The University of Nebraska Medical Center Student Association for Rural
Health, made up of students from rural areas studying at UNMC, held Rural
Health Professions Career Day Oct. 4. The event introduced students with
an interest in health careers to the multitude of careers available in
the health sciences.
About 165 high school students and teachers from 64 rural communities
learned about opportunities in medicine, nursing, pharmacy, dentistry,
physician assistant, physical therapy, medical technology and other fields.
They watched presentations, visited with health professionals and toured
UNMC and University Hospital
Students met with UNMC representatives from the colleges of dentistry,
medicine, nursing and pharmacy, the school of allied health professions
and financial aid.
In the afternoon, each student attended three 45-minute informational
sessions from among nine topics: nursing, physical therapy, medical technology,
financial aid, medicine, physician assistant, dentistry, radiography or
pharmacy.
About one-half of the physicians, pharmacists, dental professionals
and allied health professionals practicing in Nebraska were trained at
UNMC. The Rural Health Professions Career Day is one of many UNMC efforts
to assist in Growing Our Own future health professionals for Nebraska.
We see events like this as a chance to connect with high school students
throughout the state and get them interested or acquaint them with UNMC
and its educational programs,” said Roxanna Jokela, Rural Health Education
Network coordinator.
Below is a list of high school students, as well as some high school
advisors, and their hometowns.
BLUE HILL HIGH SCHOOL Jessica Hubl
BURWELL JR/SR HIGH SCHOOL Linda Senn (advisor), Keri Reiter, Sarah
Brinkman, Lindsay Gross, Maggie Piper and Ricky Rowse (All from Burwell)
CENTENNIAL PUBLIC SCHOOL Andrea Swanson (Utica), Keely OHare (Beaver
Crossing), Tim Wilbeck (advisor/Utica), Terri Menze (Gresham) and Korinna
Tomes (Utica).
CENTRAL CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL Jennifer Cihacek, Heather Steffen, Nichole
Franzluebbers, Cheryl Kreikemeier (advisor), Jennifer Burger, Jennifer
Schuetze and Emily Hotovy. (All from West Point). Front row, left to right:
WEST POINT JR/SR HIGH Rebecca List, Mandy Brodahl, Brandi Roeber, Libby
Conrad, Richard Johnson (advisor) and Jessica Cox.
DAWSON-VERDON HIGH SCHOOL Jessie Heim (Dawson) and Jacob Fritz (Verdon)
DONIPHAN HIGH SCHOOL Joe Sochor, Debbie Vavra, Shauna England, Brooke
LaBrie and Angie Hartman. Back Row, left to right: Tanya Schultz,
Adam Hinrikus (Prosser), Darrel Weis (advisor) and Rachel Deitemeyer. (All
from Doniphan, except where indicated)
EAST BUTLER HIGH SCHOOL Lisa McGee (Brainard)
ELKHORN VALLEY SCHOOLS Bethany Bossard (Meadow Grove), Rhonda Collins
(advisor), Kristin Taake, Chad Thompson and Bridget Fox. (All from Tilden,
except where indicated)
ELMWOOD MURDOCK HIGH SCHOOL Sarah Jordan (Murdock), Kristin McLaughlin
(Elmwood), Amy Willadsen (Greenwood), and Kristi Satterthwaite (Murdock).
FAIRBURY JR/SR HIGH SCHOOL Holly Heidemann (Daykin), Leanne Ebbers
(Daykin) and Lloyd Scarrow (advisor/Fairbury)
FALLS CITY HIGH SCHOOL Katie Parsons, Tiffany Clark (Dawson), Cody
Merz, Wendy Schawang, Noala Fritz (advisor) and Kellie Andreesen
(All from Falls City, except where indicated)
GIBBON PUBLIC SCHOOL Cassie Cain, Annessa Stalder, Anna Sikes (Kenesaw),
Trisha Madsen, Rhonda Heffelfinger (advisor) and Jessica Lamkins
(All from Gibbon, except where indicated)
HEBRON PUBLIC SCHOOL Lacey Cline, Whitney Peters, Cassie Werner,
Renee Else, Jamie Powell (Alexandria) and Katie Bauhard (All from
Hebron, except where indicated)
LITCHFIELD HIGH SCHOOL Eric Kittoe (Hazard), Maris Bentley (advisor),
Mitch Feldman, and Colby Howard. Back row: Matt Kucera, Lisa Siegel, Hester
Reitz (Pleasanton) and Jessette Bentley (Amherst). (All from Litchfield,
except where indicated)
MILLIGAN HIGH SCHOOL Chelsey Capek (Milligan), Julie Suda (Tobias),
Becky Hayek (Friend) and Stacey Roit (Milligan)
NELIGH-OAKDALE PUBLIC SCHOOL Randi LeComte (Oakdale), Erin Kester
(Clearwater), Teri Legate, Angie Boschult and Rita Wagner (advisor)
(All from Neligh, except where indicated)
NORTH BEND CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL Jill Hines (Morse Bluff), Beth Minarick
(Morse Bluff), Katie Poulas (Ames), Michelle Settles (North Bend), Amber
Blanchard (North Bend) and Carrie Capron (North Bend)
ONEILL HIGH SCHOOL April Johnson (ONeill), Maria Wietzki (Inman),
Eldar Mursaqulov (ONeill), Monica Scheinost (Page), Amy Wiseman (ONeill),
Delbert Whiting (Page) and Anna Thompson (Page)
ORD HIGH SCHOOL Jodi John, Betty Wieck, Fran Galey (advisor), Chris
Longo and Natalie Shepperd (Comstock). Back Row, left to right: Brenda
Hansen, Jennifer Petska, Danielle Tolfa, Dawn Schade and Matt Breitkreutz.
(All from Ord, except where indicated)
OSCEOLA HIGH SCHOOL Crystal Smith, Laura Gustafson, Katie Kempkes,
Heidi Zelasney, Hollie Neujahr and Roger Trumper (advisor). Julie Peterson,
Erica Turek, Erica Armogost, Cindi Kumpf, and Kylie Watts. (All from Osceola)
PALMYRA HIGH SCHOOL Tiffany Fischer (Bennet), Katey Ostrander, Brook
Mapson, Klare Chapman, Rachelle Royal (Unadilla) and Natasha Gerstenschlager.
(All from Palmyra, except where indicated)
PIERCE HIGH SCHOOL Amanda Droescher (Hadar), Heidi Bruening (Norfolk),
Nicholl Micek, Stacie Koehler and Peggy Venteicher. Back Row, left
to right: Jessica Retzlaff (Norfolk), Jamie Watson, Jessica Fehringer,
Brandy Lueshen, Deb Koehlmoos (advisor) and Kallie Seier. (All from Pierce,
except where indicated)
PLATTSMOUTH HIGH SCHOOL — John Bouska (advisor), Julie Ingwerson,
Emily Hurd, Kristin Hall, Rebecca Bogle and Paul Ewing. (All from
Plattsmouth)
SCHUYLER CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL Phil Krzycki, Caroline Jensen,
Barbara Raya, Jessica Odvoby, Latisha Konz, and Joey Wisington. Back row,
left to right: Tammy Kment, Nealy Wachal, Dan Cogdill and Megan Caba (Clarkson)
(All from Schuyler, except where indicated)
SEWARD HIGH SCHOOL David Greathouse (advisor), Heather Noxon, Joshua
Ferguson, Erica Helge, Tamera Robotham and Joel Gabriel (All from
Seward)
SILVER LAKE HIGH SCHOOL Amanda Hall (Campbell), Ron Faber (Holstein),
Justin Gunnare (Upland) and Sarah Klein (Roseland) and Jessica Hemberger
(Roseland)
VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL Jason Monroe and Hethe Berg (Both from Valley)
WAHOO HIGH SCHOOL Miranda Swanson, Audra Babcock and Molly Tillman
(All from Wahoo)
WAYNE HIGH SCHOOL April Wicks, Amy Magnuson, Mandy Hansen,
Dustin Schmits, Kristin Wilson, Elizabeth Campbell, Terry Munson (advisor)
and Becky Brumm (All from Wayne)
WILBER-CLATONIA HIGH SCHOOL Melissa Baxa, Elizabeth Chrans, Adam
Helgren, Glenna Heller (advisor), Charlene Kastanek, Kelsi Ripa, Preston
Selleck and Sara Stubbs. (All from Wilber)
UNMC is the only public academic health science center in the state.
Through its commitment to research, education, outreach 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
$32 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.