41 high school seniors to enter RHOP at CSC

The program began in 1990 as a joint venture between Chadron State and the University of Nebraska Medical Center to help counter the shortage of medical professionals in rural Nebraska. UNMC reported last fall that RHOP is achieving its mission as 52 percent of its graduates are practicing health care in rural Nebraska, and another 16 percent are working in the lesser-populated areas of other states.

Students in the program take pre-professional training at Chadron State before transferring to one of the UNMC sites. The dental students will take advanced training at Lincoln, the dental hygiene and nursing students at Scottsbluff and the others in Omaha.

Twenty-five of the aspiring health professionals were accepted to RHOP as primary participants while the others are alternates. Often, the alternates become primary participants before their training at Chadron State is completed.

Fifty-five high school seniors from throughout Nebraska were on campus in January to interview for positions in the program.

Participants, their schools and disciplines of study:

Dentistry: Rachel Arnett, Hershey; Kendra Hansen, Brady; Levi Witthuhn, Callaway.

Dental Hygiene: Clarissa Babb, St. Edward.

Medicine: Haley Kathol, Norfolk; Kyle Klammer, Ainsworth; Philip Martin, Crawford; Chloe Olson, Garden County at Oshkosh; Gillian Rolfe, Falls City; Kathryn Score, Elgin.

Nursing: Sarah Counts, Creek Valley at Chappell; Cassie Erickson, Wauneta-Palisade; Amanda Hemenway, Elgin; Krista Nelson, Creighton.

Pharmacy: Michelle Mahr, Sidney; Rick Marlatt, Gordon-Rushville; Amy Mitchell, Chadron.

Physical Therapy: Megan Bowman, Kearney Catholic; Robert France, Gothenburg; Kari Kenner, Ainsworth; Aubrey Soester, Crawford.

Physician Assistant: Jason Cameron, Chambers; Kayla Glanz, Sidney; Rachel McCoy, Crawford.

Radiography: Laura Hamling, Valentine; Breanne Ritz, Ravenna.

Alternates, their schools and disciplines of study:

Dentistry: Kaylee King, Crawford.

Dental Hygiene: Jordan Harriger, Mitchell; Melanie Shafto, Pleasanton.

Medicine: Riley Machal, Ord; Dalton Nelson, Callaway; David Rupp, Gering; Jesse Schmid, Alliance.

Pharmacy: Molly Lux, Crawford.

Physical Therapy: Audrey Jacobsen, Minden; Josh Johnson, Burwell; Rebecca Kathman, Lawrence-Nelson; Allison Rowden, Broken Bow; Bridget Scherbarth, Alliance.

Radiography: Grace Tuttle, Chambers; Marilee Boals, Sutton.