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Stories from the Field: Rural Health Care in Action

Welcome to the NMU Center for Rural Health blog! Here’s what you will find here…

  • Educational information on various issues in rural healthcare;
  • Coverage of initiatives and events;
  • Profiles of health care professionals, from the Upper Peninsula and beyond;
  • Features on various NMUCRH collaborative partnerships;
  • Updates on NMUCRH developments.

Have a story you’d like to share? Let us know at ruralhealth@nmu.edu.

 

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Healthcare Stories

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Trillium House coffee mug on a marble counter in front of a Dead River Coffee bag

Home Way From Home: Trillium House

Nestled in the tranquil woods of Marquette, Michigan, Trillium House serves as a comforting sanctuary for those needing hospice and respite care . Continue reading to hear more from Executive Director of the Trillium House, Melissa Cavill.
 

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A volunteer helps an elderly man out of a van

A Heartwarming Initiative: Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly

Little Brothers - Friends of the Elderly (LBFE) is a glimmer of hope in the lives of seniors, offering them the warmth of friendship and the joy of human connection.
 

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Senior Center Sign

A Shining Symbol of Community: Ishpeming Multi-Purpose Senior Center

 Guided by a passionate Executive Director, Ashley Roberts, the Ishpeming Multi-Purpose Senior Center serves as a lifeline for individuals aged 60+, offering services and programs designed to nurture their well-being.
 

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Mental health brochure propped up in green plant

unitē Mental Health and Wellness

unitē Mental Health and Wellness is a nonprofit mental health practice offering therapy for those needing mild to moderate care. Unitē was founded by Angela Price and Beth Shannon with a mission to unite individuals in rural communities with quality mental health care while also suppo...

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Levata Sleep Logo

Treating Sleep Apnea with Dr. Anja Hoffstrom

Dr. Anja Hoffstrom from Levata Sleep reported that over 23 million Americans suffer from sleep apnea, yet only about 80% are diagnosed.

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Beacon House light house in front of a sunset sky

Beacon House: A Shining Ray of Light

Mary Tavernini-Dowling is the chief executive officer (CEO) of the Hospitality House of the Upper Peninsula, more commonly known as the Mariucci Family Beacon House or simply the Beacon House. The Beacon House got its name because of the beautiful image it portra...

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Shannon

Health Care Feature: Community Health Worker

Shannon Lijewski, NCHW MBA, CHCEF, Principal & Chief Executive Officer at Everyday Life Consulting in lower Michigan, is a champion for supporting the expansion of CHWs statewide, particularly in rural areas.

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Roy Del Valle

U.P. Healthcare Feature: Michigan Rehabilitation Services, Roy Del Valle

Roy Del Valle is the District Manager for the Western, Central & Northern Division of Michigan Rehabilitation Services (MRS). MRS develops customized workforce solutions for businesses and individuals with disabilities.

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Nicki Owens North Woods Place

U.P. Healthcare Profile: Nicki Owens, North Woods Place

An example of supporting the U.P.'s senior population is the North Woods Place Senior Living assisted living community located in Escanaba, MI.  Nicki Owens has been the Community Relations Manager at North Woods Place for three years.

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Healthcare Feature

U.P. Healthcare Feature: Kathleen Mieloszyk, Aspirus Ironwood

During her sophomore year in the Clinical Laboratory Technician program at NMU, Kathleen Mielosyk '22 had to complete a practicum. A proud resident of Ironwood, Mich., Mielosyk was lucky enough to be placed st 

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Community Health Feature

Community Health Feature: Marquette County Senior Provider Network

The Marquette County Senior Provider Network is a collaborative group that meets monthly to identify and address unmet needs of the senior community. Started in 2009, group members meet with goals of sharing resources and decreasing duplication of services. 

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Michelle Seguin

Community Health Profile: Dr. Michelle Seguin, Director of Community Health, Portage Health Foundation

With the well-being of her patients and community as her inspiration, Dr. Michelle Seguin is tackling food insecurity head on as Director of Community Health for the Portage Health Foundation. 

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Carrie Sevarns Blog Feature

Community Health Profile: Carrie Sevarns, Project Director, EUP-ORC

The Eastern Upper Peninsula Opioid Response Consortium (EUP-ORC) was born out of a need for community resources, from prevention to treatment and recovery services. The NMUCRH talked with EUP-ORC Project Director Carrie Sevarns about current and future initiatives for awareness, treatment, and prevention.

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Marquette Resilience

Resilience and "Curbing" Trauma in Marquette County

CRB-Trauma Marquette is a coalition of professionals who work directly with community members. These individuals come from industries such as law enforcement, social work, local government, public health, mental health, and the ...

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SLHS Clinic

SLHS Community Clinic Benefits Students, Serves Community

The emphasis of clinical training is a unique strength of NMU’s SLHS program. The SLHS clinic provides community services performed by undergraduate students under the direct supervision of American Speech-Langua...

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Brintlinger DDS

U.P. Provider Profile: Ashley Brintlinger DDS

Ashley Brintlinger DDS is a general dentist currently practicing at Peninsula Family Dentistry in her hometown of Negaunee, Michigan. 

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EMS Leslie Hall

EMS Profile: Leslie Hall, Michigan Rural EMS Network

The Northern Michigan Center for Rural Health met with Leslie Hall, Executive Director of the Michigan Rural EMS Network (MiREMS) to get her input on the state of EMS in rural Michigan. Here is her #MiEMSstory.

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EMS Week Andrea

EMS Week Profile: Andrea Abbas, Michigan Center for Rural Health

It’s EMS Week! The Northern Michigan Center for Rural Health met with Andrea Abbas, EMS Programs Manager for the Michigan Center for Rural Health. Here is her #MiEMSstory.

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EMS Week Gary Wadaga

EMS Week Profile: Gary Wadaga, Bay Ambulance Inc.

It’s EM+NS Week! The Northern Michigan Center for Rural Health met with Gary Wadaga, Service Director of Bay Ambulance Inc. Here is his #MiEMSstory.

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Nursing Student Vaccine Clinic

Nursing Students Assist with Tribal Immunization Clinic

Nursing students who missed out on hands-on experiences due to COVID-19 were able to gain it back during an immunization clinic at the Munising Sault Tribe Health Center,.

Partnerships and Collaborations

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Two students in white lab coats work in a lab classroom

Supporting the Future of Rural Healthcare: NMU + Helen Newberry Joy Hospital

Northern Michigan University's (NMU) School of Clinical Sciences has partnered with Helen Newberry Joy Hospital (HNJH) to provide students with hands-on experience and financial support.

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Hepatitis C

Lenny the Liver and Hepatitis C Awareness

NMU Professor Mark Shevy’s SP 320 New Media Literacy class planned a social media campaign promoting hepatitis C awareness with help of Katreena Hite, LLMSW.

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Little Presque Laptop

NMU's EAN Partners with Two U.P. Community Action Agencies

NMU's Education Access Network is bringing reliable internet access to Community Action Alger-Marquette and Gogebic-Ontonagon Community Action Agency.

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I Trekked the U.P.

A Collaboration for a Cause

Recent NMU graphic design graduate Cole Fisher '20 completed a landing page for a District 10 Lions childhood cancer fundraiser called I Trekked the U.P

Educational Resources

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NMU Food Pantry

NMU Food Pantry

Thirty percent of all college students experience food insecurity during their pursuit of higher education. As defined by the United States Department of Agriculture. The NMU food pantry is open to all NMU students, faculty, and staff in need of assistance.

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Trauma Centers

Trauma Centers in the Upper Peninsula

In the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, there are several Level IV trauma centers, two Level III trauma centers and one Level II trauma center. There are no Level I trauma centers in the Upper Peninsula.

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American Flag

Community Health Profile: Regional Veteran Navigator

Jason Wallner, Veteran Navigator with NorthCare Network, helps veterans navigate through different resources related to mental health and substance use. 

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American Flag

Community Health Profile: Veteran Services

Richard Jacobson helps U.P. veterans as a Veteran Se

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Food

Grant Helps Feeding America West Michigan Increase Food Education

Feeding America West Michigan recently received a grant from the Superior Health Foundation (SHF) to create a program increasing food education in the Upper Peninsula. 

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CIP x IMPART

Closing the Gap: Strengthening the Direct Care Workforce in Michigan

Currently, there is a national shortage of in-home caregivers and direct care workers. In the state of Michigan, there are resources working towards eliminating this problem.

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NMU Nursing Student with Patient

Patient Safety Awareness Week 2021

As we acknowledge Patient Safety Awareness Week March 14-20, the mission of advancing safety discussions and education in healthcare is more important than ever. One of the most common ways safety in hospitals is measured is through nationall...

Recent News

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Fight the Flu 2022

2022 Flu Competition Winner

This winter, Northern Michigan University Center for Rural Health brought Upper Peninsula universities together for the second annual Fight the Flu competition. Students, staff and faculty f...

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BEAR Center

Updates from NMU's BEAR Center

In addition to services currently available to regional community, the BEAR Center is introducing a new Registered Behavior Technician™ (RBT®) training course via NMU’s Continuing Education and Workforce Development&nbsp...

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Trevor Rupiper

NMUCRH Graduate Assistant Rupiper Invited to AACSB Honor Society

Trevor Rupiper, Northern Michigan University MBA student and Center for Rural Health Project Assistant, recently received an invitation to the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), a global honor society for students graduating from business programs.

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Flu Shot Competition Winners

"Fight the Flu" Competition Wrap Up

Based on the self-reported statistics, the winning University for the 2020-2021 flu shot competition is Finlandia University!