National Center for Rural Health Professions

What National Center for Rural Health Professions does

The National Center for Rural Health Professions (NCRHP) is a state university-affiliated academic and research center housed within the University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford, established in 2003. It operates a portfolio of parallel-curriculum professional education tracks — RMED (Rural Medical Education), RNURSING (Rural Nursing), RPHARM (Rural Pharmacy), and BHWELL (Behavioral Health Workforce Education) — delivered through UIC's College of Medicine, College of Nursing, and College of Pharmacy, plus the HRSA-funded Illinois Area Health Education Center (AHEC) Network Program with nine regional centers and the Native American Pathways Program. NCRHP serves rural and underserved Illinois communities by recruiting students from rural backgrounds, training them via 48 preceptorship sites across 48 Illinois counties, and supporting pipeline programs from middle school through professional degrees. Outcomes demonstrate model efficacy: 75% of 271 RMED graduates practice in towns under 20,000, 68% remain in Illinois, and graduates are 8.5x more likely than peers to practice in rural locations.

NCRHP is funded through HRSA grants (the AHEC Network anchor since 2010), state appropriations via the University of Illinois system, and institutional support from UIC College of Medicine Rockford. Nominal participant fees include a $150 camper fee for the Rural Health Careers Camp, a $25 Rural Health Experience application fee, and a $2,000 stipend (treated as a program cost) for the Six-Week Interprofessional Preceptorship. The center holds rare designations including PAHO/WHO Collaborating Center status (one of only three in North America since 2010) and full membership in Network: Towards Unity for Health (TUFH), and maintains international student-exchange partnerships with universities in the Netherlands, Thailand, Scotland, and Sweden. NCRHP does not develop proprietary commercial technology; its technology footprint is limited to a research-stage AI-Based Cardiovascular Risk Prediction Model for rural type 2 diabetes populations, awarded a 2026 CCTS Pilot Award and led by a dedicated post-doctoral scholar in AI and rural medicine.

Name

National Center for Rural Health Professions

Legal name

National Center for Rural Health Professions

Website

https://ncrhp.uic.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The National Center for Rural Health Professions is a University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford academic center that trains medical, nursing, pharmacy, and social work students for rural practice via the RMED, AHEC Network, and Native American Pathways programs across 48 Illinois counties.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Rural Health Professions Education and Workforce Development

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Research Universities with Academic Medical Centers (AMCs) (EDAHAAAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Healthcare Clinical Professions (CME/CE for Nurses, Allied Health, Pharmacy) (EDAAALAC), Non-Communicable Disease Prevention & Chronic Disease Programs (BPAIAJAI)

Keywords

• Rural medical education
• Health workforce development
• Interprofessional training
• Healthcare pathway programs
• Rural health research

Headquarters

HQ city

Rockford

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government and Institutional Funding: NCRHP is funded through grants from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) for the Illinois AHEC Network Program, state appropriations through the University of Illinois system, and institutional support from the UIC College of Medicine Rockford.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

NCRHP operates academic programs in medicine (RMED), nursing (RNURSING), pharmacy (RPHARM), and social work (BHWELL) that train health professions students for practice in rural and underserved Illinois communities. It also runs the Illinois AHEC Network Program (nine regional centers), the Native American Pathways Program, and experiential pathway programs for K-12 and college students (Rural Health Experience, Rural Health Careers Camp, Six-Week Interprofessional Preceptorship, Healthcare Presentations).

Product overview

The National Center for Rural Health Professions (NCRHP) offers a comprehensive portfolio of educational programs and workforce development initiatives rather than a unified software product. The core offerings include: RMED (Rural Medical Education), RNURSING (Rural Nursing), RPHARM (Rural Pharmacy Education), and BHWELL (Behavioral Health Workforce Education) academic programs that function as parallel curriculum tracks within their respective professional degree programs. These are complemented by the Illinois AHEC Network Program with nine regional centers and the Native American Pathways Program. Student pathway programs include the Rural Health Experience (3-5 day shadowing), Rural Health Careers Camp (3-day overnight high school program), Six-Week Interprofessional Preceptorship (paid immersion), and Healthcare Presentations for college readiness. International collaboration occurs through the PAHO/WHO Collaborating Center designation and partnerships with Maastricht University, Princess Naradhiwas University, University of Aberdeen, and University of Skövde. NCRHP also conducts AI-powered cardiovascular risk prediction research for rural diabetes populations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• RMED: Rural Medical Education Program - a parallel curriculum for medical students interested in practicing medicine in rural communities
• RNURSING
• RPHARM
• BHWELL
• IL AHEC
• Native American Pathways

Products and services

• RMED (Rural Medical Education Program) Statewide rural medical education program established in 1993 that recruits and educates medical students to practice medicine in rural locations upon completion of residency training. Features parallel curriculum, 16-week clinical rotations, and community-based research projects. Targets medical students committed to rural and underserved practice.
• RNURSING (Rural Nursing Program) Concentration within the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Program helping advanced practice nursing students develop specialized skills for practicing in rural settings, consisting of eight one-credit-hour courses over four years. Targets DNP students at UIC College of Nursing.
• RPHARM (Rural Pharmacy Education Program) Concentration within the Doctor of Pharmacy degree program educating students about unique challenges and opportunities in rural communities, preparing them to practice pharmacy in patient-centered and interprofessional settings. Targets pharmacy students at UIC College of Pharmacy.
• BHWELL (Illinois Behavioral Health Workforce Education, Learning & Leadership Program) Clinical training and certificate program for Masters of Social Work students learning patient-centered, team-based models for integrating health and mental health services in primary care settings in rural and underserved areas. Targets MSW students.
• Illinois Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) Network Program HRSA-funded network program established in 2010 with nine regional centers throughout Illinois serving rural and urban underserved residents through health professions education, health careers development, and community health promotion activities. Targets Illinois communities and prospective health professions students.
• Native American Pathways Program Student support program designed to identify, recruit, support, and graduate Native American students pursuing medical or pharmacy degrees, with preceptorship locations in tribal communities in Northern California and Wyoming. Targets Native American students intending to return to serve tribal communities.
• Rural Health Experience (RHE) 3-5 day shadowing experience in rural hospitals allowing health professions students to observe rural healthcare providers, shadow multiple hospital departments, and learn about interprofessional team collaboration. Requires $25 non-refundable application fee. Targets health professions students.
• Rural Health Careers Camp Three-day, two-night overnight educational program for high school students interested in healthcare, featuring hands-on learning activities, labs representing different healthcare careers, and overnight campus living experience at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, IL. Charges $150 per camper including meals and housing.
• Six-Week Interprofessional Preceptorship Six-week paid rural immersion program offering health professions students shadowing opportunities in rural Illinois communities, with $2,000 stipend (distributed $1,000 at week 3 and $1,000 at week 6) plus housing and limited meals provided by host sites at no cost to students. Targets health professions students.
• Healthcare Presentations (College and Career Readiness) Outreach presentations for students on healthcare industry topics, career exploration, and college application preparation strategies, delivered to high school STEM classes, after school clubs, faculty/staff development sessions, and parent groups. Targets K-12 and pre-college audiences.
• PAHO/WHO Collaborating Center Program One of three PAHO/WHO Collaborating Centers in North America focusing on medical education and primary health care, providing training and consultation to faculty and healthcare providers from the Americas. Targets international health professions educators and institutions.

Quantifiable outcome

• 75% of RMED graduates practice in rural communities upon completion of residency
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) / World Health Organization (WHO)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2010NCRHP has served as one of only three PAHO/WHO Collaborating Centers in North America since 2010, focusing on medical education and primary health care. Collaborates on educational reforms, reorients medical education toward social accountability and interprofessional training, and develops programs for health professionals education with special focus on underserved communities.
• Princess Naradhiwas University (Thailand)secondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2008NCRHP entered agreement in 2008 to replicate the RMED Program in southern Thailand, becoming the first successful implementation of the U.S. model at an international location. NCRHP collaborated with Thai government to co-host 2013 TUFH annual meeting in Ayutthaya.
• Maastricht University (Netherlands)secondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2007Senior medical students may conduct 18-week research rotation at Maastricht University. Since 2007, 10 students have completed research rotations in Rockford on depression, diabetes, and asthma. Four projects have been published in peer-reviewed journals.
• The Network: Towards Unity for Health (TUFH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational organization of academic health professions institutions. NCRHP and Rockford campus are full members, working to promote equity and interprofessional education in rural communities. Faculty members serve on the Interprofessional Education Task Force and as co-editor for the organization's journal Education for Health.
• University of Aberdeen (Scotland)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerServes as site for 4-week family medicine rotation for fourth-year medical students. Students experience remote and rural training at Inverness Campus, learning about rural medicine and developing skills away from tertiary medical centers.
• University of Skövde (Sweden)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational partnership allows students, faculty, residents, and fellows to collaborate on interprofessional education, patient-centered care, geriatric medicine, primary healthcare in rural areas, mental health, and community-based interventions.
• Illinois Critical Access Hospital NetworksecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation of critical access hospitals in Illinois serving as office and association partner for NCRHP initiatives.
• Illinois Department of Public Health Office of Rural HealthsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerState government partner providing collaboration on rural health policy and initiatives.
• University of Illinois Chicago School of Public HealthsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducation partner providing collaboration on public health education and research.
• Northern Arapaho Tribe, Eastern Shoshone Tribe, Karuk TribesecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerNative American tribal partners supporting the Native American Pathways Program, providing preceptorship locations in tribal communities in Northern California and Wyoming for medical and pharmacy students.
• Rural Healthcare Facility Preceptorship Network (48 sites)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNetwork of hospitals, medical groups, and healthcare organizations across 48 Illinois counties serving as clinical preceptorship and training sites for medical, nursing, pharmacy, and social work students.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• National AHEC Organization: Umbrella organization supporting the national network of Area Health Education Centers, including the IL AHEC that NCRHP operates. NCRHP is one of many state-level AHEC programs under this broader federally-supported framework.

Direct peers

• University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center: Combined BA/MD degree and rural health programs designed to address New Mexico's rural physician shortage. Directly comparable to RMED's pipeline approach and NCRHP's interprofessional health workforce development mission.
• WWAMI Rural Health Program (University of Washington School of Medicine): One of the longest-standing and most recognized rural medical education programs in the U.S. WWAMI serves Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, and Idaho using a distributed regional training model — directly comparable to NCRHP's RMED mission and structure.
• Robert Graham Center: AAFP-affiliated policy research center studying family medicine and primary care workforce, with focus on geographic distribution and rural/underserved access. Comparable to NCRHP's rural workforce research and evaluation function within a different organizational structure.
• East Tennessee State University Quillen College of Medicine: A mission-driven rural-focused medical school in Appalachia with strong rural primary care placement rates. Comparable to NCRHP's RMED in targeting rural and underserved populations through dedicated admissions and curriculum tracks.
• University of North Dakota Center for Rural Health: Designated rural health research and education center serving upper Midwest states with programs in workforce development, community engagement, and rural health policy. Directly comparable to NCRHP's integrated academic-research-policy mission.
• Mercer University School of Medicine: Georgia-based medical school with explicit rural and underserved mission, prioritizing applicants from rural Georgia and integrating community-based training. Shares NCRHP's rural pipeline philosophy and community-immersive training model.
• Jefferson Physician Shortage Area Program (PSAP): Selective medical school admission track at Sidney Kimmel Medical College targeting students likely to practice in physician shortage areas. Directly comparable to RMED's selective rural pipeline approach with strong rural placement outcomes.
• University of Minnesota Rural Physician Associate Program (RPAP): A nine-month rural community-based training program for medical students, one of the oldest and largest in the U.S. Shares NCRHP's mission of placing physicians in rural communities through immersive, longitudinal rural training.
• West Virginia University Office of Rural Health: Rural health workforce and community development office within a public academic health center, focused on rural provider recruitment and training in Appalachian communities. Comparable mission and structure to NCRHP within a different geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/NationalCenterForRuralHealthProfessions
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ncrhp
• Xx.com/ncrhp1

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about National Center for Rural Health Professions