Securing a healthier future for rural communities begins with the engagement of our younger generations. This week, we’re thrilled to host three emerging leaders on Rural Health Leadership Radio: Jenah McCarty, Hallie Vonk, and Nick Lembezeder. These graduate students from the University of Iowa’s College of Public Health share their journey in founding the inaugural Student Association for Rural Health (SARH) and outline the organization’s objectives. Throughout the episode, they reflect on SARH’s influence on themselves and their peers and offer guidance for students aspiring to establish similar organizations.

“The Student Association for Rural Health is reinvigorating individual’s passion for rural health, and sharing that passion with the next generation of leaders so we can create a better future for rural health”

-Hallie Vonk

Nick is a second-year Master of Public Health of Public Health student at the University of Iowa and Co-Programming and Events chair for the SARH. He is from Peosta, Iowa, and spent four years in Decorah Iowa completing his bachelor’s in Classical Studies and Biology at Luther College. This fall Nick will be attending the University of Iowa’s Carver College of Medicine and hopes to practice medicine in rural Iowa.

Jenah McCarty is a Master of Public Health and Master of Health Administration student at the University of Iowa, and President of SARH. She is also an intern with Rural Health Leadership Radio. Jenah completed her undergraduate at the University of Iowa in Public Health and Human Relations. Jenah grew up in rural Iowa, which sparked her passion for rural health.

Hallie Vonk is a Master of Health Administration student at the University of Iowa and Co-Programming and Events chair for the SARH. She was raised in Hinton, Iowa, and completed her undergraduate degree in Health and Human Physiology at the University of Iowa. Hallie found an interest in rural health during her graduate program, highlighting the advantage of personal connections in rural communities.