Pee Dee AHEC Health Professions Students Fall Highlights 2014

HPS Students at the JDOH Presentation with Mrs. Arnold's Class

Rural Interprofessional Student Experience

The MUSC Physician Assistant Program requires the students to participate in a two week Rural Interprofessional Student Experience (RISE) prior to beginning their clinical year of rotations. Pee Dee AHEC coordinated with seven hospitals in its twelve county region to host 17 students. The students enjoyed gaining experience in the rural communities and the infrastructure of the various hospitals.

Community Health Worker Program

The Community Health Worker (CHW) Program is a partnership with the Department of Health and Human Services. During the second year of the initiative, the five sites in the Pee Dee region have expanded to include nine CHWs. The CHWs are serving patients in Chesterfield, Florence, Horry, Lee, Sumter and Williamsburg counties. Pee Dee AHEC hosted the fall quarterly meeting in September and is planning the next regional meeting for December.

Junior Doctores of Health

Pee Dee AHEC began a new community collaboration with Florence School District One’s McLaurin Elementary School in October. Seven HPS students presented the Junior Doctors of Health (JDOH) curriculum to 64 first through fourth grade students. Topics presented included nutrition, exercise and different health professions. The elementary students not only learned valuable information but were able to meet and interact with the HPS students.

Enduring Services

Pee Dee AHEC HPS coordinators continue to address the need for preceptors in the Pee Dee region, especially in women’s health and internal medicine disciplines. Additionally, the coordinators continue to place nurse practitioner, physician assistant, third and fourth year medical, and other health professions students in clinical rotations throughout the twelve county region.

For more information, contact Pee Dee AHEC HPS Program Coordinators Kam Richarson (krichard@mcleodhealth.org) or Traci Coward (tcoward@mcleodhealth.org).

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