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Medical student completing clinical training in Geneseo through RSPP
Samantha Niecestro, a third-year medical student at the University of Illinois College of Medicine Peoria (UICOMP) is completing a 24-week clinical training experience at Hammond-Henry Hospital in Geneseo.
As a student in the Rural Student Physician Program (RSPP), Niecestro trains in a rural community learning one-on-one with physician mentors while gaining a deep understanding and appreciation for rural, primary care medicine. Through close, apprentice-like supervision, UICOMP medical students accepted into the program gain more opportunities for knowledge growth and skill acquisition.
“As a critical access hospital committed to the long?term viability of healthcare in rural communities, we believe it is both our duty and our privilege to support the next generation of talented providers,” said Wyatt Brieser, DPT, MBA, Chief Executive Officer, Hammond-Henry Hospital.
“Hosting RSPP students allows us to invest directly in the future of rural medicine while offering meaningful, hands?on experiences within our community. We are excited to welcome Samantha to Hammond?Henry and to our Geneseo community,” Brieser continued. “We look forward to the mutual growth this partnership will bring. The future of rural healthcare is bright because of programs like the Rural Student Physician Program, students like Samantha, and rural hospitals like ours, where dedicated providers proudly contribute their time, expertise, and energy to ensure a strong and sustainable healthcare workforce for years to come.”
Students in RSPP experience an immersive and integrated approach to primary care medicine which encompasses internal medicine, general surgery, and family medicine during the rural learning experience.
In the US, 20 percent of the population lives in rural areas whereas only 10 percent of physicians practice in rural areas. While the need for rural physicians is great, the reward to practice in rural communities is even greater, says James Barnett, MD, director of RSPP.
“Our students experience first-hand the gratification of providing a continuum of care to patients in rural communities,” Barnett says. “In addition, rural physicians are very much a part of the community where they not only provide care, but they contribute as leaders and neighbors.”
RSPP is open only to medical students at UICOMP, and a limited number of admissions is granted annually through a competitive application and interview process.
The University of Illinois College of Medicine Peoria (UICOMP) educates 265 medical students and more than 300 physician residents and fellows annually. Additionally, it provides clinical care to more than 45,000 patients annually and conducts basic science, clinical, and outcomes research. The College of Medicine is home to the Cancer Research Center, Center for Wellbeing, and is a collaborator in Jump Simulation. Learn more about UICOMP at http://peoria.medicine.uic.edu.