The UNMC Rural Health Opportunities Program was named recently as one of the Top 10 Rural Development Initiatives for 2001 by the Nebraska Rural Development Commission. 
In recognition of the honor, Gov. Mike Johanns presented a plaque on April 4 to RHOP representatives Dan Chambers, RHEN program coordinator, and Jeanne Bishop, director of special projects for Chadron State College.
“One of the greatest pleasures of my job is when I see a student graduate, finish residency and return to rural Nebraska,” said Roxanna Jokela, director of the Rural Health Education Network, through which RHOP is administered. “To think I have known that person for more than 11 years and now they are a physician enjoying life in rural Nebraska … that is a wonderful feeling!”
Begun in 1989, RHOP is designed to address the special needs of rural Nebraska by encouraging rural residents to pursue health-care careers. If selected, students can obtain early admission into participating UNMC programs upon completion of their studies at Chadron State or Wayne State College. Thus far, about 60 percent of the program’s graduates are practicing in rural Nebraska.
“RHOP has been a tremendous success in recruiting health-care providers from rural areas, then having them return to rural Nebraska to practice,” Jokela said. “The shortage of health-care professionals in rural Nebraska will continue to be a pressing need, making programs such as RHOP vital.”
Since 1993, the NRDC has honored outstanding development through the Top 10 and Outstanding 100 Rural Development Initiative Awards, said Craig Schroeder, executive director of the commission.
“In the past nine years, the projects, businesses, programs and communities selected have represented rural Nebraska at its finest,” Schroeder said. “This year’s Top 10 selections are no different; they continue to demonstrate the commitment and positive attitude of people who believe in rural Nebraska and who are willing to invest their time and resources to make the Good Life better.”
Besides RHOP, the 2001 Top 10 honorees included:
- The Corps of Discovery Welcome Center, Highway 81 near Crofton;
- Frontier County Ethanol Challenge;
- Making Education in Agriculture Different (M.E.A.D.), Mead;
- Nebraska Economic Development Information Online (NEDI);
- Sheridan County Players, Rushville;
- Two Rivers Wellness Center, Dunning;
- Windmill Festival/2nd Wind Ranch, Comstock;
- Women’s Wilderness Weekend, Red Cloud; and,
- Youth Community Improvement Program, Gothenburg.
Photo cutline: Jeanne Bishop, left, director of special projects at Chadron State College, and Dan Chambers, program coordinator for the UNMC Rural Health Education Network, listen as Gov. Mike Johanns announced the UNMC Rural Health Opportunities Program as one of the state’s top 10 rural development initiatives for 2001.