Michael Glasser, PhD, serves as the Associate Dean for Rural Health Professions, and is a Research Professor of Medical Sociology at the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford. He helped establish the internationally recognized Rural Medical Education Program at the Rockford campus, and the interdisciplinary National Center for Rural Health Professions, a designated center of the Illinois Board of Higher Education. In 2013, he was named the George T. & Mildred A. Mitchell Endowed Professor in Rural and Family Medicine.
“In this day of technology and distance learning and all that, which is great and does help, you also have to go out into the community and actually meet the people and work with them directly.”
Dr. Glasser has served as Principal Investigator on many grants, including Export Center for Rural Health, funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). He has extensive research experience in the fields of rural medicine and pharmacy students’ career pathways.
Currently, Dr. Glasser directs the National Center for Rural Health Professions, and is co-director of the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford Public Health Program. He is also a Co-Editor of Education for Health, an international health sciences journal. Additionally, Dr. Glasser is Co-Investigator for the University of Illinois College Hispanic Center of Excellence, created to examine and develop career opportunities in health for youth in rural areas. He has also been instrumental in establishing the Native American Pathways Program in Rockford, encouraging and supporting Native American Youth and the pursuit of health careers.