Dr. John Plescia named RMED Director

ROCKFORD – The Rural Medical Education (RMED) Program at the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford announces the hiring of John Plescia, MD, as RMED Director.  Dr. Plescia replaces Craig Davenport, MD, who recently returned to Pittsfield, IL, to practice family medicine in his hometown.

Dr. Plescia will manage one of the nation’s most successful rural medical training programs, as over 70% of RMED graduates return to Illinois upon completion of residency training and practice in a rural area.

“This is an exciting time to be part of the RMED community and the Rockford campus in general.  I look forward to working with the students to continue our tradition of training excellent, well rounded rural physicians,” says Dr. Plescia.

Dr. Plescia grew up in rural Grayslake, IL.  He is a 2000 graduate of Carmel High School in Mundelein and a 2004 graduate of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where he received his bachelor’s degree in biology.  In 2005, Dr. Plescia was admitted to the University of Illinois College of Medicine, where he participated in the RMED Program. Upon graduation from medical school in 2009, he entered the University of Illinois Family Practice Residency Program in Rockford, Illinois.  Since completing residency in 2012, Dr. Plescia has been employed as a family physician at the KSB Hospital – Mt. Morris Clinic: a teaching site of the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford.  In addition to seeing patients, he also teaches and mentors medical students and residents.

In support of Dr. Plescia’s hiring is Michael Glasser, PhD, Associate Dean, Dr. George & Mrs. Mildred Mitchell Professor of Rural and Family Medicine, National Center for Rural Health Professions (NCRHP), University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford.  “While it is hard losing a colleague, educator, and leader like Dr. Craig Davenport, it is equally easy and exciting to have Dr. John Plescia – a family physician and RMED graduate join the NCRHP and assume leadership of the RMED Program as we continue to prepare not only rural doctors but other health professionals for rural practice”.

RMED, which was established in 1993, has educated 271 physicians who are currently in practice or in residency training.  Another 68 RMED students are currently attending medical school at the University of Illinois College of Medicine.