In 1990, the Illinois State Legislature passed the Rural Downstate Health Act, which was signed into law by Governor James Thompson. The act was designated to improve access to health care services in rural, downstate, and designated shortage areas of the State. The University of Illinois College of Medicine, Southern Illinois University, and the Illinois Department of Public Health were named as participants in the program. At that time, the Rural Medical Education (RMED) Program was initiated with the Charter Class entering in August 1993, though funds were not appropriated until fiscal year 1994. Additional funding from the State Legislature was provided in FY 1997.

The RMED Program was a natural extension of the Rockford curriculum, which provides what is the longest ambulatory training program for medical students in the country. From the middle of the second year of medical school through graduation in the fourth year, medical students are assigned to one of the University Primary Care Clinics (located in Belvidere, Rockton, and Mount Morris). This weekly (one day/week) experience allows medical students to more fully understand and appreciate the longitudinal nature of disease. By graduation, medical students in Rockford have developed their own patient panels.

The early development of the RMED Program included the designation of RMED as a statewide program, identifying collaborating teaching hospitals and preceptors, and partnering with other rural health entities such as the Illinois Rural Health Association. Also, the development of the RMED curriculum was integrated into the existing faculty curriculum committees. In 1999, the RMED Program was the recipient of the Innovative Program Award presented by the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine.

The Illinois RMED Program provides opportunities to 15 students each year who pledge to return to rural Illinois upon completion of residencies, and practice primary care medicine. These students are recommended by the RMED Recruitment and Retention Committee, a special admissions committee made up of health professionals, community members, and farmers. This advisory committee judges the merits of each candidate through a unique interview conducted in Rockford, which is separate from the regular admissions process. Following matriculation, students are exposed to rural issues throughout the four years of medical school. In the final year, a 16-week preceptorship experience takes place in one of 23 rural collaborating hospitals across the state. This experience is completed under the supervision of a faculty preceptor and replaces the fourth year elective rotations. RMED students are required to conduct a Community-Oriented Primary Care (COPC) project during their preceptorships.

 

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