We are incredibly grateful for our recent opportunity to visit the team at Rural Health Inc.
Our team met with Public Relations Director Shawnna Rhine who provided us with an inside look at the wide range of programs and services they offer to keep our communities healthy. From learning about their role as a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) to understanding their mission of ensuring care is accessible to all—regardless of ability to pay—this visit was both eye-opening and inspiring.
Shawnna’s genuine passion and excitement for her role was evident throughout her presentation. She spoke with energy and enthusiasm, shared innovative ways they connect with and serve their community, and expressed how fulfilling it is to be part of work that helps people every single day. 💡
Her personal journey—from studying psychology at Southeast Missouri State University to working in marketing—served as a powerful reminder that career paths aren’t always linear, and that every experience prepares you for what’s ahead. Her message resonated deeply with our students: trust the process, stay committed, and know that your work matters because it will impact someone’s life. ✨
Shawnna also recognized UCCEO team member, Mariel McGrath during our visit. Mariel participated in a work observation day alongside Medical Director Dr. Katy Painter and the incredible Rural Health team. This hands-on experience gave her a firsthand look at the passion, care, and dedication required to provide high-quality healthcare in rural communities. 👏
Below, Mariel shares her reflection of the many ways Rural Health has impacted her year:
“On Wednesday we went to Rural Health and listened to Shawnna Rhine tell us about what they have to offer. Prior to this semester, I cannot say that I had ever been inside Rural Health, but I now feel like they have played a pivotal part in my senior year experience.
Not only does my mentor, Patty Phillippe, work there, but we have done a business visit, I have job shadowed there, and I was lucky enough to receive one of their scholarships. I am very appreciative of the experiences I have gotten from them and I feel like I have stepped even more so out of my little bubble when I go there.
Back to Wednesday, Shawnna Rhine explained what they do, along with several very interesting facts. The first being that there is an identification piece in coffins, which they started doing after the flood in Cape in 1993, when they were unable to identify the people that were somehow getting out of their graves. I did not know there was an identification piece in coffins, but I think this definitely makes sense because I feel like I have heard several stories about this sort of thing happening.
Another thing she said was that their budget is tight, which causes the media team to have to get creative. I thought this was also interesting because while it might not seem like it, marketing a business can definitely add up (especially with personalized merch). Their solution was to get out into the community— which kind of makes me think of what Maggie and now Aleah are doing with their businesses— by doing things like radio interviews and meetings like what they did with us.
Overall I feel like this was a great visit and that Shawnna has a lot of great ideas!” 💭
Visits like this remind us just how fortunate we are to live and learn in a place where organizations truly care about developing the next generation of leaders, entrepreneurs, and healthcare professionals. 🙌 These experiences also play a critical role in helping our students think more deeply, make meaningful connections, and relate their own real-life experiences—as well as those of our community—to the ideas, insights, and perspectives shared by our speakers.
We would like to thank Rual Health, Inc., for not only being strong supporters of experiential learning, but also by investing in our program both financially and through meaningful involvement—like encouraging Patty Phillippe to serve as a mentor this year. We are so thankful for their continued commitment to our students and our community!
