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.
The team emphasized the importance of stakeholder engagement in shaping their work. By connecting with clinical and administrative leaders across Critical Access Hospital sites, they gained insight into how providers navigate resource constraints while striving to deliver comprehensive, whole-person care. Enabulele shared, “This experience expanded how I understand oral health’s role in whole-person care and pushed me beyond a clinic-centered view of dental practice.”
Collaboration was a central component of the project and team members reflected on the value of learning across disciplines.
Singh also emphasized the personal and professional growth gained through teamwork, leadership development, and shared accountability.
Through this experience, the team developed a deeper understanding of interprofessional collaboration, population health, and systems-level thinking. These insights will inform their future work in healthcare, particularly in leadership, interdisciplinary practice, and improving care delivery in rural and underserved communities.
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