These programs are designed for students interested in a rural career to learn about the roles and responsibilities of different health care providers in rural areas and to gain an awareness of the social and health characteristics, needs, and resources of a specific rural Illinois community. The experience allows them to reflect on a future career and possibly stirs interest in the program location as a place to practice.

RURAL HEALTH EXPERIENCE (RHE) is a 3-5 day program that lets undergraduates in all health professions observe rural health care providers at work. The experience includes shadowing professionals in a variety of hospital departments, such medicine, pharmacy, physical therapy, as EMT/ER, social work and behavioral health, public health, and laboratories; shadowing at clinics and/or health departments. The program may include meetings with administration and observations of inter-professional team meetings

Students must have completed sophomore year of undergraduate studies by the start of the program, and must have their own reliable transportation while on site.

Learn more – including this year’s program locations in Illinois – here.
The Rural Health Experience is available year-round. Apply now – Contact us with questions

6-WEEK RURAL INTERPROFESSIONAL PRECEPTORSHIP is an immersion program that provides a unique opportunity for highly motivated health profession undergraduates to learn in a real-world setting. The paid, full-time experience includes more than 15 days of shadowing in multiple hospital departments and/or community clinics, letting participants gain a better understanding of rural health care needs and interventions and an increased awareness, knowledge, and appreciation for a variety of health professions and how professionals from different disciplines work together.

Preceptorship students are exposed to all aspects of a rural community and collaborate with other preceptorship participants to complete a Community Service Learning Project focused on a real-life community health priority. They receive a $1,500 stipend, with housing and limited meals provided by the host sites. Students must be Illinois residents and have completed sophomore year of undergraduate studies by the start of the program.

Applications for this summer program open in January. Learn more – including the upcoming program locations – here, or contact us with questions.

RURAL HEALTH CAREERS CAMP is a 3-day, overnight educational program for high school students interested in the health care field. Campers participate in more than 20 activities related to health care professions, learn directly from health professionals and have the opportunity to ask them about why they love their career. They meet camp counselors who are current health professions students and other high schoolers with similar interests. They also receive help preparing for the college application process and live like a college student on an overnight campus. Preference is given to underclassmen and incoming freshmen.

Camp counselors assist in the day-to-day operations of the camp. Most importantly, their role is to ensure the care and well-being of the campers. Camp counselors need to assist campers in new situations, give encouragement, and care about each camper as an individual. They are expected to guide campers, provide a safe environment, and model positive personal life skills and values such as fairness, caring, good citizenship, trustworthiness, respect, and responsibility. Applicants must have completed their sophomore year of undergraduate studies in pursuit of a health-related profession. Preference is given to applicants with previous mentoring experience as well as to students with rural backgrounds.

Applications for both campers and counselors open in January. Learn more – including the upcoming program locations – here, or contact us with questions.