The Six-Week Interprofessional Preceptorship (SWIP) is a rural immersion program for health professions students. It is a six-week, paid, full-time shadowing opportunity available during the summer at a rural Illinois hospital.
What to expect as a preceptorship student:
- Complete over 10 days of shadowing in various hospital departments and/or community clinics in a rural community
- Attend weekly classroom sessions lead by a faculty preceptor exploring rural healthcare practice and theory
- Collaborate with other preceptorship students to complete a Community Service Learning (CSL) Project focused on a real-life community health priority
- Become acquainted with rural lifestyle by residing in the rural community (housing will be provided)
- Program participation is typically 40 hours per week. Time is available during the week and on weekends to explore the community
- Students receive a $2,000 stipend. Housing and limited meals are provided by host site as well
Program objectives for preceptorship students:
- Acquire increased awareness, knowledge, and appreciation for a variety of health professions disciplines
- Gain a better understanding of rural healthcare needs and interventions
- Learn about the social and health characteristics, needs, and resources of a specific rural community
- Understand the roles and responsibilities of different healthcare providers in a rural community
- Reflect on a future career as a healthcare provider in a rural community
- Develop a potential interest in these locations as a future career location
