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WAYNE — An area student is one of 52 Nebraskans who is earning a spot in the Rural Health Opportunities Program (RHOP) at Wayne State College.
Laurel native Julia Johnson was selected into the program for nursing.
The Rural Health Opportunities Program (RHOP) offers a comprehensive suite of benefits designed to support aspiring healthcare professionals.
Students are selected from rural Nebraska and receive a full-tuition scholarship at Wayne State, eliminating a significant financial barrier to their education. Upon successful completion of their undergraduate studies, they are guaranteed admission to a specific health program at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), providing a clear pathway to advanced training.
The program emphasizes practical experience through exposure to rural healthcare settings and practices and includes opportunities to visit UNMC and area healthcare facilities, which builds familiarity with their future working environment.
Mentoring from faculty at Wayne State and UNMC provides invaluable guidance and support, while a specialized curriculum and interaction with fellow health pathways students prepare them for the rigors of UNMC’s programs.
At Wayne, participants also benefit from learning from experts who have mentored numerous previous RHOP students, access to state-of-the-art learning labs, and a campus environment that recognizes and nurtures their potential.
“Nebraska high schools do a tremendous job preparing young minds for careers in science and medicine.” said Dr. Ron Loggins, dean of the School of Science, Health, and Criminal Justice at Wayne State. “Wayne State is proud that these talented students have chosen RHOP at Wayne to launch their careers. This year we are excited to share that students pursuing studies in the fields of dentistry, physical therapy, and physician assistant will be enrolled in our new Biomedical Science program.”
“Students choose RHOP at Wayne State because of the college’s proven track record of academic excellence and thoughtful mentorship,” added Loggins.” This year Wayne State has added a pre-public health track for students. Here at Wayne, these students will major in One Health Studies, a new degree program that prepares students for the variety of challenges faced in supporting public health.”
Also new this year, the Wayne State Foundation established the Rural Health Opportunities Program (RHOP) Endowment Fund to raise funds for additional scholarship opportunities. These new funds will help Wayne State recruit and retain the most qualified students for this unique program.
RHOP at Wayne State currently supports the health fields of Dental Hygiene, Dentistry, Medical Laboratory Science, Medicine, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Pharmacy, Physical Therapy, Physician Assistant, Public Health, and Radiography.
