The newly elected officers for the Student Association for Rural Health (SARH) at the University of Nebraska Medical Center have been announced. The officers are made up of medical, pharmacy, physical therapy and physician assistant students who are interested in learning more about rural health issues and promoting rural practice to others.
They attend monthly seminars, which have included presentations from health care professionals and hospital administrators from rural communities, as well as a presentation from Nebraska’s Office of Rural Health. Average attendance at the monthly seminars exceeds 100 students.
The 2009 – 2010 SARH officers are listed below by hometown:
Ainsworth — President, Scott Wewel, second-year medical student
Wewel is a graduate of both Ainsworth Community High School and Chadron State College through the Rural Health Opportunities Program. Upon graduation from UNMC, Wewel plans to return to his roots in a rural Nebraska community to practice medicine and raise a family with his wife Alyssa (of Bridgeport, Neb.). His parents, Harv and Kathy, reside in Ainsworth.
Creighton — Vice President, Brian Jundt, second-year medical student
Jundt graduated from Creighton Community High School and Wayne State College through the Rural Health Opportunities Program. He knows firsthand the health needs of a rural community and has witnessed the benefits as a native to a rural area. Jundt hopes to highlight these unique needs during his term as vice president of SARH. He is the son of Ellen Huigens of Creighton and David Jundt of Norfolk.
Lincoln — Secretary, Lonna Hughes, second-year pharmacy student
As an original resident of Lincoln, Hughes graduated from Lincoln East High School and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She believes that her involvement with SARH will help promote rural health and its opportunities to all UNMC students. Hughes’ parents, Keith and Patricia, still live in Lincoln and her grandmother, Bonnie Rohan lives in New Castle.
Alliance — Treasurer, Shane Halouska, third-year pharmacy student
Halouska is an alumni of Alliance High School and Chadron State College through the Rural Health Opportunities Program. In his involvement with SARH, Halouska hopes to promote interprofessionalism in a group that is focused on rural health issues. He is the son of Mac and Cindy Halouska of Alliance.
Sidney – Physical Therapy Representative, Allyson Malzahn, physical therapy student
Malzahn graduated from Sidney High School and then continued her studies at Chadron State College through the Rural Health Opportunities Program. As a member of the UNMC chapter of SARH, Malzahn finds rural health issues to be most interesting. She is the daughter of Monte and Sarah Malzahn of Sidney.
Hastings – Physical Therapy Representative, Amy Strand, physical therapy student
Strand is a graduate of Adams Central High School and Chadron State College through the Rural Health Opportunities Program. With the SARH program, she hopes to gain the ability to improve health awareness in rural areas. Strand also enjoys being a student advocate for rural health issues. She is the daughter of Lori Niederklein of Hastings.
Creighton – Physician Assistant Representative, Amy Hoferer, physician assistant
A native of Creighton, Hoferer is an alumni of Creighton Community High School and University of Nebraska at Kearney. She aspires to help raise awareness of rural health opportunities and to provide health care to the people who live in those areas. She is the daughter of Karen and the late Maynard Hoferer of Creighton.
St. Edward – Pharmacy Representative, Susann Crumley, second-year pharmacy student
Crumley graduated from St. Edward Public High School and the University of Nebraska at Kearney. She believes her involvement with the SARH program at UNMC will allow her the opportunity to promote a multi-disciplinary health care system to rural Nebraska communities. Crumley is the daughter of Terry and Joyce Troyer of St. Edward.
Colon – Pharmacy Representative, Brent Cernik, third-year pharmacy student
Cernik is a graduate of Wahoo Bishop Neumann High School and Wayne State College. He feels that the UNMC SARH program will help him stay current with the health and pharmacy issues that are important to rural Nebraska. He is the son of Paul and Linda Cernik of Colon.
Pender – Medicine Representative, Shea Welsh, second-year medical student
Originally from Pender, Welsh is a graduate of Pender Public High School and Wayne State College through the Rural Health Opportunities Program. Through his participation in the SARH program, Welsh has found that he has stayed connected to rural medicine and gained new insights and opportunities. He hopes to return to a rural area to establish his practice. He is the son of Ray and Deb Welsh of Pender.
Platte Center – Medicine Representative, Dena Brock, second-year medicine student
Brock is a graduate of Lakeview Community High School and Wayne State College through the Rural Health Opportunities Program. She has found her interest with the SARH program stems from the multidisciplinary health care that is offered to rural Nebraska. She hopes to return to a rural area to practice medicine. She is the daughter of Rich and Lila Brock of Platte Center.
As the state’s only academic health science center, UNMC is on the leading edge of health care. Breakthroughs are possible because hard-working researchers, educators and clinicians are resolved to work together to fuel discovery. In 2009, UNMC’s extramural research support topped $100 million for the first time, resulting in the creation of 3,600 jobs in Nebraska. UNMC’s academic excellence is shown through its award-winning programs, and its educational programs are responsible for training more health professionals practicing in Nebraska than any other institution. Through its commitment to education, research, patient care and outreach, UNMC and its hospital partner, The Nebraska Medical Center, have established themselves as one of the country’s leading health care centers. UNMC’s physician practice group, UNMC Physicians, includes 550 physicians in 50 specialties and subspecialties who practice primarily in The Nebraska Medical Center. For more information, go to UNMC’s Web site at www.unmc.edu.