Trevonne Thompson named regional dean at UICOMR
Trevonne Thompson named regional dean at UICOMR
When Trevonne Thompson, MD, MHPE, FAAEM, FACEP, FACMT, began his role as regional dean of the University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford (UICOMR), he brought some significant history with him.
Thompson, who started as regional dean on Monday, March 16, 2026, became the first Black regional dean among the three University of Illinois College of Medicine (UICOM) campuses.
“African American physicians make up less than 5% of all physicians in the country, so my background and what I bring to the table is important and a big deal,” he says. “It’s an interesting and monumental occasion and it’s a testament that our College of Medicine really does look at who is qualified to do the various roles and picking that best person, and in this case, picking someone who comes from my background.”
Thompson previously served as the associate dean for admissions at UICOM. Before that, he served as the assistant dean for residency preparedness at the Chicago campus. He joined the UICOM full-time as an assistant professor in 2009.
Thompson says he got to know Rockford while he was the associate dean for admissions.
“That’s a collegewide position, so I paid a lot more attention to the Rockford campus, and I started spending more time here and in Peoria,” he says. “It was apparent right away that this is a wonderful place. There’s a great sense of community here and the campus was founded on the concept of community and being a resource for the community.”
Once it was announced that Alex Stagnaro-Green, MD, MHPE, MHA, was stepping down after 12 years as the Rockford regional dean, Thompson knew he had his opportunity.
“This position is a natural progression for me because being in admissions, I was able to see the campuses come together, see the operations and see the mission in action,” he says. “This gives me a chance to serve the community and serve the College of Medicine, but at that higher level.”
One thing Thompson wants to do in his new role is continue promoting diversity throughout the campus community. He says one way to do that is through representation. As a starting point, he points to UICOM’s mission, which is, “To advance health for everyone though outstanding education, research, clinical care and social responsibility.”
“The social responsibility is a key piece, and when we think about representation and who we’re serving, we have to lean into being inclusive all across the board,” he says. “There’s an adage that says, ‘A rising tide raises all ships,’ and when we have an environment that is inclusive and focuses on everyone and focuses on social responsibility, that’s rising the tide, and all of us benefit when the tide rises.”
That adage plays into his leadership, and it’s something he plans to focus on during his time at UICOMR.
“Service to humanity is a theme in my life, and it’s something I lean into, and it’s been a guide in my career,” he says. “I’m a roll up your sleeves and get the work done with everyone else kind of person, and not the dictate from up high kind of person. We’re all in this together, and that’s been my approach to my leadership.”
Thompson says there will be challenges along the way, and he’s ready to embrace them. In addition to the routine challenges related to funding, the biggest challenge for him personally is taking in all the information that he’s gathering from the campus community.
“There is no orientation 101 for how to start as a new dean on the first day,” he says. “Everything comes at you at once, and it’s a lot, so I ask for a little bit of patience from the campus as I absorb all of this and get through everything. Everyone is about the goal of following our mission, and it’s clear that the mission is interwoven throughout the campus.”
Thompson says he’s still gathering information, so he’s not quite ready to reveal some of his short-term goals, but longer term, he wants to make sure UICOMR remains a model for excellence that’s rooted in community.
“There are some groundbreaking research and modeling happening here on campus, like the 3D bioprinting model, and I don’t think that is as well-known as it should be,” he says. “We should be committed to our National Center for Rural Health Professions, and help them continue to expand, grow and serve rural communities in Illinois and beyond. I also think people forget Rockford is an urban area with urban challenges, so how do we step in as a College of Medicine and be part of what’s going on in the community to address some of those urban challenges?”
One way to do that, he says, is by possibly conducting various needs assessments, and speaking to community stakeholders to find where specifically the College of Medicine can be helpful in the community.
“We may have an idea of where we think we’re needed, but that might not be where the community need actually sits,” he says. “We also need to appropriately show that we are doing that work. What is needed, and how we can help? That’s an approach that I want to maximize.”
Thompson graduated summa cum laude from Xavier University of Louisiana in New Orleans with a degree in biology and minors in chemistry and Spanish. He later attended medical school at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University, in Chicago.
The day after he graduated from Xavier, Thompson married his college sweetheart, Nicole, a pediatric anesthesiologist. The couple will celebrate 29 years of marriage in May.
“Our organic chemistry professor was the officiant of our wedding,” he says, adding the couple has four kids, ranging in age from 17 to 23.
When he’s not spending time with his family, Thompson enjoys being physically active. He likes running and says he solves a lot of problems while exercising. He shoots archery, he enjoys bowling, he likes roller skating and he loves playing chess.
“I’m probably better at studying chess and learning the moves and studying strategy,” he says. “It’s a paradigm in decision making and thinking through strategy, all while being a fun game to play.”
Thompson is easy to spot around campus. Just look for the bow tie. He has too many to count and says it’s something he enjoys wearing.
“I used to wear straight ties, and I had a resident early in my career who always wore bow ties,” he says. “I didn’t think they would be accepted, but then he told me to express myself the way I authentically feel. So, it went from there, and I haven’t looked back.”
In fact, Thompson says bow ties have an unwritten meaning that he takes with him each day.
“They’re never tied perfectly, and it’s sort of a concept in life,” he says. “It’s a reminder for me that not everything is going to be perfect, and that’s OK.”
Though Thompson is in the early stages of his journey as a dean, and he’s super excited to be leading the campus. It’s hard for him to withhold his excitement about what’s ahead.
“I’m really excited to be here,” he says. “It’s a wonderful opportunity to be a part of the next evolution of the Rockford campus. Everyone has made sure that I’m comfortable here, and I’m appreciative of that. I’m rea