The National Center for Rural Health Professions, the home of the Illinois AHEC Network Program, recently welcomed Vicki Weidenbacher-Hoper, MSW, as the new associate director of rural health workforce and center development.

Weidenbacher-Hoper previously worked at the NCRHP as an assistant director before taking on various roles in the Department of Family and Community Medicine. Prior to her two-decades-long service to University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford, she spent seven years working at the Winnebago County Health Department supervising several maternal child health programs.

In her new role as a member of the NCRHP leadership team, she will provide input into the direction, management, and overall operations of the NCRHP. Weidenbacher-Hoper’s educational background includes a master of science in social work and a public health certificate from the University of Illinois Chicago. She is a former fellow of the National Rural Health Association’s Rural Health Policy Fellowship.

“Vicki brings a tremendous wealth of experience and knowledge to her new role,” said Hana Hinkle, the college’s assistant dean for rural health professions and director of NCRHP. “Her extensive background in community engagement and passion for rural health comes during an exciting time for the National Center for Rural Health Professions when we are building upon the success and excellence of our work in research, policy and health professions education programs while innovating around future opportunities in rural academic medicine.”