The dentistry and dental hygiene professions were in the spotlight Sept. 28 when nine undergraduate students from Wayne State and Chadron State colleges visited the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry in Lincoln during the annual Rural Health Opportunities Program (RHOP) visit.
The students attended a biochemistry lecture as well as observed a preclinical lab course in operative dentistry. Those students interested in dental hygiene had the opportunity to shadow in the dental hygiene clinic. All of the students took part in a panel discussion with former RHOP students who are now attending the UNMC College of Dentistry.
The annual RHOP visit is designed to give undergraduate students the opportunity to visit the dental school and talk with health professionals in their chosen program.
The RHOP early admission program is designed to address the special needs of rural Nebraska by encouraging rural residents to pursue a career in the health care fields. Students selected are guaranteed admission to UNMC as long as all stated requirements are met, as well as the pre-professional studies at each of the undergraduate colleges.
Students from Chadron State, Peru State and Wayne State colleges and the University of Nebraska at Kearney take part in either the RHOP program or the Kearney Health Opportunities Program (KHOP) and the Public Health Early Admissions Student Track (PHEAST).
The RHOP program began in 1990. Once accepted into it, students obtain early admission into one of nine health professions at UNMC. More than 60 percent of RHOP graduates go on to practice in rural communities.
Two new programs were developed out of RHOP’s success – PHEAST, which began in 2011 and targets undergraduates interested in public health careers; and KHOP, which began in 2010 and targets high school seniors interested in the health professions.
The students are listed below in alphabetical order by hometown, name, school and program.
Creighton: Jessica Zimmerer, Wayne State College, dental hygiene
Clarks: Chancy Miller, Chadron State College, dentistry
Cozad: Amanda German, Wayne State College, dentistry
Giltner: Dani Most, Wayne State College, dentistry
Hemingford: Blake Hansen, Chadron State College, dentistry
Lynch: Kara Heiser, Wayne State College, dental hygiene
North Platte: Tanner Malmkar, Chadron State College, dentistry; Natalie Poppe, Wayne State College, dentistry
Stanton: Dasirae Sieh, Wayne State College, dentistry
We are Nebraska Medicine and UNMC. Our mission is to lead the world in transforming lives to create a healthy future for all individuals and communities through premier educational programs, innovative research and extraordinary patient care.
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | Flickr