A small town boy, Dan O’Brien, ‘06, had a lifetime of preparation for the Rural Medical Education Program he just completed at the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford. He came to the program with an awareness of the needs of rural communities, and says he especially enjoyed the continuity clinic which gave him a chance to build relationships with his patients. O’Brien believes the program made him appreciate the awesome responsibility physicians have toward those in their care.
When he wasn’t working in the clinic or fulfilling his duties as class president, O’Brien volunteered as a health instructor for a fifth-grade class in the rural town of Sycamore, Illinois. In this role, he developed a health promotion plan called “Top 10 Keys to a Long and Healthy Life.” He says he enjoyed interacting with the children and felt great knowing his work would make a difference in their lives.
O’Brien is currently in a combined residency in pediatrics and internal medicine. Once he completes his training, he plans to set up a primary care practice in a rural community in central Illinois.