Pee Dee AHEC Hosts Korean Global Competency Development Students

Pee Dee AHEC hosted a two-week shadowing experience with ten high school seniors and their instructor from Youngnak u-health High School in Seoul, South Korea. These students were a part of the Global Competency Development Program, which allows students to participate in a three-month program in the United States through the South Korean Department of Education. The program encourages high school students to pursue technical skills acquisition in order to obtain employment after graduation. Each year, 40 different school groups are sent abroad in search of global experiences. Youngnak u-health High School specializes in health information technology.

While in Florence, these students participated in health information technology classes, medical device labs, and English classes at Florence Darlington Technical College.  As a part of the curriculum, they attended tours with GE Healthcare and McLeod Hospital in Florence to deepen their understanding of the concepts they were learning in class. Pee Dee AHEC coordinated departmental tours at McLeod Regional Medical Center with McLeod Family Medicine, the cardiac catheterization lab, inpatient rehabilitation, the medical intensive care unit, Heart Reach, the neonatal intensive care unit, information systems, trauma services, radiology and the McLeod Health and Fitness Center.

All of the previous students from this five-year program have attained post-graduate job positions in South Korea. From the last two years’ evaluations, Youngnak u-health High School received Gold Medals from the South Korean Department of Education for their experiences in Florence.

Pee Dee AHEC HPS Coordinators enjoyed hosting these students and broadening our international relationships.

Ulineun AHEC salang

(We Love AHEC !)

For more information, please contact Pee Dee AHEC HPS Coordinators Kam Richardson or Traci Coward.