University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford

10/16/2026

The Office of Student Affairs provided walking tacos to students on Friday, Oct. 16. The walking tacos gave students the fuel they needed to finish the week strong!

10/14/2026

Don’t forget to get protected from flu, RSV, and COVID-19.

Learn more about respiratory illness prevention and vaccine recommendations at: publichealth.wincoil.gov/respiratory-illnesses

DON’T FALL BEHIND: Vaccines help protect you and your community from serious illness. Take a moment to check your vaccination records through Vax Verify and talk with your healthcare provider about which vaccines are recommended for you and your family.

Stay up-to-date and take steps to protect yourself and those around you this respiratory virus season.

Learn more about vaccines and preventing respiratory illnesses by visiting publichealth.wincoil.gov/respiratory-illnesses

10/05/2026

Dean Trevonne Thompson, MD, MHPE, FACMT, began his tenure at UIC Rockford on Monday, March 16, 2026, during a late-season snowstorm. He replaced outgoing dean Alex Stagnaro-Green, MD, MHPE, MHA, who stepped down after 12 years as the Rockford regional dean.

Now, a little more than six months later, Thompson is still smiling and still overseeing the campus. He has built connections, trust and rapport with students, staff and faculty on campus.

Read more: https://rockford.medicine.uic.edu/news-stories/dean-trevonne-thompson-reflects-on-first-six-months-as-rockford-regional-dean/

10/01/2026

The Office of Research hosted a Junior Researchers Conference on Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. Junior researchers from all UIC campuses and other institutions came together for a keynote presentation, a panel discussion and networking opportunities.

09/30/2026

The Compassionate Appreciation for Recovery in Everyone (CARE) program team provided an oral and poster presentation at the Wisconsin Society of Addiction Medicine September 24-25, 2026, in Madison, Wis. The oral and poster presentation was titled: “CARE Program: A Collaborative Approach to Meeting the Behavioral Health and Social Needs of Justice-Involved Individuals.”

The CARE Program is funded by the Winnebago County Community Mental Health Board through a half-cent sales tax voted on by Winnebago County residents.

09/29/2026

Student researchers and their professor, Neelu Puri, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Biomedical Sciences, attended the 2026 Senior Lifescape Expo, hosted at Rock Valley College, on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. The researchers used this event as an opportunity to educate roughly 250 attendees about the importance of lung cancer screenings.

09/21/2026

Here is some media coverage from Saturday's Medical Evaluation Response Initiative Team-MERIT Gala.

Please consider donating to MERIT by visiting: https://www.givecampus.com/campaigns/52350/donations/new?

The Medical Evaluation Response Initiative Team (MERIT) in Rockford held a fundraiser Saturday to bridge funding gaps and continue providing specialized medical exams, courtroom advocacy, and free care for young victims of abuse.

09/21/2026

The Burns Family Lecture featuring Dr. Mark Chassin, president emeritus of The Joint Commission, a partner at Relia Healthcare Advisors, and one of the world’s leading experts in health care quality, has been canceled.

Dr. Chassin is unable to travel to Rockford due to an unexpected health issue. We are disappointed that he will not be able to join us, and we wish him well. We hope to reschedule the Burns Family Lecture, and will share additional information when it becomes available.

The lecture was planned to explore how health care compares with high-reliability industries, such as aviation, and to provide evidence-based approaches that health care organizations and professionals can use to improve quality and patient safety.

09/16/2026

Eleven fourth-year University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford students were selected as part of the next Gold Humanism Honor Society inductees.

They are:

•Amaan Chalisa
•Leah Drengenberg
•Bailey Haner
•Avery Keesee
•Spencer Lavin
•Emma Mendez
•Molly Nguyen
•Meghana Sharma
•Melissa Singleton
•Nayyab Sohail
•Alissa Zeglen

The GHHS recognizes students, residents and faculty who are exemplars of compassionate patient care and who serve as role models, mentors and leaders in medicine. GHHS members are peer-nominated and are the ones who others say they want taking care of their own family.

09/15/2026

Nya Sabye, a second-year medical student, has been selected for the UICOMR Marygrace Elson, MD '82 Catalyst Medical Student Research Scholars Program.

This program provides medical students participating in the Urban Health Program an opportunity to engage in a research project under the mentorship of experienced researchers and principal investigators.

Each year, one UICOMR medical student is selected for the program, which provides up to $2,500 in funding for the duration of the student’s project in basic science, clinical, community or translational research.

Read more: https://rockford.medicine.uic.edu/news-stories/medical-student-selected-to-join-research-scholars-program/