HURON — For the fourth year and second time this summer, Huron Regional Medical Center welcomed health professions students for a four-week rural health experience during the month of July. Filip Radev, University of South Dakota (USD) medical student from Chisinau, Moldova, and Dakota Wesleyan University nursing student Brendan Langbehn from Worthing, followed providers at Huron Regional Medical Center.

Huron joins 10 other South Dakota communities with populations under 14,000 selected to participate in Rural Experiences for Health Professions Students (REHPS). The program is designed to bring health professions graduates, who are selected through a competitive process, to rural South Dakota for rewarding careers.

While in Huron, Radev and Langbehn spent time in most all of the departments within the hospital and clinic and also at Community Counseling Services’ IMPACT program. Radev also spent time following Dr. Nathan Loewen, family medicine with obstetrics physician at New Life Clinic.

“Spending time with Dr. Loewen and at the IMPACT program helped me confirm my desire to practice medicine with a focus on not just the physical health of a patient, but also the mental health,” explained Radev. “Dr. Loewen showed me the power of a smile and positive attitude when building a relationship with a patient.”

“As a nursing student, I haven’t had the opportunity to experience other hospital departments and I really enjoyed my time at HRMC, especially in physical therapy and wound care services,” explained Langbehn. “The techniques and therapies I learned about are things I’ve already introduced in the assisted care facility I work at part-time while going to school.”

In addition to experiences in the hospital, Radev and Langbehn got involved in the community, which is one of the requirements of the REHPS program. The duo presented at Stoneybrook Suites, providing information on preventing falls and injuries as well as the importance of good nutrition and activity.

“Since 2011, we’ve had roughly 300 students participate in the REHPS program and 67 percent of those have stayed in South Dakota, with 35-37% working in rural communities with populations of less than 10,000,” said Cheri Buffington, REHPS Program Director. “Our hope is that the host facilities will build relationships with the students and then be interested in recruiting them back to their community.”