MARQUETTE — The Michigan State University College of Human Medicine Upper Peninsula campus is pleased to announce the arrival of its new incoming students.

Third-year medical students are selected through an interview process to take part in the Rural Physician Program during the last two years of their medical education. The goal of this program is to train outstanding physicians to have the clinical skills needed to meet the needs of rural Michigan.

“We are excited to welcome this class of students,” said Community Assistant Dean, Stuart Johnson, DO, “They have been engaged in clinical encounters with patients regularly since the first few weeks in medical school — we look forward to seeing what they have learned and helping them on their journey.”

This year 11 students were selected to take part in the program. Students will receive clinical training at UP Health System – Marquette, as well as other communities and hospitals across the U.P.

The program is affiliated with the Marquette Family Medicine Residency Program, a three-year unopposed program for physicians pursuing family medicine. Residents provide students with support, guidance and insight into the journey of becoming a physician.

“We are excited for another group of extremely bright students to join us in Marquette to complete their final years of medical school in the Upper Peninsula,” said Director of Student Programs for the UP Clinical Campus, Susan Tincknell. “These students will be working with our dedicated physician preceptors who provide outstanding medical education.”

The incoming class of medical students include: Colton Fernstrum (Menominee), Joel Hunt (Cody, WY), Lindsey Kiiskila (Romeo), Darrell Kohli (Rapid River), Collin LaPorte (Missoula, MT), Aaron Leach (Marquette), Jackie Luthardt (Kingsford), Lucas Meehan (Kinross), Sara Teising (Walhalla, SC), Stephen Trombley (Midland), Ellen Wiitala (Marquette)

“The majority of these students are originally from Michigan, with six UP natives, and a few joining us from other states,” Tincknell said. “Many of these students come back to the area to practice after their residency training, and we couldn’t be happier about that.”