health research.

Favorite thing about working in the NCRHP:

My favorite thing about working at the NCRHP is the opportunity to engage in meaningful, community-driven research that directly impacts rural populations. I also greatly appreciate the supportive and interdisciplinary environment at NCRHP, which fosters collaboration and innovation. Additionally, I want to mention the people at NCRHP; they are some of the most caring, hardworking, and creative individuals I've ever met. Their shared passion for addressing the healthcare needs of rural communities truly inspires me. They are my pillars at NCRHP, and I am grateful to work alongside such wonderful individuals.

Which RMED event do you most look forward to every year and why?

I always look forward to the RMED Graduation Celebration. It’s a joyful reminder of the mission we serve, preparing future physicians to make a difference in rural communities. Seeing our students’ accomplishments and hearing their stories of service is incredibly inspiring.

Talk about the photos you’ve shared! Tell me why they are important to you:

These photos represent some of my favorite ways to unwind and recharge outside of work. The first photo is of my family, taken during a family (established in 2014) outing to Starved Rock State Park. Hiking and spending time outdoors with my husband and son are moments I truly cherish. The second picture is from our annual strawberry picking trip, a tradition that brings me joy through nature, fresh air, and delicious fruit!. The third photo shows our home aquarium, which brings a calming presence to our living space. Caring for it as a family, especially our guppy fish (which my son affectionately calls “Survivaas”), is a wonderful experience. Lastly, the final photo highlights my son’s and my love for building LEGO Technic vehicles. I am always amazed by his creativity and focus. When I’m not at work, I enjoy going for walks or working with LEGO alongside my son. These activities help me stay grounded and remind me of the simple joys in life.

Thank you, "Dr. B", for taking the time to tell us a little more about yourself! Check back next week for another feature on another NCRHP staff member on our team!

The final three rotations of our rural health careers camp were Rehabilitation Counseling, Social Work, and Anesthesiology! Students had a memorable time learning how to place epidurals and doing exercises that explored how to work with people with disabilities. Our camp was so much fun this year, we can’t wait to do it all over again next summer! ✨

Our last day of camp is always so bittersweet! 😢 We still managed to fit in six amazing healthcare careers presentations today, and our morning was jam packed with hands-on activities like always. The campers learned about Respiratory Therapy, Audiology, and Public Health and Disease Prevention today! 🫁 👂 🦠

Dr. TJ Webb, family medicine physician and teaching professor for the UIC COM-R and Family Medicine Residency Program, visited our 50 high school students at camp last night! He showed them how to use their souvenir stethoscopes and also spoke about his experience in overcoming obstacles throughout his journey to becoming a rural physician. Thank you for volunteering your time, Dr. Webb!

Tuesday afternoon’s healthcare career presentations included Pharmacy, Medical Imaging (Radiography), and Ultrasound Nursing! 💊🧑‍⚕️👩🏻‍⚕️🩻

👏🏻 Let’s give a round of applause to our 2025 Rural Health Careers Campers and Camp Counselors! 👏🏻

Tuesday morning’s healthcare careers presentations included Public Health, Nutrition and Dietetics, and Dentistry! 🩹😷🍎🥦🦷🪥

Our campers put their teamwork to the test during an interprofessional challenge last night! Each group built a healthcare team capable of treating stranded and injured hikers in remote parts of Illinois. Ten teams presented their cases, defending why their team was best equipped to help hikers in need. Incredible collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking all around! The future of Illinois Healthcare is bright 🙌🏻”