Dixon, Illinois

Purpose, Goals And Outcomes

The purpose of this preceptorship is to provide an interdisciplinary training experience for health professions students in a rural setting.  The goal is to increase the understanding of interdisciplinary health care delivery in rural settings.  The Rural Interdisciplinary Health Professions Preceptorship will involve students and faculty from six health disciplines: Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Public Health, Dentistry, and Social Work. The preceptorship will be located in Dixon, Illinois, and it is limited to students from each of  the represented health professions disciplines. By the end of the rural interdisciplinary experience, students will be able t explain the roles and contributions of health care team members in the prevention, care, and management of chronic disease; recognize the advantages of providing health care services with an interdisciplinary team of health professionals; and demonstrate interdisciplinary team skills in delivering health care to individuals, families, and communities.  These skills are taught by faculty and staff from Katherine Shaw Bethea Hospital, in Dixon, Illinois, and the University of Illinois National Center for Rural Health Professions at Rockford.  Pictures from 2005 and 2006 preceptorship participants are provided to the right.

Organization And Structure Of The Summer Preceptorship

The six-week preceptorship will take place during early June 2 to mid July.  There are four distinctive yet complementary components of the preceptorship: an interdisciplinary clinical component; a community service-learning component; a classroom component; and a continuation component.  The program will begin with a two-day orientation followed by an intensive five (5) week integrated curriculum. The interdisciplinary clinical component will require approximately 50% of the participants' time.  The community service-learning component will require approximately 40% of the participants' time.  The classroom component will require approximately 10% of the participants' time. The preceptorship will end with a two-day summative reflection period to include program evaluation, faculty evaluation, feedback and recommendations for the future. Following completion of the six-week summer preceptorship, recipients will have the opportunity to continue their involvement in the program through distance communication strategies.

Participant Stipend And Schedule

A stipend of $1,500 will be provided to each preceptorship recipient. In addition, housing and meals will also be provided.  Most weekends are free and students have the three-day July 4th weekend available for vacation.

Sponsors And Support

This preceptorship is made possible though Katherine Shaw Bethea Hospital, in Dixon, Illinois, and the  University of Illinois National Center for  Rural Health Professions at Rockford.    

Additional information may be obtained by contacting Sharon Schumaker, Coordinator, National Center for Rural Health Professions, University of Illinois - Rockford, 1601 Parkview Avenue, Rockford, IL, 61107, or 815-395-5779, or schumac1@uic.edu .