Samantha Niecestro, a third-year medical student at the University of Illinois College of Medicine Peoria, is completing a 24-week clinical training experience at Hammond-Henry Hospital in Geneseo, according to an April 27 announcement.
Niecestro participates in the Rural Student Physician Program (RSPP), which places students in rural communities for one-on-one learning with physician mentors. The program aims to provide medical students with practical skills and an understanding of rural primary care medicine through close supervision and hands-on experience.
Wyatt Brieser, Chief Executive Officer of Hammond-Henry Hospital, said, “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.” Brieser continued: “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. 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 enrolled in RSPP receive immersive training across internal medicine, general surgery, and family medicine during their time in rural settings. Nationally, about 20 percent of Americans live in rural areas but only around 10 percent of physicians practice there. James Barnett, director of RSPP said that while there is great need for doctors in these areas “the reward to practice in rural communities is even greater.” Barnett added: “Our students experience first-hand the gratification of providing a continuum of care to patients in rural communities. 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.”
The program accepts only medical students from UICOMP each year through a competitive application process.
The University of Illinois College of Medicine Peoria educates 265 medical students annually along with more than 300 physician residents and fellows. It provides clinical care for over 45,000 patients each year as well as conducting research projects.
