The National Center for Rural Health Professions

09/04/2026

We’re pleased to share this upcoming opportunity from the University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford with our rural health partners, providers, and colleagues across the region to join us for this lecture on health care quality and patient safety.

The UIC Rockford community is invited to attend a lecture with Dr. Mark Chassin, president emeritus of The Joint Commission, a partner at Relia Healthcare Advisors and one of the world's leading experts in health care quality, patient safety and process improvement.

The lecture happens Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026, from 6:15-7:30 p.m. at Robert J. Vickrey, MD Auditorium.

The lecture's purpose is to compare health care with high-reliability industries, such as aviation, and provide evidence-based approaches that health care organizations and professionals can use to improve quality and patient safety.

Physicians and all health professionals in the community as well as UIC students, residents, faculty and staff are invited to attend.

The University of Illinois College of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The University of Illinois College of Medicine designates this Live activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)TM. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Register: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScjXGQj95p5JZbG1Bv2_oCNQei62kpnPrvYnyse5qrPi8_udw/viewform

09/02/2026

Congratulations to Hunter Kienast on presenting his research on behalf of his team of RMED students Randi Rotramel, Gianna Sagona, Charlee Stewart and supported by Dean Hinkle; “Barriers to Maternal Healthcare in Rural Illinois: A Provider Perspective,” at the Illinois Public Health Association Annual Meeting!

This work highlights the real-world challenges rural providers face in ensuring access to maternal healthcare and helps elevate the voices of communities and clinicians across rural Illinois.

We are so proud to see our students contributing meaningful research that can help inform stronger systems, better policy, and healthier rural communities.

Great work, Hunter!

09/02/2026

Happy Wednesday!

We're thrilled to have our RMED students back on campus, and to be seeing so many new faces around the halls again! We are excited to bring you our latest series of social media "Get To Know Me" weekly bios on our new class of M1 RMED students, beginning today. First up, we are happy to introduce you to Abby Athmer!

1. What is your hometown?

Highland, Illinois

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

Maryville University in St. Louis, Missouri.
Major: Biology
Minor: Chemistry

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

I chose to focus on rural medicine because I love the hometown comradery created in rural areas. The Highland community in which I grew up has been so supportive and integral in my success in medicine so far, and I can't wait to return to the community as a physician to give back! Additionally, I am passionate about increasing rural citizens' access to healthcare so that travel costs do not have to correspond with medical care.

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

One thing I love about the RMED community is how supportive everyone is of each other's success! Within the first few weeks of school, I have already been able to feel the engagement and encouragement from the RMED students and staff on a daily basis!

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

My advice when applying to medical school is to BE YOURSELF; everyone else is taken! It is really easy to believe you have to do certain things, act a certain way, and have certain goals in order to secure your spot in a medical school program. I am here to tell you that being your authentic self is much more powerful than being society's idea of a "perfect medical student". Work hard, be you, you got this!

I would encourage incoming medical students to consider rural health by reminding them of the need that rural citizens have for physicians in all specialties! Practicing in rural healthcare creates a tangible, observable, positive effect on the people that surround you, and the place you call home!

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

Outside of school I love to hang out with my family, friends, and dogs! I enjoy hunting with my dad and grandpa, riding around in tractors with my boyfriend, and enjoying a nice pool day with my mom and friends! I also enjoy cooking, working out, and being active in the community!

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

08/28/2026

Happy Friday!

We are so excited to introduce you to the newest member of our NCRHP Staff, Dr. Mina Tanaka! There's no better way to help us get to know her better than by sharing her NCRHP Staff Bio with you all. Without further ado, please read more about Mina!

Name: Mina Tanaka, MD, MPH

Degrees/Training:
BA in Comparative Literature and minor in gerontology (UCLA)
MPH - Public Health and Aging track in the Department of Sociomedical Sciences (Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health)
MD from UICOMR - RMED!
Internal Medicine residency at Massachusetts General Hospital

Position at the NCRHP (Since Year):
Associate Director of Rural Health Policy and Practice since August 2026!

Primary Duties of your Position:
Somewhat TBD but one of my primary goals is to strengthen the Native American Pathway Program. I have worked in different settings in Indian Country, and I have a particular interest in increasing access and improving quality of care for rural Indigenous communities. I'll be going back to New Mexico intermittently during the year to work clinically on the Navajo Nation, where I was working as a general internist before I transitioned to my job at NCRHP. I hope to be able to take trainees and staff on future trips so that people can see not only the challenges experienced by people living on rural reservation settings, but also the beauty of the area and the strengths of the community. I will also be working as the medical director for the Winnebago County Jail and as a faculty member for the UICOMR Family Medicine, so you may see me rushing around town!

Favorite thing about working in the NCRHP:
As a proud RMED grad, it feels like a homecoming to be back in Rockford and working at NCRHP. So many people at NCRHP and the UICOMR campus continued to provide mentorship and encouragement to me even after I left Rockford. I feel very lucky that an opportunity opened up for me to work at NCRHP whose mission so closely aligns with mine. And to be surrounded by such passionate and dedicated go-getters is very energizing. I'm also excited to be working with students and to provide support and insight from my experiences going through medical training and practice in rural settings.

Which RMED event do you most look forward to every year and why?
As a student, I really enjoyed the Southern Exposure trip because it not only gave us an opportunity to interface with stakeholder and changemakers in the communities, but we got to experience a part of Illinois that I usually don't have a change to explore.

Talk about the photos you’ve shared with me! Tell me why they are important to you:
Before we moved back to Rockford, I was living and working on the Navajo Nation in the Four Corners region (where NM, CO, AZ, and UT meet). I have 2 boys — a 3 year old and an infant-- and my husband and I loved to take them out hiking and camping as we were surrounded by natural beauty. Although we are not as outdoorsy as many of our friends in NM—we're at least outsidey.

My oldest son and husband in Shimoda, Japan (my dad's hometown) and at a summer festival in Tokyo. My entire extended family lives in Japan, as well as my mother now, who moved back to Japan during the pandemic (my parents immigrated to the US via Canada in the late 1960s/early 1970s). We try to spend time in Japan every year so that my kids can feel connected to the culture and to see their extended family.

Obligatory pet/animal picture: Our rez cat officially named Red Lobster Unlimited Cheddar Bay Biscuits (aka Cheezy for short). She seems a bit undecided about how she's feeling about grass thus far (she's a high desert feline).

Thank you, Mina, for taking the time to help us get to know you a little better! We are thrilled to have you join us as an important addition to our NCRHP team!

08/26/2026

What happens when young people have the opportunity to see, explore, and experience healthcare careers firsthand? They begin to imagine new possibilities for their futures.

That’s exactly what happened at this summer’s Rural Health Careers Camp. Through hands-on activities and conversations with healthcare professionals, students explored a wide range of careers—some they had never even considered before.

As one student shared:

“The camp was an excellent opportunity and introduced me to different careers that I hadn’t considered before!”

Another reflected:

“I learned so many new health careers that I would have never considered. I was very interested in dentistry, something I wasn’t expecting.”

Programs like Rural Health Careers Camp are an important part of NCRHP’s mission to strengthen the rural healthcare workforce. By introducing young people to healthcare careers early - and giving them meaningful, hands-on experiences - we can help build the next generation of professionals who will care for rural communities.

Early exposure. Real experiences. Brighter futures for rural health.

08/20/2026

What a wonderful evening we had last night welcoming our new and returning RMED students back to campus!

Last night, we gathered for our annual RMED "Welcome Back Picnic" - an evening filled with great food, live music, conversation, and plenty of time to reconnect before another busy academic year gets underway.

One of the things that makes RMED so special is the sense of community that develops among our students, faculty, staff, and supporters. Events like this give our students across all four years a chance to spend time together outside the classroom, reconnect with familiar faces, welcome new ones, and celebrate being part of the RMED family.

A special thank you to Dr. Hana Hinkle for opening her home to us and to Justin Jones for providing the live music that made the evening even more enjoyable! We also enjoyed special treats this year from local food vendors Lulu's Roasted Corn and Kona Ice before the evening concluded with a remarkable sunset over the pond.

We’re so excited for the year ahead and all that our RMED students will experience as they continue their journey toward becoming physicians committed to serving rural communities.

Here are a few of our favorite moments from the evening!

08/19/2026

One Mission. One Team. Building the Future of Rural Health.

Yesterday, we stepped away from our day-to-day work for our 2026 Annual Staff Retreat at the beautiful Nicholas Conservatory in Rockford.

It was a day to reflect on what makes NCRHP exceptional, celebrate our accomplishments, and have meaningful conversations about where we are headed next.

Together, we explored how we can strengthen collaboration across our programs, better connect our rural health career pathways into a seamless workforce pipeline, and continue expanding NCRHP’s impact in rural communities. We also looked ahead to new opportunities through the Rural Health Transformation Program and identified strategic priorities for the coming year.

We were especially pleased to welcome Dr. Mina Tanaka, RMED Class of 2015, and hear her vision for rural health.

Our programs may each have their own focus, but they are connected by a common purpose: to improve the health and well-being of rural communities through education, workforce development, community partnerships, and policy.

We left the day with new ideas, shared priorities, and an even stronger commitment to working together to advance rural health in Illinois and beyond.

One Mission. One Team. One Rural Health Workforce.

08/19/2026

Congratulations, Dr. Hana Hinkle!

The NCRHP is proud to congratulate Hana Hinkle, PhD, MPH on her promotion to Teaching Associate Professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford!

Dr. Hinkle’s leadership, dedication to rural health, and commitment to strengthening education, partnerships, and opportunities for rural communities are at the heart of NCRHP’s work.

Please join us in celebrating this well-deserved achievement and congratulating Dr. Hinkle on this exciting milestone!

Congratulations, Dr. Hinkle!

08/14/2026

Congratulations to our RMED Class of 2030 students who received their white coat today such an amazing event to commemorate the start of their medical school journey! 🎊

08/13/2026

RMED ALUMNI — WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!