by Bill O'Neill, UNMC public affairs    4/2002

Candice Dziowgo’s story is a prototype of how the UNMC Rural Health Opportunities Program works to bring better health care to rural communities.

As a high school senior, Dziowgo had grown up with an interest in science. Her dad, Chuck, is an elementary math and science teacher, and her mom, Cheryl, is a substitute teacher. Dziowgo also was intrigued by the health-care professions, and she was cognizant of the field of radiography because a friend’s dad practiced as one. Her guidance counselor at O’Neill High School, meantime, was well aware of the benefits of RHOP, and talked to Dziowgo about entering the program.

Thus, four years ago, Dziowgo’s interest and ambition was paired with her guidance counselor’s awareness of RHOP. Dziowgo applied to the program, was accepted, and in a year or two will return to a rural area to help care for greater Nebraska citizens.

"I think that it’s unfortunate that small, rural communities don’t have the health-care services that they need," Dziowgo said. "It’s important that health-care providers are in those towns, too."

So did UNMC leaders when they helped to form RHOP. The initiative is a collaborative effort between UNMC, Wayne State College and Chadron State College, which Dziowgo attended. Like many students, she completed two years of undergraduate studies at Chadron before beginning work at the UNMC Omaha campus. The students study to become professionals such as dentists, dental hygienists, pharmacists, medical technologists, physician assistants, physical therapists, physicians, radiation science professionals and nurses.

Dziowgo said the guarantee that she would be admitted to UNMC -- if she maintained a 3.5 grade point average – was a bit of a stress reliever.

"It’s pretty tough competition to get into the radiography program. Being in RHOP alleviated some of the stress and let me focus on studying," Dziowgo said. Dziowgo will complete her coursework this spring for a bachelor’s degree in radiation science technology and a certification in radiography. She hopes to stay at UNMC another year to receive a certification in computer tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). She then plans to work on a rural hospital’s mobile unit that will travel to communities similar in size to her hometown of Inman, population 150.

Dziowgo said she recommends RHOP to anyone wanting to return to a rural community.

"It’s been good to me," she said.

by Bill O'Neill, UNMC public affairs

The UNMC Rural Health Opportunities Program was named recently as one of the Top 10 Rural Development Initiatives for 2001 by the Nebraska Rural Development Commission.

In recognition of the honor, Gov. Mike Johanns presented a plaque on April 4 to RHOP representatives Dan Chambers, RHEN program coordinator, and Jeanne Bishop, director of special projects for Chadron State College.

"One of the greatest pleasures of my job is when I see a student graduate, finish residency and return to rural Nebraska," said Roxanna Jokela, director of the Rural Health Education Network, through which RHOP is administered. "To think I have known that person for more than 11 years and now they are a physician enjoying life in rural Nebraska … that is a wonderful feeling!"

Begun in 1989, RHOP is designed to address the special needs of rural Nebraska by encouraging rural residents to pursue health-care careers. If selected, students can obtain early admission into participating UNMC programs upon completion of their studies at Chadron State or Wayne State College. Thus far, about 60 percent of the program’s graduates are practicing in rural Nebraska.

"RHOP has been a tremendous success in recruiting health-care providers from rural areas, then having them return to rural Nebraska to practice," Jokela said. "The shortage of health-care professionals in rural Nebraska will continue to be a pressing need, making programs such as RHOP vital."

Since 1993, the NRDC has honored outstanding development through the Top 10 and Outstanding 100 Rural Development Initiative Awards, said Craig Schroeder, executive director of the commission. "In the past nine years, the projects, businesses, programs and communities selected have represented rural Nebraska at its finest," Schroeder said. "This year’s Top 10 selections are no different; they continue to demonstrate the commitment and positive attitude of people who believe in rural Nebraska and who are willing to invest their time and resources to make the Good Life better."

Besides RHOP, the 2001 Top 10 honorees included:

The Corps of Discovery Welcome Center, Highway 81 near Crofton;

Frontier County Ethanol Challenge;

Making Education in Agriculture Different (M.E.A.D.), Mead;

Nebraska Economic Development Information Online (NEDI);

Sheridan County Players, Rushville;

Two Rivers Wellness Center, Dunning;

Windmill Festival/2nd Wind Ranch, Comstock;

Women’s Wilderness Weekend, Red Cloud; and,

Youth Community Improvement Program, Gothenburg.