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
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.
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.
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...
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.
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...
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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 ...
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...
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
Community Health Profile: Veteran Services
Richard Jacobson helps U.P. veterans as a Veteran Se
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.
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
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...
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 ...
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.
"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!