South Carolina AHEC News & Updates

The Health Careers Program is excited by the start of a new and inventive initiative designed to increase the health information literacy levels of high school students. In collaboration with the National Library of Medicine, MUSC Library, Colleton County High, North Charleston High, and Lowcountry Leadership schools, the South Carolina AHEC is facilitating a dynamic and creative service learning opportunity for high school students. The project provides the high school participants with an exposure to population health issues while developing valuable personal skills. As an additional outcome, the participants will create a series of enduring, educational comic books that introduce younger students to health careers. Funding for the project is provided through a grant from the National Library of Medicine (NLM). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recognizes the value of classroom instruction of functional health information and the development of skills necessary to

On October 9, health professions students from across the state are invited to attend South Carolina’s recognition of “Corps Community Day” as part of the annual National Primary Care Week . This program will provide information about the National Health Service Corps (NHSC), which exists to increase access to primary care where it is needed most.  The NHSC is a federal program that provides scholarships or repays the educational loans of health care providers who agree to serve a minimum of two years in a federally designated health professional shortage area. Mark Jordan, Director of the South Carolina Office of Primary Care, will provide an overview of the NHSC including scholarship and loan repayment opportunities. Sean Boynes, DMD, and David Garr, MD, will discuss the benefits, working environment, and experiences available through the NHSC. The South Carolina AHEC, the South Carolina Office of Rural Health and the South Carolina Primary Health Care Association are sponsoring

The Mid-Carolina AHEC Board of Directors welcomes Dr. Sam Stone of Lowrys Family Medicine in Chester, SC as Board President.   Dr. Stone is a Chester County native and graduate of Clemson University and the Medical University of South Carolina.   As a strong supporter of clinical experiences for students in rural areas, Dr. Stone has served as an exemplary preceptor for 3rd year medical, physician assistant, nurse practitioner, pharmacy and nursing students for over 25 years!   Dr. Stone is held in the highest regard by his colleagues, his students and the South Carolina AHEC system.   In the past he has served as the President of the South Carolina Academy of Family Physicians; been named a South Carolina AHEC Preceptor of the Year and Preceptor of the Year for MUSC’s Physician Assistant program; and remains a passionate legislative advocate.   As the incoming President of the Mid-Carolina AHEC’s Board of Directors, Dr. Stone brings significant leadership, personal passion, commitm

The Bench to Bedside (B 2 B) Seminar Series has returned for the fall 2014 semester. The series kicked-off on September 10 with seven undergraduate and one technical college campuses participating. Students enrolled at Francis Marion and South Carolina State Universities joined students from College of Charleston, Greenville Technical College, Claflin, Clemson, Coastal Carolina, and Winthrop Universities to engage in the scheduled monthly sessions. Data demonstrate that the period of college/university study following high school graduation, but prior to admission to a health professions training program, is particularly critical to the health careers pipeline. With funding from The Duke Endowment, B 2 B extends opportunities to support the successful matriculation of underrepresented minority and underserved undergraduates into health professions education programs. Practicing health professionals, educators, researchers, and student affairs staff present seminars intended to p

Progress on Lowcountry AHEC’s new building is progressing, with walls and a roof already added after the groundbreaking this summer.   The Colletonian featured Lowcountry AHEC in an article that can be found in its entirety on their website . The new building is expected to open in March 2015.

The South Carolina AHEC Program Office welcomed a new addition to the team earlier this year when Ben Gilbertson joined as Computer Programmer.  Ben is working closely with Steve Boulanger on expansions, improvements, and revisions to a number of South Carolina AHEC data systems and websites. Ben's background includes over a decade of programming and web development experience, primarily in an educational context at the Medical University of South Carolina.  In his free time, you might find Ben sailing competitively, traveling, or building and repairing things in his garage workshop. Ben also has an interest in physics (and a master's degree in physics/materials science). Ben is an excellent addition to the AHEC team and the Program Office is very happy to have him on board. Ben can be reached via email at gilbert@musc.edu . 

Mid-Carolina AHEC and The South Carolina HIV, STD, and Viral Hepatitis Conference Committee have partnered once again to host the “2014 SC HIV, STD, and Viral Hepatitis Conference” scheduled for October 28-30.   The conference will be held at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center in Columbia, SC.   This interdisciplinary conference is designed for nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses, other clinicians, HIV/STD/Viral Hepatitis educators, social workers, case managers, public health professionals, other service providers, teachers, students, people living with HIV/AIDS and other interested community members.  The overall mission is to provide opportunities for professionals and community members to engage in dialogue related to current practices, interventions, and emerging concerns and trends. A preconference institute will take place on October 28.  This Pre-Conference Institute is sponsored by the SC DHEC/HIV Division’s Ryan White and AIDS Drug Assistance

Specially targeted hypertension modules will be available as enduring continuing education videos in early 2015. To learn more, check out the flyer or sign up for email updates .

The Mid-Carolina AHEC Health Careers Academy will again be offering the Middle School Health Careers Academy for current eighth grade students. The academy program is focused on the medical sciences curriculum. Students will receive a solid foundation on study skills, health career exploration, resume development, and medical terminology word building. Students are further prepared academically for the rigors of a health science program by obtaining a CPR/First Aid/AED Certification, as well as a HIPAA Certification. Applications are now available and can be obtained from the Mid-Carolina AHEC Health Careers Academy Coordinator Erica Davis via email ericadavis@comporium.net or downloaded at www.hcp.midcarolinaahec.org .

Upstate AHEC will sponsor “Therapeutic Interventions for Patients with Cardiovascular Disease” on December 4-5.    This two-day course will provide a comprehensive overview of the therapeutic management of patients with cardiovascular disease, especially as it pertains to the fields of physical therapy and occupational therapy.   This program will review the physiology and pathophysiology of the cardiovascular system and exercise physiology concepts. Instruction will focus on the management of patients with coronary artery disease, hypertension, congestive heart failure, valvular heart disease, pacemakers, peripheral arterial disease, venous disease, and pulmonary embolism. Evidence-based information on a variety of therapeutic approaches will be discussed to provide a foundation from which appropriate decisions can be made with regard to patient needs. The instructor Ethel Frese, PT, DPT, MHS, CCS, is an associate professor in the Doisy College of Health Science at Saint Louis

South Carolina AHEC participated in the 2014 Prostate Health Video Conference over the summer and has made videos from the conference available for community members to use as resources to learn more about prostate health and prostate cancer.  To view the videos, visit our Prostate Health Conference Video Portfolio .

Long Term Care Facilities may be defined as institutions that provide healthcare to people who are unable to manage independently in the community.  More than 1.5 million residents reside in United States’ nursing homes. In recent years, the acuity of illness of nursing home residents has increased.  It is not surprising that almost as many healthcare acquired infections occur in Long Term Care Facilities as in hospitals in the United States. Dr. Philip W. Smith, Section of Infectious Diseases, University of Nebraska, Omaha, Nebraska   American Journal of Infection Control, July 2008 On October 28, Pee Dee AHEC will host a three-hour course that addresses infection prevention in long term care settings in Florence, SC.  This standardized program was developed through funding provided by a partnership with the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare and the North Carolina Division of Health Services.  Vicky R. Zelenka, RN, CIC, LNC, board certified infection preventionist and lega

Upstate AHEC will collaborate with the Upstate Healthcare Coalition to sponsor a one day conference entitled, “Improving Mass Fatality Management in the Upstate: How Do We Work Together?” on March 13, 2015 at the Hilton Greenville to a target audience of disaster response professionals within the Upstate Region of South Carolina.   The goal of the symposium is to educate emergency response providers on the available resources and responsibilities of numerous disaster response agencies and community partners.     Often in the event of major disasters, various response agencies are not fully informed as to each piece of the disaster response umbrella.   This symposium will serve as an information exchange outlet in order to create a more thorough response system and a more unified regional disaster response team.    The need for training is paramount in the field of disaster response.   Keeping all responding partners up to date regarding the latest services and resources is c

New to Foundations in Aromatherapy Practice Generations in the Workplace Diabetes Clinical Update 2014 Glucose Lowering Medications Used in the Treatment of Diabetes Prescription Drug Abuse: From Pills to Heroin To view a program, visit  ahecu.org .