A Buena Vista University program is pulling back the curtain on rural medicine — and inspiring future doctors to stay in Iowa.
The Storm Lake-based university’s URMED program wrapped up another year this May, giving two students an inside look at what it means to practice medicine in rural northwest Iowa. The three‑week internship places students directly inside Buena Vista Regional Medical Center in Storm Lake and Pocahontas Community Hospital, where they shadow physicians, observe procedures and learn how rural providers build long‑term relationships with patients.
The program also includes a $3,000 stipend funded by BVU and its partnering hospitals to help offset medical school preparation costs — something university officials say can be a barrier for students considering healthcare careers.
This year’s participants were Jilly Janssen, a junior at BVU, and Owen Stansberry, a sophomore at BVU and 2024 graduate of Storm Lake High School.
For Stansberry, the experience meant stepping into exam rooms and hospital departments he grew up driving past.
BVU Associate Biology Professor Dr. Brittney Dinkel says one of the most striking things both students noticed was how deeply rural physicians connect with their patients. She says they repeatedly saw doctors take time to learn about patients’ families, histories and day‑to‑day lives — something that often defines rural medicine.
Stansberry says one of his most memorable moments came during a one‑on‑one conversation with a patient receiving treatment for Alzheimer’s disease. He says the experience gave him a deeper understanding of the patient’s situation and helped shape the kind of doctor he hopes to become.
For Janssen, the internship strengthened her commitment to pursuing medical school. She says the experience confirmed that rural Iowa is where she hopes to practice one day — a goal that aligns directly with the program’s mission to address physician shortages in communities like Storm Lake, Pocahontas and other rural areas across the Midwest.
As Janssen prepares her medical school applications and Stansberry begins studying for the MCAT, BVU officials say the URMED program continues to play a key role in developing future healthcare providers who understand the needs of rural communities.
By connecting students with local hospitals and real‑world patient experiences, the university says it’s helping build a stronger healthcare pipeline for northwest Iowa.
