From Scrubs Academy to Medical School
By Jessica Rosencrans on
Lizzie Holzwarth has always wanted to become a doctor. But when her mom signed her up to attend the Rural Collaborative Opportunities for Occupational Learning in Health (R-COOL-Health) Scrubs Academy I as a seventh grader, she didn't know that her experiences that week would help shape the rest of her life. Now, as a fourth-year medical student at the University of North Dakota School of Medicine & Health Sciences (UND SMHS), Holzwarth reflects on the path that has led her to where she is today.
Originally from the small town of New Rockford, North Dakota, Holzwarth was eager to learn about the career options available in healthcare but wasn't sure where to start. The R-COOL-Health Scrubs Academy I, a four-day/three-night camp hosted at the UND campus, provided her with an eye-opening experience.
"I remember sitting down for a presentation on forensic pathology, and thinking, autopsies? That's a doctor doing that?" said Holzwarth. "It was a really cool experience for my seventh-grade self to see all of the different specialties that were out there. I thought I was going to be a forensic pathologist for a time, just because of that presentation."
Ultimately, Holzwarth's calling came in the field of obstetrics, not forensic pathology. But the impact of that moment has stuck with her through the years. So much so that she returned to Scrubs Academy the next year as a student, and twice more as a counselor to reexperience the Academy through the students' eyes and to stay involved in the program that meant so much to her.
Recruiting North Dakotans
Nicole Threadgold, grant program director at the Center for Rural Health (CRH), within the UND SMHS, heads the R-COOL-Health Scrubs Program.
"Presenting the opportunity for North Dakota junior high students to learn about and experience hands-on activities in healthcare careers is vital," she said. "It allows the students to explore the many healthcare professions available in North Dakota and develop specific areas of interest as they work towards a healthcare career."
The opportunity to meet and interact with faculty at the UND SMHS was a stand-out moment for Holzwarth in Scrubs Academy. "We were dissecting cows' eyes in the basement of the old medical school, and Dr. (Josh) Wynne came in," she continued. "The [then] Dean of the medical school was coming in to chat with these seventh and eighth graders, and he was just as happy as can be to be talking with us. I remember thinking, 'Oh yeah, I'm going to come to your medical school.' It's really all come full circle for me."
Investing in North Dakota youth is a key component of the "North Dakota 85" initiative in the UND SMHS. Dr. Marjorie Jenkins, dean of the UND SMHS, is leading the school in an effort to reach a goal of 85% of its Doctor of Medicine and Physician Assistant classes to be made up of North Dakotans.
Dr. Jacob Warren, director of CRH, believes that initiatives within CRH, like the R-COOL-Health Scrubs Program, are core components of ND85.
"Many of our programs support the ND85 model, as workforce development was one of the founding priorities of the Center for Rural Health when it was established 45 years ago," Warren stated. "Our Scrubs Camps and Scrubs Academies, as well as the work of North Dakota AHEC and HOSA, all help introduce students to health professions and build pathways for future providers in our state."
Community Service
With her roots in rural North Dakota, giving back to those surrounding her has been a top priority. As a high schooler, Holzwarth joined her local volunteer community ambulance service. Even with her busy schedule throughout medical school, whenever she was back home, she'd go on calls.
"Our nearest hospital is in Carrington, so at some points in our service area, you're 40 minutes away from a facility. It's been such a constant for me, something that I can still turn towards to contribute to my hometown," she stated.
Her 10 years in the ambulance service have also provided her with valuable knowledge in the field. "It's been great to see what a pre-hospital setting looks like. I've learned how to stabilize patients and how to keep people calm," Holzwarth said. "It might be just another call for you as the provider, but for some of our patients, it's their first time in the back of an ambulance. That kind of thing is hard to teach in a classroom."
You never get the chance to experience all of these specialties again, so I was determined to make the most of my time.
While pursuing her undergraduate degree, Holzwarth expanded her knowledge of the healthcare system by working as a certified nurse assistant in a memory care unit at Valley Senior Living in Grand Forks. She says she learned several lessons from her time there, including the importance of having the right mindset while on shift.
An open mindset proved to be key in medical school, too. "I really wanted to come into medical school with an open mind and have the ability to take everything in and figure out the best fit," she shared. "You never get the chance to experience all of these specialties again, so I was determined to make the most of my time."
"ROME"ING Around
As a medical student at the UND SMHS, Holzwarth has taken every opportunity given to her. One of the programs she reflects on the most is the Rural Opportunities in Medical Education (ROME) program. She was placed in Jamestown, where she was able to assist with surgeries, deliver babies, and everything in between.
"I don't think I'll ever be able to say enough good things about ROME. I think every medical student should at least be considering the program, and I feel incredibly lucky to have participated," she said gratefully. "The experience is unmatched; you're really getting to implement your skills in a real-world setting."
I don't think I'll ever be able to say enough good things about ROME. I think every medical student should at least be considering the program.
As part of her time in ROME, Holzwarth participated in the Targeted Rural Health Education Project and wrote an article on the HPV vaccine.
Holzwarth's experiences in rural have made a big impact on her, and she hopes that one day she will have her own practice in a rural North Dakota setting.
"Coming from a small town, for OB-GYN in particular, the closest provider is in Jamestown or Devils Lake, so about an hour's drive away," she shared. "Trying to bridge some of those gaps in healthcare access, especially for women in North Dakota, is something that I really want to incorporate into my practice."
And with her graduation not far on the horizon, Holzwarth is getting closer and closer to her goal.
is the communication specialist with the Center for Rural
Health at the University of North Dakota School of
Medicine & Health Sciences in Grand Forks.
