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Dr. Eli Burks recognized as Rural Health Ambassador
Dr. Burks
Dr. Burks was presented his award by Jeremy Levin, Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative’s Director of Advocacy, at the Residency & Fellowship Graduation.

MONROE — The Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative (RWHC) awarded Dr. Eli Burks the Rural Health Ambassador Award. Dr. Burks serves as SSM Health Monroe Hospital Family Medicine Residency’s Residency Program Director. Prior to taking this role in October 2023, Dr. Burks provided care as a Hospitalist for 7 years. He has a passion for rural healthcare for individuals in Monroe and for those in communities across Wisconsin. 

During the Residency and Fellowship Graduation on June 27, Jeremy Levin, Director of Advocacy, from RWHC presented Dr. Burks with his award.

The Rural Health Ambassador Award was established to recognize employees at member hospitals who have gone above the call of duty in promoting their organizations and fostering relations within their communities and beyond.

Dr. Burks was nominated for this award by SSM Health Monroe Hospital’s Administrative Council. Their nomination shared that “in the first eight months in his new role as our Residency Program Director, Dr. Burks has hit the ground running. He transitioned to the position with an eagerness to find new ways to expand the program and offer additional training opportunity to our residents.”

Dr. Eli Burks
Dr. Eli Burks after receiving the Rural Health Ambassador Award.

Dr. Burks has been heavily involved in advocating for Graduate Medical Training (GME) expansion in Wisconsin. He has traveled to the Wisconsin State Capital on multiple occasions to share support for expanding GME Grants. This includes providing testimony in front of the Wisconsin Senate Committee on Housing, Rural Issues and Forestry.

As part of this advocacy work, Dr. Burks was involved when Wisconsin Lt. Governor Sara Rodriguez visited in February 2024 for a tour of SSM Health’s Monroe campus and conversation about the importance of healthcare workforce development. During which, he gave helpful insight to Lt. Governor Rodriguez on challenges facing healthcare, specifically provider training, and the creative work taking place in Monroe to help find solutions.

Many of the challenges Dr. Burks spoke on are not unique to Monroe. As other residency programs have had to close, Dr. Burks has found solutions to allow two displaced residents to join Monroe’s program this summer so that they can continue their requirements to becoming fully certified providers.