“The experience I am gaining from the Center for Rural Engagement has helped advance not only my passion for medicine, but rural medicine specifically.”
Logan Gingerich graduated from IU in 2022, with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and biology.
As assistant rural project coordinator for the Center for Rural Engagement, Logan has worked on the Washington County Wellness Fair to increase health literacy and health access for residents by providing wellness screenings and resources for common health issues. He is also partnering with the Daviess Advances Recovery Access Consortium (DARAC) team to reduce stigma surrounding drug use in Daviess County.
Logan grew up in the small town of Odon, IN. He said his firsthand experience of living in a rural community prepared him for the challenges he would face in his work.
“Overcoming barriers that have been culminating over years and years in rural America is not going to be a quick fix,” Logan said.
His favorite part of working with the Center for Rural Engagement is meeting community members and finding common ground with them. One of the obstacles Logan faced was overcoming misinformation found in rural areas. He learned to understand other perspectives, even when somebody’s views differed from his own.
Since graduating, Logan has been focused on applying to medical schools and intends to become a psychiatrist.
“I have gained a renewed love of wanting to work with rural communities. While working for the Center for Rural Engagement, I remembered just how much rural America has to offer”.