OSF donates $1 million to College of Medicine
OSF HealthCare donates $1 million to University of Illinois College of Medicine for expansion
The University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford is pleased to announce OSF HealthCare has committed $250,000 to support the college’s expansion to a four-year medical school. OSF HealthCare has a long history of partnering with the College of Medicine for student education, patient care, and research.
The College expansion in 2017 will bring 55 first-year medical students to Rockford. Facility upgrades include a technology-rich classroom designed for “team-based learning.” Construction on the classroom and a new anatomy laboratory will begin in January.
The donation is part of a $1,000,000 total gift from OSF HealthCare to the College of Medicine, with $750,000 supporting expansion on the Peoria Campus. Historically, Rockford and Peoria medical students spent their first year in Urbana, which will change for both campuses as of next year. Enrollment will grow to about 220 students annually on each campus.
“A key factor of efforts to support the growth and viability of the Rockford region is collaboration,” says OSF Saint Anthony President Paula Carynski. “OSF has a history of seeking ways to partner resources for those we serve. Our support of the University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford is a prime example of how such an alliance can benefit the health and wellness of our community for years to come.”
“We are delighted about this generous gift and the continued support OSF HealthCare provides,” said Dr. Alex Stagnaro-Green, Regional Dean. “This expansion is a historic moment, not just for
the medical school, but for our entire community. It will greatly impact our ability to recruit and retain future physicians to the Rockford Region. The gift from OSF will help us carry out our founding mission of creating an academic medical center focused on training outstanding physicians, developing an optimal learning and working environment, and dedicated to improving the health and wellness of the community.”
OSF HealthCare operates OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center in Rockford. OSF Saint Francis Medical Center is one of two primary clinical training affiliates for the College of Medicine in Peoria.
“We are proud of our long-running partnership with the College of Medicine and recognize the importance of the need for expansion at the medical school,” said Kevin Schoeplein, OSF HealthCare Chief Executive Officer. “OSF is focused on transforming health care throughout the communities we serve, and know there is a growing need for physicians in all specialties. This expansion will further enhance those efforts, especially for the new medical students we will welcome to our area as first-year students.”
The University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford educates more than 150 medical students and about ten physician residents annually. The College of Medicine is home to the National enter for Rural Health Professions, and a master’s in medical biotechnology program.
Learn more about the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford here.
About OSF HealthCare:
OSF HealthCare is an integrated health system owned and operated by The Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis. It includes eleven acute care facilities, two colleges of nursing, a physician organization with clinical service lines in cardiovascular services, neurosciences and pediatrics. OSF HealthCare operates an extensive network of home health services, owns OSF Saint Francis, Inc., comprised of healthcare-related businesses; and OSF HealthCare Foundation, the philanthropic arm for the organization. More at www.osfhealthcare.org