Health Professions Week 2019

We are less than a month away from Health Professions Week, an event organized by ExploreHealthCareers.org which is aimed at helping pre-health students discover the various careers in healthcare. This year's list of digital events hosted by EHC includes Health Talks, a virtual treasure hunt, a self-care panel discussion, resources for financial literacy, live chats about mentoring and shadowing, and, as always, a virtual career fair featuring a wide range of representatives from professional programs. (Learn more and register for these free events by going here: https://explorehealthcareers.org/hpw/)

Here at SD Mines, we are gearing up to host several of our own exciting events during that week! Some of these events require a pre-registration, while other events are open for you to drop-in the day-of and check out at your convenience. All events are free and open to SD Mines students. Here's our schedule of events:

Monday, November 18th 

9:00AM-3:00PM (McKeel Conference Room) - We will be streaming some of the Health Talks and the Self-Care Panel from the EHC website. A detailed schedule for these will be updated soon.

Tuesday, November 19th

8:00AM-12:00PM (Surbeck Ballroom) - Pre-Health Expo
This event will feature information and representatives from professional programs, test preparation companies, volunteer organizations, and local shadowing/employment opportunities.

10:00AM-3:00PM (Outside of Surbeck) - Regional Health Mobile Simulation Lab
Regional Health is bringing their mock emergency room to show students what life is like in the ER. 

1:00PM-4:00PM (Hisega) - Card-Making with Helpline Center
Helpline Center will be hosting activities for students to make cards to give to members of the Rapid City community.

1:00PM-2:00PM (Hardrocker) - Occupational Therapy Demonstrations
Ranelle Nissen with USD's Occupational Therapy Department will be doing drop-in demonstrations of techniques used in occupational therapy.

1:00PM-1:30PM (Bump) - Unique Careers in Pharmacy
Amber Hawk with the University of Nebraska Medical Center's Pharmacy Program will be talking to students about the various career options within pharmacy.

1:00PM-1:30PM (Dorr) - Cardiac Clinical Specialist Careers
Representatives from PrepMD will be discussions career options as a certified cardiac clinical specialist.

1:30PM-2:00PM (Bump) - Preparing for the MCAT
Representatives from AptarePrep will be talking to students about how to get ready for the MCAT.

1:30PM-2:00PM (Dorr) - Pre-Health Student Opportunities with Black Hills Surgical Hospital
Jon Michaels with Black Hills Surgical Hospital will be talking to students about shadowing and career opportunities with BHSH.

2:00PM-3:00PM (Bump) - The Need for Diversity in the Health Professions
Vikki Driving Hawk (A.T. Still University), Dawn Warren (USD Nursing), and Jesse Herrera (Center for Inclusion at SD Mines) will be discussing the importance of diversity in healthcare and the need for bringing people from a wide range of backgrounds with an array of experiences into healthcare settings to better serve patients.

3:00PM-4:00PM (Dorr) - The Guide to PT & OT Admissions
Samuel Wheeler with the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences will be talking to students about the admissions process for physical therapy (PT) and occupational therapy (OT) programs and how to prepare for careers in those professions.

3:00PM-4:00PM (Bump) - Applying to Dental, Medical, & Pharmacy Programs
Amber Hawk (UNMC Pharmacy), Nikki Hinrich (USD Sanford School of Medicine), and Ed Vigna (UNMC Dentistry) will be discussing preparation for and the process of applying to professional programs.


7:00PM-8:00PM - FHSP Professionals Dinner
The Future Health Science Professionals will be hosting a dinner with local healthcare professionals. This dinner will feature good food and great conversations with local nurses, physicians, and dentists. The event is free for anyone who has paid their yearly dues as members of the FHSP. Students are required to pre-register for this event by sending an RSVP to fhsp@mines.sdsmt.edu

Wednesday, November 20th

7:00AM-8:30AM - Pre-Shadowing Tour at Rapid City Medical Center
Students will be touring one of the Rapid City Medical Center facilities, turning in shadowing paperwork, and getting connected to shadowing opportunities during this event. Students are required to pre-register for this event. Spaces are limited, so if you are interested, please e-mail Dr. J at Johnica.Morrow@sdsmt.edu ASAP!

10:00AM-11:00AM - Pre-Shadowing Tour at Black Hills Surgical Hospital & Imaging Center
Students will be touring two of the Black Hills Surgical Hospital facilities, turning in shadowing paperwork, and getting connected to shadowing opportunities during this event. Students are required to pre-register for this event. Spaces are limited, so if you are interested, please e-mail Dr. J at Johnica.Morrow@sdsmt.edu ASAP!

Thursday, November 21st

9:30AM-11:00AM (Student Success Center) - Meet-&-Greet with Medical Students
SD Mines alumni Levi Franz & Peter Franz will be hanging out on the big, orange couch to chat with students about preparing for and thriving in medical school. Free hot beverages (coffee, tea, hot chocolate, and caramel apple cider) and sweet treats will be available. Come with questions and stay for as much or as little time as you have to get to know these stellar med-students!

Friday, November 22nd

7:30AM-8:30AM - Grand Rounds at Regional Health Rapid City Hospital
Join us in the West Auditorium of RHRCH for an early morning presentation about pain management sponsored by Regional Health. Breakfast is provided and transportation can be arranged. If you want to ride with a group, we meet at the fireplace in the front lobby of Surbeck and leave around 7:00AM. Please let Dr. J know if you plan to ride with the group so that we can make sure we have enough seats for everyone! (Johnica.Morrow@sdsmt.edu)

We hope to see you at one or more of these events during
Health Professions Week 2019!

Stories from Displaced South Dakotans: The Adventures of CAPT Bruno Himmler

Sometimes South Dakotans find themselves living and working outside of the state as they progress in their health careers. In this series, we will share stores from some of these displaced South Dakotans and hear the advice that they have for others pursing careers in the healthcare industry.

Bruno participating in rescue swim
in Mobile, AL as part of USCG
Flight Surgeon training.  

CAPT Bruno Himmler graduated with his B.S. in Biology from Augustana University in 1989 before going into medical school at the University of South Dakota's Sanford School of Medicine. He is currently in Ketchikan, Alaska, serving as the primary provider for 220 active duty personnel. He also attended the Coast Guard flight surgeon program. He participates in call coverage for medical evacuation cases and search and rescue missions the Coast Guard carries out in Alaska, Washington, and Oregon. We caught CAPT Himmler to ask him about his pre-med experiences, career path, and advice that he has for students looking into careers in medicine.

Where did you go after leaving South Dakota? How did you land where you are now (geographically speaking)?  After graduating from medical school, I did a transitional internship in Sioux Falls before heading to serve with the US Navy as a General Medical Officer for 3 years, 2 of which were on a LPD class ship as the sole physician for 413 crew members and 1 year doing sick call at a Naval Air Station Clinic in Norfolk, VA area.  The Uniform Services (Air Force, Army, Navy, United States Public Health Service) all offer up scholarships for students attending medical school to pay for tuition room, board and misc. expenses.  In return, graduates receive a commission into the respective service and serve on active duty as pack back.  It also affords the individual opportunities to see the United States and world and practice health care with the pressures of private, fee for service health care.  I attended the Wausau Family Practice Residency Program for 2 years after my active duty time and then went to work at a Community Health Center in NW Iowa serving populations who experience barriers to health care, either financial, cultural, language or personal life choices.  In 2005, I had the opportunity to join the USPHS and serve full-time again on active duty with Indian Health Services in Ft Hall, Idaho.  I have served since then with several Federal Agencies to include Dept. of State, US army War College, Health and Human Services HQ, Defense Health Agency, and currently since 9/11/2017, United States Coast Guard in Ketchikan, Alaska.

What kinds of shadowing did you do to get a better feel for medicine before applying to medical school? What did you learn from those experiences? 
During much time as an undergraduate, I did volunteer with a social worker at the VA Hospital in Sioux Falls. This gave me my first real exposure to health care and the hospital setting.  I learned that the health care system was made up of more than doctors and nurses and there were several other health professionals that made positive impacts on people’s lives.  

Do you have a “defining moment” or other strong memory from an experience that made you realize that medicine was the right career path for you?
There wasn't a clear defining moment that I can recollect.  My strengths in school involved math and the sciences and I enjoyed classes in chemistry, math and physics. I also am a people pleaser and wanted to help people.  Medicine provided a venue to help others and to utilize science skills.  It also provides an universal language that allows people from other cultures and languages to come together to improve the health of a people.

What kinds of volunteering do you do?
I have volunteered at various medical clinics during my career to ensure I maintained by clinical abilities. After doing primary care for 6 years, I decided to pursue an opportunity to become involved in health care diplomacy and spent several years as a SME for Health and Humanitarian Assistance, with a focus on international development.  I obtained a Master’s of Public Health from Des Moines University in 2013 which also helped broaden my knowledge relating to public health.

Bruno and his wife, Mary (one of our
SD Mines alumni!), taken this summer.

Did you do any research as an undergraduate?
I did research work in the biology department while I was an undergraduate.  One project I participated in dealt with trace element analysis of human remains to determine their eating patterns and diet composition.  This entailed a 4 week trip down to Arica, Chile, where I joined a team from the University of Rhode Island to gather plant samples, marine life samples and human remains samples.  The analysis was able to demonstrate that the indigenous people in that region of Chile from 4000 BC were both hunters, gatherers and ate red meat, sea food and plant food.

How did you prepare for the MCAT?
My main preparation involved reviewing study guide books.  Good course to complete before taking the MCAT include, basic biology, chemistry, biochemistry, trigonometry, physics and human anatomy.  In our medical school class, we had people with various degrees to include History, English, Sciences, and Engineering.

What techniques do you use to manage your time and stress levels? 
After I believe the key is to engage in physical activity that you enjoy to help relieve stress.  Also, relaxation methods such as Yoga or meditation are also helpful.  In today’s society, youth are learning the skills on how to multi-task utilizing modern technology.  This skill can be translated into the health care field as many times, I have needed to multitask and deal with several issues simultaneously.

What advice do you have for pre-health students who are struggling?  
Struggles are actually healthy.  I would worry about someone who never had to face adversity or struggle at some point in their education or career path.  It is through struggles that we are able to grow and become more confident in our abilities.  The other key is to reach out for help and not to struggle alone.