Practice of the Year Award
The South Carolina AHEC Practice of the Year Award
recognizes practices and training sites that exhibit exemplary dedication to
the teaching of health professions students and a commitment to serving their
communities. The South Carolina AHEC recognizes Morphis Pediatric Group as the
2017 Practice of the Year. Dr. Elizabeth Morphis accepted the award on behalf
of the practice at this year’s award luncheon.
Located in Hartsville, the entire interdisciplinary team was
recognized by students who experienced firsthand the positive impact of a team
effort. One Edward Via College of
Osteopathic Medicine – Carolinas Campus student, Karalyn Hillebrecht, writes:
Morphis Pediatrics epitomizes the true meaning of a health care family. The time I spent with Morphis Pediatrics taught me so much about having a caring and supportive health care team, from diligent nurses and techs, to skilled physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants, I have never met a group of more devoted people. They say it takes a village to raise a child, but Morphis Pediatrics will help you raise up healthy ones.
This “village” includes 7 providers including Dr. James
Morphis Jr.; Dr. Elizabeth Morphis; Maggie Flowers, PA-C; and Casey Moore, PNP.
Part-time providers include Ondria Sawyer, ND, APRN-BC; Vicky Craig, FNP-C; and
Aquilla Bec, NP. Additionally, this busy
practice houses an on-site pharmacist Sarah D. Boan and a lab managed by
Jennifer Pritchard.
Preceptor of the Year
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| Pee Dee AHEC Health Professions Student Program Coordinator Traci Coward presents the award to Dr. Lamb |
The South Carolina AHEC Preceptor of the Year Award
recognizes unwavering commitment to health professions students’ clinical
education. This award distinguishes an outstanding community-based preceptor
serving South Carolina health professions students. Each year practitioners
volunteer to provide hours of clinical education to students from various
professions. It is their dedication to the education of the next generation of
health professionals that we honor with this award. This year’s Preceptor of
the Year is Benjamin Wade Lamb, MD.
I believe that for most medical students, there is usually one rotation that provides that ‘ah-ha’ moment, solidifying for the student the profession in which he or she would like to specialize”, writes one medical student, “For me that moment came while doing a family medicine rotation in Lake City, and in no small part, that moment was because of Dr. Wade Lamb. Dr. Lamb provided me with an invaluable glance into the positive, generational impact that a family physician can have on a community, and insight into the influential role that can only be appreciated as one experiences it, and not from textbooks . . . Every patient tells a story and, with Dr. Lamb’s knowledge of each patient’s family and unique ties to the community, each patient was an opportunity to learn not just the requisite medical knowledge, but also the equally important humanistic knowledge.
Because of the impact he has made on the numerous students
he welcomes to family practice rotations, Dr. Benjamin “Wade” Lamb was named as
the 2017 Preceptor of the Year by South Carolina AHEC. This locally grown and educated
physician is a graduate of both Francis Marion University and University of
South Carolina School of Medicine. He completed his residency with McLeod
Family Medicine Center and began his practice in Lake City in 2003. Dr. Lamb
serves as a Clinical Associate Professor with MUSC/AHEC as well as FSC
Assistant Professor of Clinical Family and Preventative Medicine with USC
School of Medicine. He is a Diplomate
with the American Board of Family Medicine as well as clinical faculty with
Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine. An avid outdoorsman Dr. Lamb enjoys
hunting and fishing, as well as, coaching several sports in his community.
Based on student input for his nomination, it is easy to
equate Dr. Lamb’s practice as reminiscent of the small town homegrown family
doctor to whom generations have entrusted their care. “The kind, compassionate,
knowledgeable family physician working to heal the sick in his community is
often looked upon with nostalgia from a bygone time. Dr. Lamb is a needed reminder to students
that this role lives on for the physician and is just as needed as it ever
was.”
Educator of the Year
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| Dr. David Garr, Dr. Macie Smith and Mid-Carolina AHEC CPD Coordinator Rebecca Jackson |
The South Carolina AHEC Educator of the Year Award
recognizes excellence in instructors of continuing professional development in
the South Carolina AHEC System. The Educator of the Year is selected based on
their ability to present content in a practical, useful format that meets the
needs and expectations of the program participants while communicating the
material enthusiastically. Educators must also successfully adapt presentations
to address multiple learning styles. This year’s Educator of the Year Award
recognizes Macie Smith, EdD.
Dr. Smith began working with Mid-Carolina AHEC in 2012. She is a licensed Social Worker that
primarily works in Gerontology. She has
over 14 years of experience working with aging and vulnerable populations. Dr. Smith provides programs related to
Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, healthy aging, professionalism and ethical
practices in social work.
Dr. Smith has a delightful personality and is an excellent
communicator with abundant knowledge on a wide range of topics. Her
presentations are engaging and she is in high demand as a speaker due to her
enthusiasm and connection with her participants. Participants report that Dr.
Smith exudes a commitment to the learner and developing their understanding of
the material.
Please visit www.midcarolinaahec.org
to find Dr. Smith’s upcoming programs.
Gateway Award
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| Dr. David Garr, ZaQuavia Tyler and HCP Director Angelica Christie |
As a Coastal Carolina student, Ms. Tyler took the initiative
to charter the Bench to Bedside (B2B) Club at the University, establishing the
club as a institutionally-recognized and supported organization. This included
identifying a faculty champion to serve as club advisor, organizing ongoing
service learning experiences for club members at a local nursing home,
coordinating on-campus activities in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness
Month and coordinating two on-campus mental health first aid certification
trainings for club members. In addition to being a student and organizing all
of these activities, she managed the election and training of club offices
while completing her final undergraduate semester. The B2B Club became her
legacy when she graduated in December 2016 with a double major in biology and
biochemistry. She continues to be engaged with the club as a peer mentor.
Ms. Tyler’s peers speak highly of her guidance,
encouragement and mentorship, highlighting her exemplary leadership skills and
her continued involvement with the club she started.
Michel Porter Ambassador Award
Ms. McMenamin joined the South Carolina AHEC Program Office
in 2013. With nearly four years on the AHEC team, she has served on the
continuing professional development council and as a continuing education and
communication program coordinator, as well as on the Office for Telehealth team,
before transitioning into her current role at the end of 2016.
Lucy Padron, SC AHEC Program Assistant, wrote of Ms.
McMenamin in her nomination letter:
With each task Ali approaches, she meets it with an open mind, kind spirit, and eager to better the state attitude. It is hard not to catch her delightful and meaningful attitude each morning when I walk through the door . . . Thank you for allowing me to nominate Ali for the position. In every project Ali encounters, you can see just how much she cares. That is what makes her stand out to me, she cares. She cares about improving her co-workers’ skills and knowledge, helping AHEC grow and become more recognized, and giving the citizens of South Carolina more access to the best possible health care.
