New officers have been elected for 2006-07 by the Student Association for Rural Health (SARH) at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. SARH promotes interest in health careers in rural areas of Nebraska by hosting monthly seminars on rural health issues. All UNMC students are eligible to join the SARH group.
The 2006-2007 officers and their hometowns are:
Bloomfield, Neb. — President, Riley Eckmann, second-year medical student
Eckmann graduated from Bloomfield High School and Creighton University in Omaha. She joined SARH because she has seen the increasing need for physicians in rural Nebraska and the lack of interest amongst her peers. She feels that it’s important to educate and make others aware of the great career opportunities beyond the metropolitan area. Bloomfield provided her with a great upbringing and she hopes to return to northeast Nebraska to practice. She is the daughter of Janet and Gene Eckmann of Bloomfield.
North Platte, Neb. — Vice President, Kristen Mroczek, second-year physical therapy student
Mroczek graduated from St. Patrick’s High School in North Platte and Chadron State College. She joined SARH because she intends to practice physical therapy in a rural area after she graduates. SARH provides her the opportunity to learn more about rural health care. She is the daughter of Dolly and Michael Mroczek of North Platte.
Omaha — Secretary, Tracey Harbert, second-year medical student
Harbert graduated from Millard South High School and the University of Iowa in Iowa City. She joined SARH because even though she’s from the city, she loves Nebraska and will stay here throughout her career. Harbert is the daughter of JoAnne and Richard Harbert of Omaha.
Harlan, Iowa — Treasurer, Ross Mathiasen, second-year medical student
Mathiasen graduated from Harlan Community Schools and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He is interested rural health because it is a very important, yet often overlooked component of health care, especially in bigger institutions that get referrals from smaller communities. He is the son of Deb Larson and Steve Mathiasen of Harlan, Iowa.
Arnold, Neb. – Physical Therapy Representative, Stacie Larreau, second-year physical therapy student
Larreau graduated from Arnold Public High School and Chadron State College. She joined SARH because she grew up on a small town and attended a small town college. While growing up, she learned the importance of having appropriate health care available to everyone. She plans to return to a rural area to practice and hopes to educate as many people as possible on the health care issues facing rural Nebraska. She is the daughter of Cathy and Glen Bowers and the late Dennis Larreau of Arnold.
Wayne, Neb. – Physician Assistant Representative, Jodi Stowater-Goodrich, first-year physician assistant student
Stowater-Goodrich graduated from Wayne High School and Chadron State College. Being a Rural Health Opportunities Program (RHOP) student, she joined SARH because she has spent the last four years learning about issues affecting rural health. Having a leadership role in SARH will enable her to share information with others about the importance of rural health care and prepare her for when she becomes a rural health care provider. She is the daughter of Londa and Troy Stowater of Wayne, Neb.
UNMC is the only public health science center in the state. Its educational programs are responsible for training more health professionals practicing in Nebraska than any other institution. Through its commitment to education, research, patient care and outreach, UNMC has established itself as one of the country’s leading centers in cancer, transplantation biology, bioterrorism preparedness, neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular diseases, genetics, biomedical technology, ophthalmology and arthritis. UNMC’s research funding from external sources is now nearly $80 million annually and has resulted in the creation of more than 2,600 highly skilled jobs in the state. UNMC’s physician practice group, UNMC Physicians, includes more than 460 physicians in 50 specialties and subspecialties. They practice primarily in The Nebraska Medical Center, UNMC’s teaching hospital. For more information, go to UNMC’s Web site at www.unmc.edu.