Northern Michigan University Center for Rural Health

12/19/2025

Thank you, Michigan Center for Rural Health!

December Rural Spotlight: Inspiring the rural healthcare leaders of tomorrow in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula

This month, we’re highlighting the U.P. Future Health Leaders Camp, a new initiative from the Northern Michigan University Center for Rural Health that brought 36 ninth- and tenth-grade students from across the Upper Peninsula to NMU’s campus for a week of hands-on health education and career exploration.
Through mentorship, simulation labs, and exposure to a wide range of healthcare careers, students began imagining what a future in healthcare could look like, and how they might one day bring those skills back to their home communities.

Programs like this are helping rural regions grow their healthcare workforce from within.

👉 Read the full story: https://mcrh.msu.edu/news-and-events/news/2025/12/sor-dec-2025

12/04/2025

"Despite the many benefits offered by flu vaccination, only about half of Americans get an annual flu vaccine. During an average flu season, flu can cause millions of illnesses, hundreds of thousands of hospitalizations, and tens of thousands of deaths. Many more people could be protected from flu if more people got vaccinated." -Center for Disease Control (CDC)

Find vaccines near you:
https://www.easyvax.com/dtcpdsearch

Find more information here:
https://www.cdc.gov/flu/vaccines/keyfacts.html
https://www.cdc.gov/flu-vaccines-work/benefits/index.html

12/02/2025

Help stop the spread of sickness this season with proper handwashing! The CDC recommends scrubbing your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap before rinsing. If you do not have access to soap then you should use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
https://www.cdc.gov/clean-hands/about/index.html

12/01/2025

World AIDS Day is an opportunity for everyone to honor the more than 32 million people who have died worldwide from AIDS-related illness. December 1 is a day for voices to unite by sharing experiences, remembering those lost, and standing together in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

https://www.cdc.gov/world-aids-day/index.html

11/27/2025

Happy Thanksgiving from the NMU Center for Rural Health!

11/24/2025

C’mon down to the Texas Roadhouse in Marquette now through 8 pm tonight. Receipts from purchases will allow our partners at the Literacy Legacy Fund of Michigan to receive 10% of your proceeds as a match from Texas Roadhouse. Children up to 5 years in age can also sign up for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.

11/20/2025

In honor of National Rural Health Day, we hosted our 6th annual National Rural Health Day Essay Contest in collaboration with the Literacy Legacy Fund of Michigan and the Michigan Center for Rural Health. You can learn more about the contest and read the winning essays on our website: https://nmu.edu/ruralhealth/essay-contest

11/20/2025

And that’s a wrap on our 2nd annual U.P. Community Health Worker (CHW) Symposium! 55 CHWs, 11 vendors, 6 guest speakers, and several volunteer trainers engaged throughout the day. Education and updates were shared, new skill sets learned, and hands-on training resulted in yet another certification earned by our regional CHWs.

We’re grateful for all the CHWs who were able to attend, for the amazing speakers who shared insight, and for the dedicated vendors who provided information and resources.

Our ongoing partnerships with the Michigan Center for Rural Health and Everyday Life continues to strengthen and support our efforts to expand the CHW workforce in the U.P. As a result, more individuals are being connected to community resources and barriers to care, education, and employment are being addressed.

A special thank you to Anna Christiansen-Assistant Director & CHW Instructor at the NMU Center for Rural Health and Grace Teetzel-NMU Center for Rural Health Student Employee for all of the planning and preparation for today’s event. Additionally, much appreciation to Judy Brugman-CHW Instructor for her time and effort training, supporting and remaining engaged with CHWs on behalf of our Center over the past two years.

And last but not least, we acknowledge and thank Karen Wolf from Grow & Lead for volunteering and helping us out today. Your time was greatly appreciated.

Today was truly a successful and impactful team effort! Thank you all!

11/14/2025

100,000 U.P. residents live with prediabetes (1 out of 3 adults and 50% of seniors), and 90% (90,000) don’t even know it.

https://nmu.edu/ruralhealth/diabetes

11/11/2025

The U.P. is home to more than 27,300 Veterans (9.06% of the region’s total population).

https://bit.ly/3LshWUo

11/08/2025

"Lung Cancer can impact anyone, regardless of their smoking history. 20% of lung cancer cases occur in people with no or very little smoking history." -LCAM Coalition

Early diagnosis is key for treatment and survival; know the risks and spread awareness. Learn more today by visiting: https://lcam.org/LCAM/?utm_source=Google&utm_medium=CPC&utm_campaign=LCAM_Promotion_FY25_Search_English&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23021665611&gbraid=0AAAAA-L3sK-IU_cwJGxxT7hDCe_a0lOBC&gclid=CjwKCAjw04HIBhB8EiwA8jGNba2gRRDJSsc515hAyRdnXcEzwunbjl2SvewyZ-MBPI9Jw-gMigo6iBoCIukQAvD_BwE

11/07/2025

November is National Hospice and Palliative Care Month. This year's theme is "We See the Whole You" in honor of the care that is centered on the whole person and not just the illness. Hospice and palliative care are often misunderstood and are therefore underutilized. Learn more about each of these impactful care options through the National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation's free public guide linked below:
https://www.nphihealth.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Hospice-Palliative-Care-Month-2.pdf