Eighteen Nebraska high school students participated in the University
of Nebraska Medical Center one-week Summer Health Professions Career Workshop
July 19-23 in Omaha. The goal of the workshop is to encourage young
Nebraskans to pursue a career in the health professions with the hope that
they may someday practice health care in rural Nebraska where critical
shortages of health care professionals remains a major concern.
According to the Nebraska State Health Department, about 60 percent
of Nebraska counties have a shortage of family practice physicians and
about 20 counties have no hospital.
While at UNMC, the workshop introduced the students to health science
careers through lectures, shadowing professionals and hands-on experiences.
The students selected to participate in the program competed with 113 others
and were rated on grade-point-average, school and extracurricular activities,
health career interest, work experiences and reference letters.
The students spent the week learning about UNMC’s academic programs,
shadowing health care professionals and doing research in their area of
interest. At the end of the workshop, students made presentations
about their findings to their family and colleagues.
Below is a list of hometowns, the names of the students and the schools
they attend:
DILLER Dana Damrow (Diller Community School)
GRAND ISLAND Sandra Sweley and Shelly Sweley (Both attend Grand Island
Senior High School)
HUMBOLDT Anna Avery (Southeast Nebraska Consolidated School)
LINCOLN Jerry Dillon (Lincoln High School)
NORTH PLATTE Katie Metz (St. Patricks High School)
OMAHA Kristi Derrick (Central High School) and Vincent Morris (Millard
South High School)
ONEILL Jessica Mueller (ONeill High School)
ORD Deanne Jonak and Justin Zaruba (Both attend Ord High School)
PIERCE Stacy Picek (Pierce High School)
SARGENT Natalie Beitel (Sargent Public School)
STAPLETON Tyler Daly (Thedford High School)
STUART Tara Hytrek and Brad Olberding (Both attend Stuart Public
School)
WESTERN Alison Brunkow (Milligan Public School)
WINSIDE Shannon Jaeger (Winside Public School)
UNMC is the only public academic health science center in the state.
Through its commitment to research, education and patient care, UNMC has
established itself as one of the country’s leading centers for cancer research
and treatment and solid organ transplantation. More than $34 million in
research grants and contracts are awarded to UNMC scientists annually.
In addition, UNMC’s educational programs are responsible for training more
health professionals practicing in Nebraska than any other institution.