Chadron State College has selected 23 seniors from high schools in Nebraska as participants this fall in the collaborative Rural Health Opportunities Program…with 8 others named as alternates. Alternates often become primary participants before their training at CSC is completed.

RHOP guarantees incoming Chadron State freshmen that they will have slots in 9 health profession programs at the University of Nebraska Medical Center after completing their pre-professional work at CSC as long as they meet the entrance requirements for that program at that time.

They also receive receive four-year, full-tuition waivers to Chadron State as long as they remain eligible.CSC Director of Health Programs Jill Mack calls this year’s participants and alternates “a great group of students” that faculty and staff are excited to having coming to the college this fall.

They were selected based on college entrance examination scores, academic success and leadership exhibited in high school and personal interviews done in January. Mack says  some of the interviews were conducted in-person while others were conducted using distance technology.

RHOP began in 1990 as a joint venture between CSC and UNMC to help counter the shortage of medical professionals in rural Nebraska.

It was based on studies that showed medical professionals who grew up in rural areas were more inclined to practice in such areas than those from urban areas, and over 75% of the RHOP graduates have gone on to practice in small towns or rural areas…over half of them in Nebraska.

RHOP students in dentistry take their advanced training at Lincoln, nursing students in Scottsbluff, and those in dental hygiene in Gering. The other 6 professional study programs are at the main UNMC campus in Omaha.

Following are the selections.

Clinical Lab Science

Participant:  Kayla Daniels, Albion.

Dental Hygiene

Participant: Anessa Kivett, Hershey.

Dentistry

Participants: Brook Boucher, Maxwell; Emilee Elwood, Gordon; Kelsy Wood, Hemingford.

Alternate:  Cassidy Pribnow, Albion.

Medicine

Participants: Garrett Dockweiler, Oconto; Anthony Fitzgerald, Crete; Justin German, Imperial; Hailey Keller, Kimball; Sara Marlatt, Gordon.

First Alternate: Jerrick Bowers, Gering.

Alternates:  Sienna Athy, Kearney; Jayden Gubbels, Hubbard; Chelsea Lukasiewicz, Fort Calhoun; Kristen Nelson, Sutherland.

Nursing

Participants: Calene Mulcahy, Gordon; Terra Phelps, Ayr; Emily Rongisc, Sutherland.

Physical Therapy

Participants:  Paxton Ewing, Sidney; Madison Malzahn, Sidney; Regg Strotheide, Rushville.

Physician Assistant

Participant: Ellie Applegarth, Alliance; Mariah Conyers, Bellwood; Hollie Eiler, McCook.

Alternates: Megan Riha, Stuart; Mackenzie Smith, Mitchell.

Pharmacy

Participants: Devin Jacob, Newcastle; Maddison Vaverek, Imperial.

Radiography

Participants: Bethany Bergstrom, Axtell; Shay Kernick, Gordon.