Rural health grant enables Chadron students to visit UNMC

Suzanne Anderson, a lead nurse with the Nebraska Health System, explains the new computerized patient charting system in the Baby Place, to Chadron High School students, Kelly Bird and Matt Janssen.

UNMC recently hosted a group of Chadron High School students interested in health careers through a grant funded by the UNMC Rural Health Education Network. The purpose of the visit was to teach students more about the careers available in the health sciences.

Students toured various areas of research, education and patient care to get insight into health careers, as well as met with health care professionals, researchers and representatives from UNMC’s colleges. The event is one of many UNMC efforts to assist in “Growing Our Own” future health professionals for Nebraska, said Roxanna Jokela, director of the UNMC Rural Health Education Network (RHEN).

The ultimate goal is to reduce shortages of rural Nebraska health professionals. Of Nebraska’s 93 counties, more than half have a shortage of primary care professionals and nearly two-thirds have shortages of mental health professionals.

Cyd Janssen, member of the University of Nebraska President’s Advisory Council, coordinated the visit. Janssen, a registered nurse in Chadron, and two of her children were part of an eight-member group that visited UNMC. Janssen’s brother-in-law underwent an organ transplant at UNMC several years ago and has since recovered and returned to ranching work.

UNMC’s Tom Bargar shows Chadron High School students, Kelly Bird and Matt Janssen, how the electron microscope works.

“I came here to figure out what the physical therapy program would be like, as well as the UNMC campus,” said Matt Janssen, a Chadron High School sophomore. His interest in physical therapy began while he was being treated for shoulder injuries stemming from playing football, he said.

The group visited the emergency room, radiology, the pulmonary function lab, The Lied Transplant Center and medical technology lab. They also got a chance to see electron microscopes and meet with a variety of health professionals and representatives from UNMC colleges.