Janae Nienhueser grew up in York, Neb., and she loves the feel of her hometown. She was, she realized as she got older, incredibly lucky to have grown up in a place like that.
And as a second-year student in the three-year doctor of physical therapy program at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, she now realizes another thing: In York, they were lucky to have primary health care available locally.
In rural Nebraska, not everyone does: 13 Nebraska counties have no medical radiographer, 24 counties have no physician assistant and 25 counties have no physical therapist. The state needs more allied health workers who would work in rural Nebraska – the way Nienhueser plans to someday.
That plan suits her. Janae followed an older brother to the University of Nebraska at Kearney, and a younger sister followed her.
“I selected (UNK) because of its welcoming campus that offered that friendly, small-town feel that I had grown to cherish,” she said.
And there were great opportunities there. She completed a semester-long internship at a PT clinic. She worked in UNK’s research program. She got into UNMC’s PT program on her first try.
“I attribute much of my success at UNMC to the education I received at UNK,” she said.
She’s had a good experience at UNMC. And Omaha has been an adventure. But Nienhueser wishes she could have gotten the same education in Kearney.
It would have been more affordable. It would have allowed her to maintain her support system and contacts. It was where she wanted to be, and where she wanted to stay.
And in some cases, that might keep a great prospect for rural Nebraska from getting away.
“Our experience has demonstrated that if students interested in rural practice are provided opportunities to obtain their education in rural communities, they have a greater likelihood of returning to those communities to practice after graduation,” said Kyle Meyer, Ph.D., senior associate dean of the School of Allied Health Professions at UNMC.
On Feb. 2, Nienhueser testified before the Nebraska Legislature’s Appropriations Committee. She spoke in favor of LB 1055. As part of the “Building a Healthier Nebraska” initiative, it supports a proposed $19 million, 30,000-square-foot addition at UNK that would include expansion of the Kearney-based UNMC nursing division and the addition of UNMC allied health professions programs on the UNK campus.