The Speech and Hearing Rural Health Initiative

This spring, the Department of Speech and Hearing Science is launching an ambitious Rural Health and Telehealth Initiative to expand access to high-quality care in Illinois and beyond. In partnership with Illinois Extension, our academic and clinical faculty will develop two new rural health and telehealth sites designed to meet the growing needs of underserved communities.

Rural residents often face significant geographic and financial barriers to healthcare, resulting in delayed treatment, limited specialty access, and uneven continuity of care. This initiative directly addresses those challenges by bringing clinical services, research, and education closer to where people live. Through innovative telehealth models, patients and caregivers will gain timely, equitable, and consistent access to expert care—without the burden of long-distance travel or prohibitive costs.

These new sites will also serve as hubs for applied research and workforce development. Faculty-led research will focus on improving rural health outcomes and advancing best practices in telehealth delivery. At the same time, SHS students will receive hands-on training in state-of-the-art telehealth clinical services, preparing the next generation of health professionals to lead in an increasingly digital and equity-focused healthcare landscape.

We are grateful to have received initial donor support that has allowed us to begin planning and development. However, additional funding is critical to fully realize the promise of this initiative. With expanded resources, we can accelerate implementation, broaden the range of services offered, invest in advanced telehealth technology, and reach more rural communities sooner.

By contributing to this campaign, you are investing in healthier rural communities, better-trained health professionals, and a more equitable healthcare system for Illinois. Together, we can reduce disparities, strengthen rural health infrastructure, and ensure that quality care is accessible—no matter where someone lives.