Cole VanBockern, of Lake Preston, is headed to medical school in Des Moines, Iowa this month and recently signed an agreement to return to his home state and practice family medicine at the HRMC Physicians Clinic.
VanBockern, who graduated from Arlington High School in 2013, attended South Dakota State University (SDSU) and originally pursued a degree in electrical engineering.
He graduated with a bachelor of science in Biological Sciences from SDSU and begins classes this month at Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine. It was through a shadow experience in Huron, that VanBockern chose to pursue an osteopathic degree in medicine.
Through a connection at Huron Christian Church, where VanBockern attends regularly, he learned about Huron Regional Medical Center’s physician recruitment package. HRMC controller Joel Nelson had heard VanBockern was planning to attend medical school and shared information about the hospital’s program which allows local students to receive financial support during medical school and residency, plus have their medical school loans repaid through a five-year work commitment in Huron.
VanBockern signed an agreement with HRMC in April and after four years of medical school, he hopes to complete his residency in South Dakota and then return to Huron and begin a family medicine practice.
VanBockern is HRMC’s newest recruit and joins three others who will return to Huron to practice over the next several years. Dr. Tony Loewen, who is completing his residency in Colorado, will return to his hometown next summer to practice general surgery; Dr. Rebecca Runge, who grew up in Wessington and will soon begin an internal medicine residency in Sioux Falls, plans to return to Huron and practice in 2022; and Dr. Kevin Hofer, who is in his second year of orthopedic residency in Wichita, Kansas, plans to return to practice in Huron in 2023.
Students or community members interested in learning more about physician and healthcare career recruitment opportunities are encouraged to visit www.huronregional.org/about-us/join-our-team or call 605-353-6565.
(HRMC)