The opportunity to pursue a career as an allied health professional just got easier for students in Nebraska. Beginning with the next admission cycle, the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s School of Allied Health Professions (SAHP) will expand its participation in the Rural Health Opportunities Program (RHOP) to Wayne State College (WSC).
Since the inception of the RHOP program, the SAHP, unlike the other UNMC colleges, has only provided RHOP positions for students at Chadron State College. The addition of 10 total positions in physical therapy, physician assistant, clinical laboratory science and radiography education programs represents a 40 percent increase in available RHOP positions.
“The expansion of the allied health RHOP to Wayne State College is an indication of the SAHP’s commitment to both the education and health of rural Nebraskans,” said Kyle Meyer, Ph.D., associate dean of the UNMC School of Allied Health Professions.
“The need for rural health professionals continues to grow and RHOP is critical to meeting our future demands for rural health professions,” said Dave Peitz, Ph.D., coordinator of the RHOP program at Wayne State College. “We are delighted in the UNMC School of Allied Health Professions’ decision to add allied health opportunities at Wayne State.”
RHOP, which began in 1989, is designed to address the special needs of rural Nebraska by encouraging rural residents to pursue healthcare careers. If selected, students obtain early admission into participating UNMC programs upon completion of their studies at Chadron State or Wayne State College.
“I cannot tell you how much I appreciate UNMC and the RHOP program and their dedication to rural Nebraska,” said Lois Veath, Ph.D., vice president for academic affairs at Chadron State College. “Without the RHOP program, we would not have the pipeline of health professionals that our communities so desperately need. I applaud the School of Allied Health Professions for its support of the RHOP program at both Chadron and Wayne State.”
The success of RHOP is evident in the 536 students who have pursued a health care degree. Of those, 315 students have graduated from UNMC and completed their residencies. Currently, there are 203 students in the RHOP pipeline attending Chadron State College, Wayne State College or UNMC.
“Almost half of all RHOP graduates are from our allied health programs,” said Greg Karst, Ph.D., SAHP assistant dean for academic affairs, “but the need for allied health professionals in rural Nebraska remains a significant concern.”
Nebraska State College System Chancellor Stan Carpenter agreed.
“As we know, RHOP is vital to maintaining access to medical care in rural Nebraska,” he said. “Expanding programs in allied health at Wayne State College provides students and the college greater opportunity to serve the local community. I appreciate the efforts of everyone who worked to expand the program and to those who continue to make RHOP available to the students enrolled in the Nebraska State College System.”
The deadline for applications to the RHOP program is Dec. 1 at both Chadron State and Wayne State. Students are then notified the following spring if they are accepted into the program. To get more information, log on to www.csc.edu/sci/rhop/,
www.wsc.edu/schools/nss/rhop/, or www.unmc.edu/alliedhealth/rhop.htm.
As the state’s only academic health science center, UNMC is on the leading edge of health care. Breakthroughs are possible because hard-working researchers, educators and clinicians are resolved to work together to fuel discovery. In 2009, UNMC’s extramural research support topped $100 million for the first time, resulting in the creation of 3,600 jobs in Nebraska. UNMC’s academic excellence is shown through its award-winning programs, and 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 and its hospital partner, The Nebraska Medical Center, have established themselves as one of the country’s leading health care centers. UNMC’s physician practice group, UNMC Physicians, includes 550 physicians in 50 specialties and subspecialties who practice primarily in The Nebraska Medical Center. For more information, go to UNMC’s Web site at www.unmc.edu.
-30-