STRETCH-OB is a track within our Family Medicine Residency Program for residents who are committed to providing obstetrics in a rural or underserved community. This is a HRSA-funded program and a collaboration between the University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford’s Department of Family and Community Medicine and the Department of OB/GYN at UW Health SwedishAmerican Hospital and Crusader Community Clinic, as well as our rural partners. The purpose of the program is to reduce poor maternal and birth outcomes in rural and underserved areas by increasing the number of family medicine physicians with high-quality, evidence-based obstetrical skills who practice in these areas.

Residents participating in this track will complete all of the requirements for board certification in family medicine as well as additional obstetrics and gynecology rotations (and call) to enhance their obstetrical skills. Upon completion of their three-year residency program, STRETCH-OB residents will have achieved experience in higher risk obstetrics and surgical obstetrics; completing a minimum of 50 C-sections as first assist and 20 C-sections as primary surgeon.

• Medical school graduation within one year of start date or recent clinical activity in the practice of medicine
• Competitive applicant with demonstrated interest in practicing family medicine
• Strong interest in obstetrics with an interest and aptitude for surgical obstetrics
• Intent to practice in a rural or underserved community upon completion of residency training

These criteria are simply the requirements needed for your application to be reviewed; they do not guarantee an interview. Interviews will be granted upon further review of the application and all of its contents.

This project is funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration (USDHHS/ HRSA), Primary Care Training and Enhancement‐Community Prevention and Maternal Health grant, Grant number T3442148.