Our Team

What is WCRGME?

The Wisconsin Collaborative for Rural Graduate Medical Education (WCRGME) was established in 2012 to address the shortage of rural primary care physicians through the expansion of rural graduate medical education (GME). It is a network of organizations developing and maintaining rural residency rotations, rural training residency programs, and rural fellowships.

Our Mission & Vision Statement

Vision: Training rural doctors for rural people

Mission: Addressing the rural shortage of primary care physicians through the expansion of rural graduate medical education

Lori Rodefeld
Director of Rural GME Development & Support
lrodefeld@RWHC.com
Cell: (608) 445-1157

Lori Rodefeld is the Director of Rural GME Development at the Wisconsin Collaborative for Rural Graduate Medical Education (GME) where she engages with stakeholders statewide and nationally to expand rural residency training. She also serves as the Director of GME Development with the HRSA-funded Rural Residency Planning and Development and Teaching Health Center Planning and Development Technical Assistance Centers. Her career in GME started at SSM Monroe Hospital 10+ years ago where she oversaw efforts to develop three new GME programs, including an AOA accredited rural training track. She is a member of the AACOM GME Growth Action Committee, Board Member and Consultant for the RTT Collaborative, Board member of the GME Initiative and Board Member of the WiNC GME Consortium.

Jennifer Crubel
Rural GME Development & Support Manager
jcrubel@RWHC.com
Cell: (608) 723-9740

Jennifer Crubel serves as the Rural GME Development Manager for the Wisconsin Collaborative for Rural Graduate Medical Education (WCRGME). In this role, she is dedicated to increasing the number of physicians practicing in rural Wisconsin communities. Jennifer collaborates with potential sites to determine their Graduate Medical Education (GME) pathways and assists residency programs in starting or expanding rural tracks. A significant aspect of Jennifer's work is her support for the professional development of rural GME Administrators, both within Wisconsin and nationwide. Now supported by an advisory board, Jennifer established the Rural GME Administrator Network. This national group brings together both new and experienced Administrators from Rural Training Programs and rural specialty tracks/pathways in Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, General Surgery, OB-GYN, Emergency Medicine, and Psychiatry.

Michelle Hartness
GME Advisor
mhartness@RWHC.com

Michelle Hartness is the GME Advisor at the Wisconsin Collaborative for Rural Graduate Medical Education (GME) where she will be taking the lead on managing our data, partnerships, and program outreach. She served as the Administrative Director of Academic Affairs with oversight of GME, UME, CME, and clinical research where she unified four legacy systems into a statewide model. She led the reorganization of the GME structure including expanding clinical rotations and slot sharing with Ascension St. Vincent Indiana, expanded UME training partnerships , launched two ACGME-accredited residency programs, and standardized GME/UME policies and rotations across hospitals, statewide. Prior to statewide role, she was the Medical Education Supervisor at Ascension St. Mary’s, Rhinelander. During her time, she oversaw effort to develop new GME programs for the north and central regions, clinical rotations for UME and psych GME, and establishing PRA for two hospitals. She has been a board member for WiNC GME Consortium or Medical Education Administrators and Coordinators (MEAC).

Katie Yanke
Program Coordinator
kyanke@RWHC.com
Cell: (608) 347-1008

Katie Yanke serves as Program Coordinator for the Wisconsin Collaborative for Rural Graduate Medical Education (WCRGME). Katie also supports the Wisconsin Northern & Central (WiNC) Graduate Medical Education Consortium and UNC’s GME Technical Assistance Centers through workshop and event planning, webinar coordination, website maintenance, various marketing and communication pieces and supporting rural GME. Katie has firsthand experience with rural life growing up and working on her family’s dairy farm in Sauk County, Wisconsin. Living in rural areas has helped Katie understand the importance of having access to health care in these rural areas. Her previous experience includes working in the agriculture industry where she utilized her degree in Agribusiness with an Emphasis in Communications and Marketing. Katie is excited to continue to learn about rural GME and support the growth of rural GME for residents, education coordinators, preceptors and the rural communities they serve!

Tim Size
Executive Director
timsize@RWHC.com
Direct: (608) 643-2343

Tim Size has been the Executive Director of the Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative since its founding in 1979. Tim has a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering from Duke University, an MBA from the University of Chicago and an Honorary Doctorate of Humanities, from the Medical College of Wisconsin. He has served twice on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services. He is a past president of the National Rural Health Association and was a member of the Institute of Medicine Committee that wrote Quality Through Collaboration: The Future of Rural Health.

Alexis Templin
Administrative and Social Media Assistant
atemplin@RWHC.com

Alexis Templin serves as an Administrative and Social Media Assistant for Wisconsin Collaborative for Rural Medical Education (WCRGME) and Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative (RWHC). In this role, she provides support in the areas of marketing, social media, communications, and administration. With experience working in Rural Higher Education Fundraising and Advancement, she enjoys promoting the importance of accessible public resources in rural communities. With a degree in Professional Studies and Health Promotion, Alexis is excited to dive into the world of rural GME and support those serving our rural communities.