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UNK sophomore Benjamin VanDiest currently works as a certified nursing assistant at Mount Carmel Home in Kearney. He plans to continue serving rural Nebraska residents as a physician assistant. (Photo by Erika Pritchard, UNK Communications)By TYLER ELLYSON
UNK Communications
Benjamin VanDiest has always understood the importance of quality health care.
The University of Nebraska at Kearney student was born with a congenital condition that required emergency surgery and intensive medical care as a newborn.
“I had to be life flighted to Children’s Hospital and had surgery at a day and a half old,” VanDiest said. “The doctors and nurses took phenomenal care of me, and I was able to go home almost as if nothing had ever been wrong.”
That experience – combined with his family’s deep ties to the health care field – inspired VanDiest to pursue a career where he could make a similar impact on other people’s lives.
Now a sophomore in UNK’s pre-physician assistant program, VanDiest is preparing for that future by gaining valuable experience inside and outside the classroom. He’s part of the Kearney Health Opportunities Program, which provides scholarships, mentoring, job shadowing and professional development opportunities for students committed to working in rural communities.
VanDiest also participated in the Rural Immersion Program earlier this summer. Launched in January 2024, the UNK Health Sciences initiative exposes students to the unique challenges and rewarding experiences of rural health care.
UNK health science students are pictured at the Senator George Norris State Historic Site in McCook. They spent a week in the southwest Nebraska community while participating in the Rural Immersion Program. (Courtesy photo)A total of six students spent a week in McCook, where they shadowed professionals at Community Hospital and its affiliated clinics, giving them a closer look at these careers. VanDiest was able to observe a variety of departments, including emergency care, surgery, radiology, pharmacy and family medicine, and the UNK students learned more about the overall operations during discussions with hospital administrators.
“The Rural Immersion Program is a valuable experience for any health science undergraduate student because it opens your eyes to the vital role that rural health care plays in our state,” VanDiest said. “I was able to see firsthand what it takes to run a rural hospital and how everyone works together to ensure their patients receive the best health care available.
UNK health science students learn about fire and emergency medical services in McCook. (Courtesy photo)“I also learned that McCook and the surrounding area are very fortunate to have Community Hospital because it provides so many services to southwest Nebraska and northwest Kansas and is very supportive of the community. Without the services they provide, many people would be forced to drive two or three hours just to receive health care.”
In addition to learning about the medical services, the students met with local leaders and explored the McCook community, visiting its restaurants, amenities and historic sites.
“The community of McCook treated us very well while we were out there. Their hospitality was second to none,” VanDiest noted.
The experiential learning opportunity reaffirmed his desire to serve in a rural area, where providers build lasting relationships with patients and play an essential role in the overall health and well-being of the community.
“As a rural health care provider, you wear many hats,” he said. “You could get called in to deliver a baby, and then go see an elderly patient who has a bad cough. By having many different roles, you get to know your patients and their families.”
Originally from Doniphan, VanDiest chose UNK because he enjoys that kind of welcoming, close-knit environment. He currently works as a certified nursing assistant at Mount Carmel Home, a skilled nursing facility in Kearney.
“I enjoy working with and socializing with the residents,” he said. “I understand that they’re all somebody’s loved one, and I truly believe that by getting to know them and better understanding their needs, I can provide the best care for them and their families. I want to provide them with the same care that I would want my family members to receive.”
As he continues his education, VanDiest hopes to be part of the solution to the state’s health care workforce shortage by serving even more rural Nebraskans.
“Without providers who are willing to work in rural areas, patients will lack vital health care services they require,” he said. “Having providers in their local, hometown vicinity makes a positive impact on the community and surrounding area’s overall health and well-being.”
Troy Bruntz, president and CEO of Community Hospital in McCook, meets with UNK health science students participating in the Rural Immersion Program earlier this summer. (Courtesy photo)
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