Medical student Morghan Byrnes and dentistry student Seun Oginni are working with Wilderness Health, a collaborative of health organizations in Northeastern Minnesota and Northwestern Wisconsin aimed at leading the transformation of rural health care systems. The team analyzed survey results from the site’s self-assessment, which looks at how well behavioral health and medical care are working together. They also conducted interviews with health care leaders and frontline teams across the network and are currently analyzing takeaways from the interviews.They found that similar barriers exist across the site's partners, including concerns with staffing, education surrounding psychiatric best practices, and financial investments.
The team shared, “The project has expanded our perspectives beyond clinical care, helping us see how system-level decisions and organizational culture shape patient outcomes.” As a result of the internship, they are more committed to advocating for integrated, team-based care—especially in underserved communities. The experience sharpened their skills in data analysis, collaborative research, and stakeholder engagement, which will be valuable in both clinical and leadership roles.
Other News
