New Partnership with Ascension Illinois to Expand Clinical Opportunities for RFU Students

RFU and Ascension Illinois announced an academic affiliation aimed at advancing patient care, education and research in the field of health care.

This partnership marks a significant milestone in the healthcare industry by partnering two organizations committed to providing patients with the highest quality of care and advancing medical knowledge through innovative research initiatives. As a community-based health sciences university, the partnership will provide clinical rotations in Ascension Illinois’ Health System — which encompasses 14 hospitals and more than 150 sites of care across the Chicago area — while providing Ascension faculty and residents access to RFU’s Boxer Library resources and research initiatives.

The affiliation will allow RFU students and other learners to gain hands-on experience in a clinical setting and develop professional relationships with physicians and administrative staff from a variety of disciplines, with access to the latest technology and medical practices. Additionally, the collaboration will bring together the expertise of healthcare professionals and researchers to work on projects that will promote interprofessionalism, enhance patient outcomes and improve the quality of care.

“This affiliation represents a significant step forward for both RFU and Ascension Illinois,” said Dr. Brenda Affinati, Associate Dean of Clinical Affairs for Chicago Medical School. “By working together, we can better prepare future healthcare leaders and provide innovative, patient-centered care to our communities.”

“Ascension Illinois is dedicated to providing the highest quality of care to our patients and is always seeking ways to advance the field of health care,” said Dr. David Bordo, Chief Medical Officer for Ascension Illinois. “This collaboration with RFU allows us to achieve both goals, and we are excited to see what we can accomplish together.”

Ascension includes more than 600 providers as part of Ascension Medical Group. Serving Illinois since 1868, Ascension is a faith-based healthcare organization committed to delivering compassionate, personalized care to all, with special attention to persons living in poverty and those most vulnerable. Ascension is the largest nonprofit and Catholic health system in the U.S., operating more than 2,600 sites of care – including 143 hospitals and more than 40 senior living facilities – in 19 states and the District of Columbia. Visit www.ascension.org/illinois.