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A Year Of 'Firsts' For University Of Illinois College Of Medicine At Rockford

For the first time in the school's history, first-year medical students will live and learn in Rockford.

The first class to arrive on campus in 1972 came to the city as second-year students, completing their initial training at the University of Illinois College of Medicine campus in Urbana.

Alex Stagnaro-Green is the regional dean for the college. He says students will now be able to complete all four years of medical school in Rockford.

Credit Austin Hansen
Cesar Ramirez

"That means they will be more committed to the Rockford community and more involved in community activities," Stagnaro-Green said. "They will get to know the facility better and do research better. Overall, I think it is better for their education as well as their ties to the school and the community."

More than 50 first-year students began orientation  Monday. They will receive their white coats, traditionally worn in the clinical setting, at a ceremony later this week.

Cesar Ramirez, of Chicago, says he's ready for this new chapter in his academic career.

"I don't know Rockford to be honest," Ramirez said. "It is going to have its own personality and I want to find out what that is, whether it's to help the underserved community here and other issues that Rockford people are having. I also want to walk around and get to know places."

The school estimates the addition of first-year students to the program will add $2.2 million each year to the local economy.

Total enrollment for the Rockford medical school will top out at a record 239 students this academic year, including the largest incoming class of second-year students in the college's history.

Many of the students chose the Rockford campus for its rural medicine program, which recruits students  with the goal of beginning their careers in rural communities.

Credit Austin Hansen
Front: Derek Sonnenberg, Tyler Johnson, Katelyn Peters. Back: Douglas Grove

Second-year student Derek Sonnenberg says he recently purchased a home in the area.

"Renovating the house has provided me a great tour of the city," Sonnenberg said. "I am centrally located between the school and everything else that I need."

Katelyn Peters, of Manteno, says she's felt very welcomed in Rockford in her first week.

"My neighbors are super friendly and they told me if I ever need anything, I can go ahead and ask," Peters said. "That was a good sign to me.'

Tyler Johnson, of Galva, is also part of the rural medicine program.

"I was a military brat and moved around a lot, so it is pretty easy for me to get acclimated in a new place," Johnson said, "and I like Rockford."

Douglas Grove, of Jonesboro in far southern Illinois, says he's fortunate to have family in Rockford, which he expects will help with the transition.

"I am hoping to spend time with them and get free meals on the weekend," he joked.

Jenna Dooley has spent her professional career in public radio. She is a graduate of Northern Illinois University and the Public Affairs Reporting Program at the University of Illinois - Springfield. She returned to Northern Public Radio in DeKalb after several years hosting Morning Edition at WUIS-FM in Springfield. She is a former "Newsfinder of the Year" from the Illinois Associated Press and recipient of NIU's Donald R. Grubb Journalism Alumni Award. She is an active member of the Illinois News Broadcasters Association and an adjunct instructor at NIU.