Northern Michigan University Center for Rural Health

01/14/2026

Thrilled to have joined partners this morning with promoting the upcoming Grief Support Training in March. Collaboration = greater support, outcomes and impact!

We'd like to send a HUGE thank you to Audrey and John for having our collaborative crew on TV6 & FOX UP Upper Michigan Today to talk about the U.P. Grief Support Training that is happening in March! Thanks to a grant provided by the Superior Health Foundation and the hard work and partnerships with Lake Superior Life Care & Hospice, Northern Michigan University Center for Rural Health, Dr. Yan Ciupak (Co-Founder of NMU Grief Support Specialist Program), U.P. Home Health & Hospice and the U.P. Hospice Foundation we are proud to develop and bring this conference to U.P. professionals, educators, and caregivers.

Another thank you to the West End Health Foundation and the Upper Peninsula Health Plan for their sponsorships, allowing us to bring this conference at an affordable cost for those looking for continuing education credits, community members, and students.

01/01/2026

Happy New Year from the NMU Center for Rural Health. Wishing you health and wellbeing in the year ahead.

12/25/2025

Season’s greetings from all of us at the NMU Center for Rural Health! We wish everyone a happy and healthy holiday season.

12/23/2025

Start the new year by getting certified as a Community Health Worker! Registration is currently open for our next virtual class scheduled to start on January 27th. Thanks to the Michigan Center for Rural Health, Everyday Life and multiple other U.P. Workforce Innovation Network (U.P. WIN) grant partners, the cost remains significantly discounted for individuals working in the U.P.

To learn more and to register, visit: https://nmu.edu/ruralhealth/nchw-certification

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!