Panel discussion kicks off celebration of 20 years of RHOP

Practicing in a rural area is a unique experience. Depending on the profession those experiences vary.

For pharmacist, Karen Kroll, Pharm.D., practicing in Hebron, Neb., has meant helping out in the E.R., mixing chemotherapy and running a retail practice.

Her life in Hebron since graduating from UNMC in 2005 has been filled with family, friendship and professional growth.

Dr. Kroll shared her experience during a panel discussion in which she and four other Rural Health Opportunities Program (RHOP) alumni discussed the challenges and rewards of practicing in rural Nebraska.

From left: Keith Mueller, Ph.D., Holly Dobrinski, Karen Kroll, Pharm.D., Mandy Shaw, M.D., Pete Thiele, physician assistant, and Brent Weston, physical therapist, take part in a panel discussion about providing health care. The discussion was part of a series of events held in commemoration of RHOP’s 20th anniversary. (Photo by Ann Kraft)

The seminar — which was attended by program alumni, students and others — is one of several events being held at UNMC this year to celebrate the 20th anniversary of RHOP.

Established in 1990, RHOP is designed to address the shortage of health professionals in rural Nebraska by pre-admitting students to programs at UNMC at the same time they begin their undergraduate studies at Chadron or Wayne State Colleges.

The program is described as a commitment of the heart because students are encouraged to return to rural communities to practice once they graduate. So far 323 students have graduated from the RHOP program. Of those 53 percent are practicing in rural Nebraska.

Presentations were also given by Preethy Nayer, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor in the UNMC College of Public Health Department of Health Services Research and Administration, who discussed the findings from “A Critical Match: Health Professionals to Meet Nebraska’s Future Needs,” and Richard Raymond, M.D., former chief medical officer for the state of Nebraska and former undersecretary for food safety for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, who gave the keynote address on the principles of leadership.

Following the keynote address, participants had the opportunity to network with health care professionals and hospital administrators from 11 rural Nebraska counties at an afternoon reception hosted by the Rural Comprehensive Care Network.