The Nebraska Area Health Education Center Scholars Program, based at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, recently graduated 58 students.
The two-year program, part of a national initiative, prepares health professions students to serve in rural and urban underserved areas of the state.
The 2024 class of AHEC Scholars includes health professions students in such fields as community health, dentistry, medicine, pharmacy, physical therapy, physician assistant, nursing and radiological technician programs. The graduates represent health profession programs at Bryan College of Health Sciences, Clarkson College, Northeast Community College, Regional West Medical Center School of Radiologic Technology, Union Adventist University, UNMC and Western Nebraska Community College.
During the program, students engage with a variety of health professionals, community leaders and potential employers. They gain insight into health care issues, cultural and environmental factors, as well as community resources in Nebraska to better understand future patients and communities they will serve.
The AHEC Scholars Program is a part of the Nebraska AHEC Program, which is based in the UNMC Department of Family Medicine. Scholars are supported by five regional AHECs across the state: Omaha, Northern in Norfolk, Central in Kearney, Panhandle in Scottsbluff and Southeast in Lincoln.
The 2024 graduates included:
Bryan College of Health Sciences
Nursing Program
- Rushville – Kelanna Lovell
Clarkson College
Community Health Worker Program
- Springfield – Elisha Muhleka
- Waveland, Indiana – Aubrie Lindner
Radiologic Technician Program
- Alliance – Billi Alvarado
- Blencoe, Iowa – Emma Pitt
Northeast Community College
Nursing Program
- Dorchester – Elizabeth Schlamann
Regional West Medical Center School of Radiologic Technology
Radiologic Technician Program
- Gering – Evelyn Anderson-Saenz
- Morrill – Kilee Stauffer
Union Adventist University
Physician Assistant Program
- Omaha – Emily Andersen
- St. Paul – Joslyn Hansen
- Wilbur – Molly Zajicek-Stokebrand
University of Nebraska Medical Center
College of Allied Health
Physical Therapy Program
- Howells – Jordyn Brester
- Omaha – Lauren Thompson
- Valentine – Rebecca Higgins
- Wisner – Alexis Juelfs
- Kingman, Arizona – Kael Juelfs
Physician Assistant Program
- Blair – Jacob Sorensen
- Eustis – Leigh Anne Lehmann
- Grand Island – Kerrigan Shelton
- Hickman – Makayla Rice
- Newcastle – Alison Tremayne
- North Platte – McKenna Flint
- Shickley – Nicole Swartzendruber
- Waverly – Alexis Heaton
- Callao, Missouri – Mariah Gann
- Spring Lake, North Carolina – Christopher Griffis
- Valley City, North Dakota – Leah Haak Beck
Radiography Program
- Utica – Aurora Junge
- Omaha – Josseline Vasquez
- Orchard – Brandi Ruzicka
- Overton – Melissa White
College of Dentistry
Dentistry Program
- Columbus – Trent Roth
- Elkhorn – Anna Edet
- Grand Island – Alec Redwine
- Lincoln – Lauren Larson
- Norfolk – Nicholas Stolze
- O’Neill – Lydia Sigler
- St. Paul – Kylie Sestak
- South Sioux City – Gisselle Perez
- Newport Beach, California – Tia DiGiovanni
- Bemidji, Minnesota – Nicholas Peterson
- Hoople, North Dakota – Emily Swanson
- Rapid City, South Dakota – Delaney Glazier
College of Medicine
Medicine Program
- Cody – Cade Cody
- Kearney – Mark Carter
- LaVista – Dustin Quinata
- Norfolk – Jaden Hattery
- Omaha – Savana Nawojski
- Omaha – Andrew White
- Scottsbluff – Llicel Rodriguez
- Council Bluffs, Iowa – Miranda Jangula
- Saint Michael, Minnesota – Taylor Nelson
College of Nursing – Northern Division
Nursing Program
- Pierce – Rose Graham
College of Pharmacy
Pharmacy Program
- Chester – Katelyn Richardson
- Columbus – Ashley Newman
- Hildreth – Abby Quadhamer
- Sutton – Tomasa Trejo
Western Nebraska Community College
Nursing Program
- Cheyenne, Wyoming – Michaela Moreno