Students Participate in 2015 URMED Internships
BVU's Undergraduate Rural Medicine Education and Development program selected three students for its January 2015 scholars program, which included a white coat ceremony and an internship in rural Iowa hospitals.
The Undergraduate Rural Medicine Education and Development (URMED) program selected three Buena Vista University students for its January 2015 scholars program, which included a white coat ceremony and a three-week internship.
The students selected for the January 2015 URMED internship were Emily Block, a senior biology major from Panora; Joseph Hindman, a senior biology major from Sioux City; and Taylor Kavaya, a senior biology and chemistry major from Urbandale.
The URMED internship is awarded to select BVU pre-med students who have an interest in practicing rural medicine. During their internship, the students are introduced to a variety of clinical and healthcare practices at BVRMC and other area rural hospitals. The URMED scholar recipients are also each given a $3,000 stipend provided by BVU and the participating hospitals to help them cover the costs of applying to medical school.
"The students who participate in URMED come away with a strong sense of what it's like to practice medicine in a rural community," said Dr. Kristy McClellan, assistant professor of biology and faculty advisor for the program. "They work at multiple sites with a variety of medical practitioners from different specialties. When they return from their experience, I enjoy hearing them say, with enthusiasm, that they know what they want to do and what they don't want to do."
The URMED program was developed seven years ago through a partnership with BVU and Buena Vista Regional Medical Center (BVRMC). Along with the URMED program, BVRMC provides learning opportunities throughout the academic year for BVU students who are pursuing careers in medicine and other health care professions.
The URMED program was designed to help alleviate the impending national shortage of physicians and other healthcare practitioners in rural communities. While URMED participants are not required to return to the communities where they interned, they are encouraged to practice medicine in a rural area.