Summit to address rural health care workforce crisis

With many Illinois communities struggling to find doctors, nurses and behavioral health providers, leaders in medicine, law and public policy will convene on Wednesday, October 15, in Springfield for the 2025 Illinois Rural and Small-Town Health Summit.

The one-day summit, hosted by SIU School of Medicine Department of Population Science and Policy and the Simmons Law School, will explore strategies to strengthen the rural health workforce, with a focus on recruiting and retaining providers, supporting behavioral health and applying lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic. The event will be offered both in person at the Memorial Learning Center in Springfield and virtually.

“Rural and small-town communities are facing significant challenges when it comes to access to care,” said John Flack, MD, MPH, chair of population science and policy and internal medicine at SIU School of Medicine. “This summit brings together experts from across disciplines to find real solutions for Illinois communities.”

Illinois’ rural areas continue to struggle with health care workforce shortages, compounded by an aging patient population and pandemic-related burnout. Health outcomes in rural Illinois often lag behind urban areas, making cross-sector collaboration vital to creating sustainable change.

Featured speakers and sessions

Opening remarks:
•    John Flack, MD, MPH, chair, Department of Population Science & Policy; chair, Department of Internal Medicine
•    Jerry Kruse, MD, MSPH, dean and provost, SIU School of Medicine; CEO, SIU Medicine
•    Hannah Brenner Johnson, JD, dean and professor, SIU Simmons Law School

Keynote address:
•    John Simmons, JD, chair, Simmons Hanly Conroy

Panel discussions:
•    The post-pandemic primary care workforce: Challenges and resilience
•    Navigating updates from Washington: A rural health perspective
•    Behavioral Health Workforce Center innovations
•    Rural health workforce initiatives

Event details

When: Wednesday, October 15th | 7:30 am – 4:30 pm
Where: Memorial Learning Center, 228 W. Miller St., Springfield, IL 62702
(In person and virtual)
Registration: Pre-registration is required by October 8. 

General Registration:
•    Virtual $75
•    In-person $110

SIU School of Medicine Faculty & Staff:
•    Virtual $35
•    In-person $35

Learners (medical students, residents, fellows, law students, others):
•    Virtual NO CHARGE
•    In-person NO CHARGE