RMED student credits Miss Rodeo Illinois title for sparking interest in rural medicine
RMED student credits Miss Rodeo Illinois title for sparking interest in rural medicine
In addition to being a second-year Rural Medical Education (RMED) Program student, Charlee Stewart is proud of another title she will forever have.
A native of Robinson, Ill., a southern Illinois town with 7,150 people located near the Illinois-Indiana border, Stewart was named Miss Rodeo Illinois 2022, a title she held for a year.
She says the Miss Rodeo Illinois title helped solidify her interest in rural medicine.
“Almost all the pageants and rodeos I attended took place in small communities, so it was nice to volunteer in those communities, visit schools, thank rodeo sponsors and participate in parades and autograph signings,” she says. “It was great getting to know the people in those rural towns.”
Stewart, 23, a graduate of Southern Illinois University, says being a rodeo queen also ties into being an RMED student.
“It helped me realize how special it was to be in those rural communities. Everyone was welcoming and proud of their towns, and it was just awesome to think about taking care of them,” Stewart says. “I’ll be able to relate to my patients on a different level because of my background. It’s also where I want to be.”
To be named Miss Rodeo Illinois, Stewart competed in a three-day pageant which included a written exam that included rodeo and equine science. She also had to give impromptu speeches and answer questions on stage. The final portion of the pageant involved a flag presentation and patterns executed on horseback.
Miss Rodeo Illinois is also Illinois ‘First Lady of Professional Rodeo,” who represents the state at Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association events across the country, and competes for the coveted title of Miss Rodeo America, which annually happens in conjunction with the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, in Las Vegas, Nev.
“It was a really cool and unique experience,” she says.
In addition to the RMED Program, Stewart spends time participating in local ranch competitions with Rocky, her quarter horse who is stabled in Cherry Valley. She has plenty of experience riding horses, especially growing up with a dad who was a saddle bronc rider.
“I’ve had Rocky since he was 2, and he’s 12 now,” Stewart says. “I find a couple times a week to ride and keep my skills up.”
Stewart came to Rockford because she wanted to be a part of the RMED program. She knows a lot of graduates, including a family medicine physician in her hometown.
“Everyone says amazing things about the RMED Program,” she says. “Being an RMED student allows me to learn everything that normal medical students do, but also those extra aspects that make rural medicine different.”