RHES completes a Study on the Need for a Centralized Dental Recruitment Program, Dental Temporary Coverage Program and Dental Loan Forgiveness in Kansas

The United Methodist Health Ministry Fund contracted with Rural Health Education and Services of the University of Kansas Medical Center to assess the need in Kansas for additional oral health workforce programs. A copy of the Study on the Need for a Centralized Dental Recruitment Program, Dental Temporary Coverage Program, and Dental Loan Forgiveness in Kansas report may be found at http://ruralhealth.kumc.edu.

As part of this project and as a thank you to the dental providers that participated in this study, the United Methodist Health Ministry Fund donated $5 to the Kansas Dental Charitable Foundation for every completed survey, resulting in a total donation of $5,475.

If you have any questions, please contact Rural Health Education and Services at (316) 293-2649.

Kansas Career Opportunities a Success!

Each year, Rural Health Education and Services hosts the Kansas Career Opportunities (KCO) events. The events, held in both Wichita, Kan., and Kansas City, Kan., are designed to introduce medical students, resident physicians, and allied health students to current and potential career opportunities in rural communities throughout Kansas.

The Kansas City event, held on Oct. 18, 2007, in the Hixson Atrium of the University of Kansas Medical Center, attracted 164 participants. Twenty-seven exhibitors were on hand to introduce participants to the communities and opportunities throughout the state. On Oct. 25, the Wichita KCO event attracted 109 participants. These resident physicians, allied health, medical and nursing students had the opportunity to meet with 35 exhibitors.

Rural Health awarded one lucky exhibitor at each event with a free booth at next year’s KCO events. The winners of a free 2008 KCO booth were Salina Regional Medical Center and Hutchinson Hospital. Congratulations!

Rural Health would like to thank everyone who participated in the Kansas Career Opportunities (KCO) events at KUMC in Kansas City and at KUSM-W in Wichita.

2007 Rural Kansas Photography Contest Winners

Congratulations to the winners of the 2007 Rural Kansas Photography Contest, presented by the University of Kansas Medical Center, Rural Health Education and Services. Winning photos can be found on the Rural Health Web site: http://ruralhealth.kumc.edu.

Kansas Recruitment Center Makes Placements

The Kansas Recruitment Center (KRC) and Rural Health Education and Services is pleased to announce three placements for rural Kansas! Bonnie Cramer, MD, will join Cloud County Medical Center, Concordia, Kan., in 2009 after completing her family medicine residency. Keona King, ARRT, has joined Decatur Health Systems, Oberlin, Kan., as a radiology technician. Chuck Keener, MD, is also providing health care to rural Kansas, at Central Kansas Family Practice, Great Bend, Kan, as he joined the team in September. To date, KRC has assisted in placing 42 health care providers in rural communities across the state. For more information about KRC, contact Lauren Lambert, llambert2@kumc.edu.

Annual 3RNet Conference

The Kansas Recruitment Center serves as the state’s representative for the National Rural Recruitment and Retention Network (3RNet). KRC staff attended the 3RNet conference, September 26 – 28, 2007 in Richmond, Vir. This year’s conference focused on Meeting our Mission and featured presentations on access, community development, and national advocacy. For more information regarding the conference or KRC, contact Lauren Lambert, 316-293-3475, llambert2@kumc.edu.

Fort Hays State University Career Fair

Rural Health Education and Services staff exhibited at the Fort Hays State University Career Fair, Fort Hays, Kan., on Sept. 20, 2007. RHES staff visited with numerous nursing and allied health students interested in careers in rural communities. For more information, please contact Lauren Lambert, at llambert2@kumc.edu.

Rural Health Attended KMGMA Conference

Rural Health staff exhibited at the Kansas Medical Group Management Association (KMGMA) conference in Overland Park, Kan., on September 13 – 14, 2006. Exhibiting to physician practice managers, this conference provided an opportunity to showcase programs and services offered through the Rural Health office. For more information, contact Andee Ellis, aellis@kumc.edu.

KRC Exhibits at MINK

The Kansas Recruitment Center (KRC) has taken advantage of the Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, and Kansas (MINK) Physician Recruitment and Retention Network membership, through exhibitions in Wichita, Kan., and Omaha, Neb. Both career fairs provided staff with the opportunity to represent KRC clients for recruitment of physicians and was a great opportunity to highlight communities throughout the state. KRC will continue to participate in MINK career fairs, including the Kansas City career fair on November 1, 2007. For more information about KRC, contact Lauren Lambert, at llambert2@kumc.edu.

KRC Visits Central Kansas

KRC staff has been busy this fall traveling to Kansas communities in effort to gain a better understanding of the recruitment needs for the health care organizations in each area. These site visits will allow KRC to better match candidates’ needs with a clearer insight to the community and organization opportunities. For more information about the Kansas Recruitment Center, contact Lauren Lambert, at llambert2@kumc.edu.