Four Nebraska undergraduate college students participated in the Public Health Early Admissions Student Track (PHEAST) program through the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Public Health.
The Nov. 18 open house gave students an opportunity to learn more about careers and graduate programs in public health.
PHEAST is a health professions pipeline program designed to recruit, educate and graduate public health leaders committed to improving population health outcomes in Nebraska.
The students were welcomed by Patrik Johansson, M.D., director of the Rural Health Education Network (RHEN). He provided an overview and background of the PHEAST program and the public health profession.
The RHEN education and outreach program manager, Sonja Russell, gave a presentation on RHEN undergraduate program offerings. After a meeting with students and mentors, and a campus tour, the students then attended the college’s open house sessions in the afternoon.
Students who participate in PHEAST receive mentoring, free tuition during their junior and senior years at their undergraduate institution. They also receive a scholarship for the Foundations of Public Health course, a three credit-hour graduate course required as part of the Master of Public Health program.
Students who successfully complete their undergraduate program of study also benefit from automatic admission into the College of Public Health. Students from the University of Nebraska at Kearney, Chadron State College, Peru State College and Wayne State College are eligible to apply for the program.
Since its inception in 2012, one PHEAST student has graduated from UNMC, two are now at UNMC and five are in the pipeline.
Other students who attended this year’s event are listed below along with their hometowns and undergraduate colleges they attend.
Grand Island – Meghan Krajicek, Wayne State College
Lincoln – Dylan Reinhardt, Peru State College
McCook – Patricia Mitnik, Chadron State College
Sterling – Derek Julian, Peru State College
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