National Center for Rural Health Professions

We are less than 3 weeks away from our annual 'National Rural Health Day' celebration we proudly host on the UIC campus! Please RSVP to the QR Code Google Form for this amazing event. We would love to see you there!

Are you in a Behavioral Health, Dental, or Pharmacy program? Possible looking for a scholarship? The Illinois Rural Health Association is offering some scholarship opportunities. Spots are limited to apply now click the link: https://lnkd.in/gGh9GM-y For questions contact [email protected]

Happy November!! National Rural Health Day is less than four weeks away, and we'd love for you to join us here on campus on Thursday, November 21st for our annual celebration. Please RSVP at the link to the Google form below that you are coming, so that we are able to provide enough lunches for all attendees! We look forward to celebrating the power of rural with you! https://lnkd.in/gY4gM_ni

We are thrilled to introduce you to our new Post Doctoral Research Associate, Kiruthika Balakrishnan, PhD! We would love for you to get to know more about her background and what her plans are for success in her new role by reading her biography below. Welcome to the National Center for Rural Health Professions Team, Dr. B! "I achieved my PhD degree in Information and Communication Engineering (Data Science) from Anna University, India. My research focuses on the investigation and analysis of ECG signals using advanced signal processing techniques for cardiac arrhythmia classification. I am particularly passionate about leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to improve healthcare outcomes, especially in rural settings. I am currently a Post-Doctoral Research Associate at the National Center for Rural Health Professions at the University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford. In this role, I conduct research in machine learning, artificial intelligence, and rural medicine. My work combines expertise from the nationally and internationally recognized Rural Medical Education Program (RMED) with mentorship and support from the Center for Health Equity using Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence (CHEMA). Previously, I completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Florida, where I worked on the Personalized Approach to Improve Liver Transplant Outcomes (PAILTO) project. My broader research interests include improving the health and well-being of rural populations through AI-driven diagnostics and predictive models. I focus on addressing key challenges faced by rural healthcare systems, including limited access to care, workforce shortages, inadequate technological infrastructure, and disparities in healthcare outcomes. By applying AI and ML solutions, I aim to help overcome barriers in delivering quality care to underserved communities and enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of rural healthcare services."

“No Harm on the Farm” 2024!

Our second stop on our “No Harm on the Farm” tour took us to Baker Farms: which is home to Stateline Farm Rescue! The M1 RMED students participated in a grain bin rescue which is not an uncommon hazard that can happen to farmers while they’re working in grain bins. Mark Baker and his team guided the class through effective rescue techniques that are used by first responders in the event of accidents! He also showed them the inside of a grain bin and gave a tour of his extensive farm equipment. It was an incredible day that our students will always remember!

Friday was our annual “No Harm on the Farm” experience for our M1 RMED students. We are grateful to the Midwest Dairy Association for partnering with us again this year to help make this trip possible for us! Our first stop was to Scheidairy Farms where we learned from Doug and Dan Scheider about the agricultural hazards of working on a dairy farm. Students were able to get up close and personal to their hundreds of cows that are used for dairy purposes only, and also shown the milk barn that operates 20 hours a day, 7 days a week!

Our second year RMED students took part in our Health Jam at Oregon Elementary school last Friday! Students were split up into groups and gave four 25 minute presentations to four different 5th grade classes. The topics each group covered included: Oral Health, Mindfulness, Vaping Prevention, and Injury Prevention! The students at Oregon Elementary school were engaged in the health-centered activities and the RMED students had fun playing “teacher” for the day. Great job, everyone!

We are incredibly proud of our RMED students who have already matched in the Integrated Family Medicine Residency Program! We can’t wait to see the impact they will have on rural and underserved communities! Congratulations Jenna and Julia! 🎉

Our very own Dr. Hana Hinkle was honored to have the opportunity to present at Lincoln Memorial Hospital yesterday, which happens to be an incredible hospital partner of our RMED program!