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.
Through this project, the interns worked to identify community strengths, challenges, and opportunities for growth, with the goal of supporting a healthier future for the region. Their work emphasized not only health care delivery, but also the broader context of community well-being.
The experience provided valuable insight into the realities of rural health care, particularly the role of teamwork across disciplines.
A key takeaway from the project was an increased awareness of the role of social determinants of health. The interns noted that this perspective will remain central as they transition into their respective careers, shaping how they approach patient care and community engagement.
Assessing Rural Health and Community Needs in Bigfork Valley
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