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Advancing Age- and Dementia-Friendly Practice with ECHO and DHS Partnerships
July 13, 2026
As part of the Interprofessional Internship Program, public health student Sagal Jama and medical student Sey Lee partnered with the Minnesota Northstar Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program (MNGWEP) Project ECHO and the Minnesota Department of Human Services to support age- and dementia-friendly care across the state. Project ECHO is a telementoring model that connects local health care providers with interdisciplinary specialists for education and case-based learning. Through this partnership, they contributed to a two-part evaluation of ECHO sessions focused on improving program delivery and understanding participant engagement and motivation.
Bridging the Gap: Rural Hospitals, External Partnerships, and Value-Based Care at Wilderness Health
June 18, 2026
As part of the Interprofessional Internship Program, dental student Eseosa Enabulele, medical student Kale Offstein, and public health student Gurjot Singh partnered with Wilderness Health to explore how rural hospitals without affiliated clinics can succeed in value-based care, a model that emphasizes improving patient outcomes while controlling costs. Wilderness Health is a collaborative of independent providers working to strengthen healthcare systems across northeast Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin. Through a landscape analysis, literature review, and stakeholder interviews, the team developed recommendations to support rural hospitals navigating evolving care models.
Assessing Rural Health and Community Needs in Bigfork Valley
June 17, 2026
As part of the Interprofessional Internship Program, nursing student Sadie Collins and dentistry student Olumide Olurotimi partnered with Bigfork Valley to conduct a comprehensive community needs assessment. Serving a critical access region in northern Itasca County, Bigfork Valley plays a vital role in delivering health care and community services.