Former BVU Student Returns to Practice Internal and Family Medicine

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Dr. Kyle Glienke

STORM LAKE, IA (09/06/2017) (readMedia)-- Former Buena Vista University (BVU) student, Dr. Kyle Glienke, has joined the staff at Buena Vista Regional Medical Center (BVRMC) and UnityPoint Clinic Family Medicine – Buena Vista.

After receiving a bachelor's degree in biology and chemistry from BVU in 2009, Glienke attended the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, graduating in 2013. Glienke then went on to complete a four-year internal and family medicine residency at St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis before concluding his final rotation of residency at BVRMC in July.

As a student at BVU, Glienke was one of the earliest participants of what would become known in 2009 as the Undergraduate Rural Medicine Education and Development (URMED) internship program that was developed by BVU in partnership with BVRMC. The experience, which Glienke completed in 2008, confirmed his decision to go into medicine.

"I enjoyed seeing the physicians interact with patients on a daily basis," said Glienke, who is a native of Aurelia. "It's one thing to learn about medicine from a book, but an entirely different thing to see science in action by connecting it with helping others. I was given the chance to work with a lot of talented and personable doctors, which is one of the top reasons I wanted to come back and begin my career at BVRMC."

The URMED internship program has grown substantially and is awarded each year to select BVU pre-med students who have an interest in practicing rural medicine. Since its official establishment, 19 of the 25 students who have completed the program have gone on to attend medical school after graduating from BVU.

"The partnership between BVU and BVRMC is really special because it provides students with the unique perspective of what it's like to practice medicine in a rural setting," said Glienke, who specializes in family and internal medicine. "I'm proud to be able to say I was a part of the program in its early stages."

During the URMED internship, students are introduced to a variety of clinical and healthcare practices at BVRMC and other area hospitals. The recipients are also each given a $3,000 stipend to help cover the costs of applying to medical school.

Glienke credits the experience as well as other opportunities he had at BVU for his success in medical school. "BVU's science programs are known to be robust and to have high expectations," said Glienke. "I felt I was ahead of the game immediately upon entering medical school and ready for anything that was thrown my way."

He and his wife, Ashlee, who also graduated from BVU in 2009, live just outside of Storm Lake. They have one daughter, Alivia, and another baby due in December.

"I'm looking forward to becoming an active member of the community and to develop relationships with patients over time," added Glienke. "That's the fun thing about primary care – you get to know patients over the course of their lives."

About Buena Vista University

Since 1891, Buena Vista University has prepared students for lifelong success and blends liberal arts with real-world applications. Our traditional campus on the shores of Storm Lake hosts students in a variety of majors and pre-professional programs, including elementary, secondary, and special education; business and accounting; and biological and chemical sciences. Our 16 degree-completion locations, online, and graduate programs expand student potential with a pace and academic rigor designed for working adults and a variety of class formats that make scheduling even more convenient. With an average scholarship of more than 50 percent off of tuition, BVU is an affordable option for all students. Visit www.bvu.edu.

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