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Skylar Doenhoefer, 16, and Ansley Griffin Jr., 18, listen to lung sounds on the simulation mannequin in the College of Nursing’s Learning Resource Center. Both students are members of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska. |
The program was part of a sponsorship by the Office of Student and Multicultural Affairs, which provided dinner for the students, as well as made arrangements for them to visit a simulation lab in the College of Nursing (CON) and McGoogan Library of Medicine.
“I’m interested in becoming a nurse and seeing the simulation mannequin was really neat,” said Gabrielle McKeag, a member of the Meskwaki Tribe from Tama, Iowa.
McKeag was particularly interested in the different nursing programs offered at UNMC.
“This was a wonderful opportunity for these high school students to visit UNMC and learn about our faculty, technology and research resources for teaching as well as the opportunity to talk with several of our Native American students,” said Mary McNamee, assistant vice chancellor for student services at UNMC.
The students’ visit to UNMC was part of Creighton University’s 11th Annual Native American Retreat held March 29-31.
While on campus, the students were given a demonstration of METI Man by Patty Carstens, director of the Learning Resources Center in the CON, and a tour of the McGoogan Library by Teresa Hartman, head of education and an assistant professor in the library.
Jan Tomkins, assistant professor of medical technology, spoke to the students about careers in allied health. Myles Jones, an American Indian student enrolled in the College of Public Health, also spoke to the students.
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Third-year medical student, Anpo Charging Thunder, spoke to the American Indian students during their two-hour visit to UNMC. Charging Thunder is a member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe of South Dakota. |
Charging Thunder, who is studying family medicine at UNMC, encouraged the students to consider careers in the health profession. She also gave them a piece of advice.
“If you are interested in medicine but don’t know what you want to do, work at a hospital for awhile to find out if it is something that you really want to do before you make the financial commitment,” Charging Thunder said.
When asked what her biggest obstacle in school is, Charging Thunder said, “Time. I have five children, four at home and I don’t have a lot of time.”
Charging Thunder also said it has been intimidating at times being one of just a few American Indians attending UNMC, but she also doesn’t let it stop her from pursuing her dream of becoming a doctor.