Sparta Community Hospital welcomes, Michael Niederbrach, a medical student from the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford. Niederbrach will be learning alongside Dr. David Chung at North Campus Healthcare.
Niederbrach, hailing originally from New Athens, is a third year medical student in the Rural Medical Education (RMED) Program. The RMED program is a special program designed specifically to provide students the opportunity to train in rural communities, master rural health content, and become overall advocates for rural health.
“We feel privileged to host Michael,” states Joann Emge, CEO. “This program is a fantastic opportunity for medical students to gain exposure to rural medicine, as well as encourage them to practice in rural Illinois after residency.”
Dr. Chung will provide guidance to Niederbrach as he practices gathering information on patients, doing consultations and taking notes about patients. Dr. Chung will continue to direct all orders, as well as perform exams and procedures with Niederbrach observing.
“I love working as a family practitioner,” says Dr. Chung. “By participating as a faculty preceptor for the RMED program, I hope to not only help Michael grow in his abilities as a clinician, but truly showcase what makes rural family medicine such a special and integral piece of caring for the patient.”
RMED, a core program of the National Center for Rural Health Professions, offers a community-based rural medical curriculum, extensive clinical experience, a 16-week rural preceptorship, a community-oriented primary care project and interdisciplinary medical training. Since 1993, more than 200 students have participated in the RMED program, 80 percent of whom have chosen primary care residencies. More than 70 percent of program graduates are practicing rural primary care medicine in Illinois.
Local students interested in learning about the RMED Program, are invited to contact Jennifer Barbour at 618-443-1467.