The Illinois Student/Resident Experiences and Rotations in Community Health (SEARCH) program, funded by the National Health Service Corps (NHSC), offers training opportunities to qualified health professional students at community health centers (CHCs) located in urban/rural areas of Illinois. Students gain valuable, hands-on clinical and community health experiences by working on multidisciplinary teams providing care in medically underserved areas in Illinois.
Program Objectives
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Increase recruitment and retention of health care professionals in HPSAs and MUAs of Illinois by expanding the number of high-quality, service linked training opportunities available in these communities.
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Enhance teaching capacity of CHCs in Illinois.
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Facilitate and strengthen community/academic linkages.
Program Eligibility
Community-based training opportunities exist for primary care residents; medical/osteopathy students; nurse practitioner students; certified nurse midwives; physician assistant students; dental students; and some behavioral health students.
Program Requirements
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Enrollment in an accredited health professions program.
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Interest in community-oriented care.
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Commitment to serve the medically underserved.
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Appreciation of cultural diversity.
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Academic good standing.
Program Benefits
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Opportunity to train in multidisciplinary, culturally diverse community settings.
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Chance to learn about public health issues that impact the delivery of care to underserved populations.
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Modest reimbursement for approved travel expenses.
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Housing assistance may be available.
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Prospect of exploring future residency/employment opportunities.
Program Management Team
The Illinois SEARCH management team is comprised of senior staff members of the Illinois Primary Health Care Association (IPHCA) and the Western Illinois Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) who have in-depth knowledge of community health centers, as well as health professions training expertise.
IPHCA is a nonprofit trade association that strives to “improve the health status of medically underserved populations by fostering the provision of high-quality, comprehensive health care that is accessible, coordinated, community-directed, culturally-sensitive, and linguistically-competent.”
Western Illinois AHEC brings expertise in the community-based education of health professional students and residents within the State of Illinois, as well as nationwide connections to benefit the Illinois SEARCH program. AHEC’s mission is to improve primary health care through educational partnership between academia and communities.
To apply for the Illinois SEARCH program, please send a completed application and proof of academic good standing in an accredited health professions training program to:
Leola Mitchell, SEARCH Student Coordinator
wilahec4@adams.net
Phone: (773) 321-0265
Fax: (773) 321-0266