Many CSC students to medical schools

Fifteen of the students have been participating in the Rural Health Opportunities Program that is a joint venture with the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. One student will begin studying occupational therapy at Creighton University in Omaha after finishing her pre-professional studies at CSC in the High Plains Health Opportunities Program.

The remaining students have been in what Chadron State calls its “traditional program,” and have been accepted by several medical schools. Four of them will attend veterinary colleges.

Dr. Joyce Hardy, vice president for academic and student affairs at CSC, said this year’s high acceptance rate is a tribute to the college’s academic program. She said schools that train health professionals recognize the quality of the undergraduate experience at Chadron State, partially because of the high success rate previous CSC students have had at those schools.

One of the first participants in RHOP at Chadron State, Dr.Jeff King, received the Nebraska Young Physician of the Year award in April. He is a native of Gordon and now practices in Grand Island.

Those going to the University of Nebraska Medical Center through the RHOP program:

Dentistry—Tom Pratt, North Platte, and Hayley Rehm and Loren Sites, both of Holdrege.

Dental hygiene—Cammie Lechtenburg, Ainsworth.

Medicine—Joe Citta, Columbus, and Kari Yaw, Imperial.

Pharmacy—Desiree Graham, Ainsworth; Amy Krotter, Spencer; and Lori Littlejohn, Chappell.

Physical therapy—Sara Griffiths, Harrisburg; Jessica Nelson, Blair; Kellie Obermeier, North Platte; and Kallie Seier, Pierce.

Radiography—Michaela Thompson, Milburn, and Brooke Weinrich, Pierce.

Occupational therapy—Brittany Smith, Blair, at Creighton.

Traditional pre-professional health professions students and the schools they will attend:

Dental hygiene—Alyssa Derry, Chappell, UNMC.

Medical Technology—Ashley Foster, North Platte, and Aimee Hunter, Saratoga, Wyo., UNMC; and Craig Powell, Scottsbluff, University of South Dakota.

Medicine—Echo Fredrickson, Hay Springs, Emory University in Atlanta.

Nursing—Mikele Boshart, Wood River; Keara Ravenscroft, Sutherland; and Lindsey Walker, Rock Springs, Wyo., all UNMC.

Pharmacy—Melanie Caroselli, Alliance, UNMC; Sarah Morrissey, Merritt, British Columbia, University of Wyoming; and Josh Skufca, North Platte, and Janet Witte, Cambridge, both Creighton University.

Physician assistant—Sara Crookshank, Sidney, UNMC, and Amy Wiseman, O’Neill, University of South Dakota.

Physical therapy—Danielle Dykstra, Custer, S.D., and Kilee Portenier, Harvard; UNMC; Megan Ostrander, Rushville, St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa; and Jen Holtzen, Deshler, Northeast Nebraska Community College in Norfolk.

Radiography—Misty Helser, Mitchell, and Barb Miller, Ainsworth, UNMC; Wendy Simonson, Gordon; Clarkson College in Omaha; and Laci Wood, Broken Bow, Nebraska Methodist Hospital in Lincoln.

Veterinary medicine—Jered Harlan, Rose, Oklahoma State; Caitlin Urdahl, Ault, Colo., Colorado State; and Somer Tremain Pieper, Sidney, and Jamie Wood, Orchard, Kansas State.

In addition, Kiyomi Yamaguchi, Oliver, British Columbia, has been accepted to study pharmacy at Montana State University, pending her final grades. She said they will be good.