2025 Illinois Rural and Small-Town Health Summit

The 2025 Illinois Rural and Small-Town Health Summit will take place on October 15, 2025, at the Memorial Learning Center in Springfield, Illinois. This year the summit is supported by, Southern Illinois University Simmons School of Law, Department of Population Science and Policy and Institute of Rural Health, SIU School of Medicine. 

This year’s theme, "Health Care Workforce: Learnings and Transformation in a Post-Pandemic Environment," will focus on strengthening and sustaining the rural and small-town healthcare workforce. The event will convene leaders from federal, state, and local governments, academia, the business sector, and nonprofit organizations to explore innovative solutions and collaborative strategies informed by the challenges and lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic. Discussions will emphasize workforce development, policy implementation, and long-term impact, with a focus on practical, actionable steps.

Learn more about the Rural Health Summit.