Ginelle Zimmerman
Riverwood Healthcare Center is pleased to welcome Ginelle Zimmerman, a third-year medical student at the University of Minnesota Medical School – Duluth who is participating in the Rural Physician Associate Program (RPAP).
Through the RPAP program, a third-year medical student lives in a rural community for nine months and participates in rotations of hospital and clinic care of patients under the supervision of local physicians. In October, Zimmerman began seeing patients with Dr. Don Hughes, Riverwood Family Practice physician who acts as the primary mentor and trainer for resident physicians and medical students at Riverwood.
In the months ahead, Zimmerman will also learn about obstetrics and gynecology care and spend time observing surgical care from local surgeons. She will see patients in clinic, hospital, emergency room, nursing homes, hospice and within the community.
A native of Paynesville, Minn., Zimmerman completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, earning a BA degree in biology. During her medical school experience, she spent time with a family physician in Sauk Centre, Minn., through a course called Rural Medical Scholars Program. She completed rotations in internal medicine and pediatrics in Duluth this past summer.
“Growing up in a small town with my dad practicing as a family physician, I always felt close to the medical profession,” Zimmerman says. “During my college years, I gained more understanding of what being a doctor means. I searched for and found a profession that will allow me to interact closely with people and be in a position to help others. I’m anticipating learning many new skills and meeting many local people during my time in the Aitkin community.”
Zimmerman plans to practice family medicine, including obstetrics, sports medicine and emergency room care. She will live in the Aitkin area and work at Riverwood through the end of June 2016. For hobbies, she enjoys road biking, cross country skiing, ice skating, baking, cooking and reading.