| Wisconsin Center for Public Health Education and Training Immersion Photos and Press Release |
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PUBLIC HEALTH IMMERSION WEEK
Students from across Wisconsin traveled to the Cashton and Hillsboro area August 21-26, 2011 for an immersion experience to explore the differences and opportunities found in rural health. The experience was coordinated by Scenic Rivers Area Health Education Center (AHEC) based in Cashton at Scenic Bluffs Community Health Center with funding support from the Wisconsin Center for Public Health Education and Training located in Madison at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health.
In conjunction with putting a critical eye on rural health systems, the students were introduced to some of the populations in the region that experience barriers to health care access, including rural farm families and the Amish and Hispanic communities. These students participated in a semester long course that includes the immersion week, weekly technology consultations, as well as four visits to the area culminating in a community report at the end of the semester. The purpose this experience was to facilitate a needs assessment of the rural population and in turn develop collaborative projects with the participating organizations.
The six visiting students, currently working toward a Master in Public Health degree included: Timothy Connolly, Alexandra Ostromecki, Katie Lohse, Lauren Gibbs, Jennifer Whitty, and Cari Cuffney. Their visits included the Scenic Bluff Community Health Centers in Cashton and Norwalk, local Amish farms and apothecary, Vernon Memorial Healthcare and the Gundersen Lutheran clinic, Couleecap in Westby, Lugar de Reunion in Sparta, Dr. James Deline of the La Farge Clinic , St. Joseph’s Healthcare in Hillsboro, CROPP Organic Valley Cooperative, Ocooch Dairy, the Kickapoo Valley Reserve and multiple local attractions that helped illustrate the the Coulee Region. The vast experience and personal direction of these individuals created a refreshing conversation on the strengths and opportunities of rural healthcare.
In conjunction with their respective educational institutions, steering committee members for the week were Dr. Gary Gilmore, MPH, PhD, Professor and Director of Graduate Community Health/Public Health Programs, UW- La Crosse; Mark Edgar, PhD, MPH, Program Coordinator of the newly created and funded Wisconsin Center for Public Health Education and Training; Martha McCabe, Executive Director, Scenic Rivers AHEC; Mari Freiberg, Executive Director, Scenic Bluffs Community Health Center; and Mary Brueggeman, RN, MSN, Executive Director of Clinical Services, St. Joseph’s Healthcare .
This is just one of the many local opportunities Scenic Rivers AHEC offers to students. The goal of Scenic Rivers AHEC is to connect professionals and future health professions students with rural health to explore the challenges and rewards of working in small communities.
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