By TYLER ELLYSON
UNK Communications
KEARNEY – Dylan Pfeifer is only a sophomore at the University of Nebraska at Kearney, but he’s already making connections with potential employers and planning his future career.
The Central City native wants to work in rural health care, so he’s looking for ways to network with professionals in the field and learn more about providers across the state.
“If I can build those relationships now, then I’ll have more options when I finish professional school and start my career,” said Pfeifer, who’s part of the pre-physician assistant program. “This allows me to create connections that will continue to be valuable in the years ahead.”
Pfeifer has job shadowed at Kearney Regional Medical Center and Merrick Medical Center, and he’s a member of the Kearney Health Opportunities Program (KHOP), which provides financial assistance and professional development activities for participants.
He attended this week’s Hospital Partners Networking Event with a goal of identifying even more opportunities to gain hands-on experience during college.
Representatives from a dozen hospitals and health care systems were on campus for Wednesday’s event, giving them a chance to chat with more than 160 students from UNK Health Sciences. They talked about job shadowing and internships, clinical rotations, part-time positions and long-term career opportunities, all while promoting the benefits of practicing in a rural community.
“I think people sleep on rural communities because they think we don’t have much to offer, but that’s just not true,” said Meghan Cowger, a talent acquisition coordinator at York General Hospital. “We want to show students that you don’t have to go to a bigger city to find a rewarding career and a supportive workplace that provides growth opportunities and competitive wages and benefits.”
Cowger promoted York General as a place where students can use all of their skills. The critical access hospital offers a wide range of primary care and specialty services, including oncology and infusion, cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation, respiratory therapy, obstetrics, orthopedics and surgical services. York General also operates skilled nursing and assisted living facilities.
The not-for-profit health provider recently joined the UNK Hospital Partners program as part of its recruiting efforts, which also include a scholarship program for high school seniors and tuition assistance for current professionals looking to advance in their careers.
Members of the KHOP program will visit York General in early April, and the hospital will host UNK health science students this summer through the Rural Immersion Program, a weeklong experience that gives participants a closer look at rural health care and the impact they can make in these communities.
“It’s really about creating more awareness and promoting the opportunities that are available in rural areas,” Cowger said. “We want to develop that pipeline early on so we have a steady flow of students who are interested in coming to York General.”
Julie Calahan, engagement and retention coordinator with UNK Health Sciences, also uses the word pipeline to describe the Hospital Partners program and its role in workforce development.
“We know a lot of these rural areas are in need of additional health care workers, and that need will likely continue to grow,” she said. “We want to make sure we’re looking ahead and providing hospitals with ample opportunities to connect with students early in their academic journey so they can build those relationships that make a difference down the road.
“When students start thinking about clinical rotations or future employment opportunities, they already have these connections in rural communities so they’re more likely to see that as a place where they can live, work and raise a family.”
For Pfeifer, the decision to pursue a career in rural health care was an easy one. He wants to positively impact people’s lives and make a difference in the area where he was raised.
“There’s something special about growing up in a small town,” Pfeifer said. “You build these personal relationships with your friends and neighbors. It’s like you’re part of something bigger than yourself. That’s the kind of impact I want to have. I want to give back what other people gave me.”
