Officials at Gibson Area Hospital and Health Services (GAHHS) recently accepted the “Rural Health Hero” award. Dr. Ben Brewer and CEO Rob Schmitt were present for the ceremonies held at the University of Illinois College of Medicine, Rockford.

RMED Director John Plescia, MD, discussed how great it was to finally meet Dr. Brewer and visit his office in Forrest, Illinois. According to Dr. Plescia, “Dr. Brewer and his office are among the top requested locations by medical students and residents in the RMED program.”

In addition, the RMED program also recognized David J. Hagan, MD, who was awarded the RMED “Distinguished Service” award for his many years of service as a mentor and preceptor for countless medical students. Dr. Hagan graduated from the Rockford medicine program before the RMED program was officially established. He continues to welcome students and residents to his office in Gibson City each year.

The purpose of the National Center for Rural Health Professions is to meet the healthcare needs of rural Illinois residents through collaborative projects involving multiple health professions while also emphasizing recruitment, retention, and healthcare delivery initiatives that will positively impact the health and well-being of both rural residents and their communities.

The RHP curriculum focuses on developing the inter-professional knowledge, skills, and attitudes required of rural health professionals. RMED students and rural pharmacy students attend RHP classes together. The Rural Pharmacy Education Program (RPHARM) seeks to prepare pharmacy students from the state of Illinois who will, after graduation, locate and practice in a rural community. {submitted info}

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