MOUND CITY –

Brian Vandenberg, A.R.N.P.C., joined the staff of the two rural health clinics two months ago and is settling into life in Linn County.

Vandenberg was in a pre-med/pre-dental collegiate program at Pittsburg State University when he had a life altering experience.

"I was working one day when a girl had a seizure and fell on the ground," he said, recalling the day his life changed.

"Everyone around me said ‘Go help her,’ but even though I was in the program, I didn’t know what to do," he went on, "At that point I went and talked to my advisor."

"I told him that I didn’t feel like I was learning anything that would help anyone," he said, "and he said ‘You know, we’ve got a great nursing program.’"