Celebrating 3 0 Years
1988 - 2018 CELEBRATING 1988 - 2018
0YEARS
For thirty years, Missouri AHEC has worked to enhance access to quality healthcare, par cularly primary and preven ve care, by growing and suppor ng Missouri’s healthcare workforce. Area Health Educa on Centers were developed by Congress in 1971 to recruit, train and retain a health professions workforce commi ed to underserved popula ons. Now more than ever, it is important to iden fy our future providers that will serve a popula on in need of healthcare in both rural and urban underserved areas of Missouri. AHEC connects the resources of academic training schools to local communi es to enhance training and healthcare access. By their very structure, AHECs are able to respond in a flexible and crea ve manner in adap ng na onal health ini a ves to the par cular needs of the na on’s most vulnerable communi es. Today, 46 AHEC programs with more than 261 centers operate in almost every state and the District of Columbia. Approximately 120 medical schools and 600 nursing and allied health schools work collabora vely with AHECs to improve health for underserved and under‐represented popula ons. By training health professions students in local communi es, AHECs iden fy, mo vate, recruit, train, and retain a healthcare workforce commi ed to underserved popula ons.
CONTENTS
LEADERSHIP 3 ADVOCACY 5 MAHEC TIMELINE 7 HEALTH CAREER PROGRAMS 9 CLINICAL TRAINING 11 COMMUNITY EDUCATION 13 AHEC SCHOLARS 14 PROGRAM OFFICES 15 REGIONAL CENTERS 21
Disclaimer: This project is/was supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number U77HP3042 entitled “MAHEC 2017-2022: A Statewide Network for Interprofessional Healthcare Workforce Development and Practice Transformation in Rural and Underserved Missouri” for $1,468,072 with 50% financed using non-federal sources. This information or content and conclusions are those of the author(s) and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government. C AHEC Leadership
As MAHEC Celebrates 30 years of He has a keen ear and remarkably humble service, we celebrate the “originals” that way of coaching us forward. He calculates have endured the thirty years of growing the risk and poten al, and then recommends a statewide program. Prior to 1988, Janet structured course for hurdling each barrier Head, RN, MSN, EdD, began her ini al drive in our collec ve path. to bring AHEC to the Show‐Me‐State. Armed In addi on to managing daily AHEC with reams of HRSA publica ons, a map, and contribu ons to the host medical school lots of ambi on, she set a course to shi the and its 350+ on‐campus students, Janet’s infamous “mal‐distribu on” and lessen the passion for geriatrics and interprofessional shortage of primary care providers in our educa on has led her to ac vely develop largely rural state. Early on, she hired a and lead numerous community integra on young EMS administrator by the name of and interdisciplinary ac vi es for the health Janet Head and Michael French Michael French from Wisconsin to join her in have lead the Missouri AHEC effort professions students both at ATSU and this effort. Janet and Michael quickly proved since the inception in 1988. Truman State University. themselves a remarkable and well‐spoken In 2009, she achieved her long‐term team capable of tackling systemic problems Individually, their talents and interests goal of comple ng a doctorate in educa on as well as the daily minu a. Their partner‐ have led them to work for MAHEC in differ‐ in 2009. Her thesis explored how and in ship bloomed in both work and in life, and ent ways. Michael is our detail person and what context osteopathic medical students they married in 1991. keeps us on track with a statewide vision. learn about interprofessional prac ce. Even The earliest Missouri AHEC years were He assists the other two program offices and in her personal endeavors, Janet is com‐ difficult. The ini al Program Office was locat‐ seven centers become a stronger statewide mi ed to a more responsive, be er pre‐ ed in a condemned part of the medical system, seeking rela onships, partnerships, pared, and stronger healthcare workforce. school. Few people knew or understood the legisla on, financial resources ‐ any and all of In 2016 the efforts and contribu ons to mission; even fewer thought the vision could the components that will grow MAHEC into a MAHEC were recognized at the na onal be carried out. Nonetheless, Janet and greater, more connected, and more respon‐ level with the Red Koelling Award for Ser‐ Michael set out to build one regional center sive force. This has not always been an easy vice to AHEC. While many center directors a er another, visualizing a statewide network job, but Michael keeps his even‐temper and and staff members have come and gone that truly linked communi es to their future works with us individually and as an incorpo‐ from Missouri AHEC over 30 years, Michael health providers and vice versa. Thirty years rated group. We will never know exactly how and Janet have remained constant through later, we hope they are feeling sa sfac on much me he has spent over the years on it all. Not only do they have historical refer‐ and pride in what has been achieved by the our behalf at the state capital, but we know it ence, they ARE the history of our Missouri Missouri AHEC system. is far more than the rest of us want to spend! AHEC system. We are grateful.
Missouri Area Health Education Center | 30 year celebration | page 3 R B Whether governing or advisory, each was established to convene board mem‐ regional AHEC center is dependent on the bers from each regional board with staff contribu on and support of their regional from the center and program offices. boards. Board members represent educa‐ These annual retreats allowed board mem‐ on, healthcare, business, government, bers from across the state to learn best and other community organiza ons and prac ces from other regions and work on play a vital role in the success of the cen‐ statewide strategic planning. ter’s growth and community engagement. In 2001, those in a endance decided In the late 1990s a Joint Boards Retreat to begin fundraising for a scholarship. Following the passing of the ECMO AHEC first center, the scholarship was named the Tamra Lisy Memorial Scholarship. Funds were primarily raised through silent auc‐ ons held in conjunc on with the confer‐ ence. The last Joint Boards Retreat was held in 2010. Funds raised during that me provided scholarships from 2005‐2016 for our AHEC students pursuing health careers. Several recipients are now prac cing professionals including Dr. Emily Penick of Northeast Missouri AHEC region, Kristen Alexander, DMD, of Southeast Missouri region. Although the retreat is no longer held, regional centers s ll convene regular mee ngs and value the input and exper se that community members bring to the table.
We Remember...
Tamra Lisy James Balls Dr. Larry Garrison‐Sullivan Tamra served as the first center director for the James was a charter member of the East Dr. Sullivan was an advisory board member for East Central Missouri AHEC in St. Louis, Missouri Central Missouri AHEC board of directors and the West Central Missouri AHEC since 2010. in a me of change and growth as a statewide had served as chair since its incep on. He served as pre‐health advisor and Dean of organiza on. She mo vated and challenged His leadership, passion and strong interest in Health Sciences at Avila University for over MAHEC leadership to con nuously strive for helping ECMO AHEC succeed helped shape the 40 years. He was passionate about helping excellence in becoming the effec ve statewide center into the success it is today. He passed students reach their goals of becoming health‐ organiza on of today. She passed away in 2003. away in 2016. care providers. He passed unexpectedly in 2019. A for AHEC
The Na onal AHEC Organiza on (NAO) was formally organized and incorporated in 1998. NAO represents a network of more than 300 AHEC program offices and centers that serve over 85% of Unit‐ ed States coun es. The goal of NAO is to help its members achieve Missouri AHEC was proud to have Paula the AHEC mission through advocacy, educa on, and research. Overfelt, Northwest Missouri AHEC The AHEC mission is to enhance access to quality healthcare, center director, serve as president of the par cularly primary and preven ve care, by improving the supply National AHEC Organization for 2017-18. and distribu on of healthcare professionals via strategic partner‐ ships with academic programs, communi es, and professional organiza ons. As a membership organiza on, involvement with our na onal organiza on is important and Missouri has been well represented. Both Dr. Janet Head and Michael French from the ATSU‐KCOM AHEC were involved from the beginning of the organiza on. Janet served as na onal president in 2005‐2006 and was very ac ve in various commi ees such as the Program Directors Cons tuency Former AHEC student, Tara Seals, Group, NAO secretary, and other countless roles. RN/BSN, CPNP, participated on the student panel at the 2018 National Michael French is currently comple ng his second term on the AHEC Conference in Washington, NAO Board of Directors, where he also serves as parliamentarian. D.C. He has served as chair of the Program Directors Cons tuency Group, member of the NAO Public Policy Commi ee. In 2016, Ashley DeVilbiss, Michael was nominated by his Missouri AHEC colleagues and Michelle Mollick, Paula selected by NAO Awards Commi ee for the Red Koelling Award for Overfelt and Barbara service to AHEC. Bowman present at the In 2012, the MU AHEC, with the efforts of the Northwest, NAO Conference. West Central and Mid‐Missouri AHEC, received Na onal Eugene S. Mayer Program of Excellence Award, which is given to a program that exemplifies the best quali es of an AHEC program – program Stephanie Taylor, comprehensiveness, community and university partnerships, Michael French, David Pole, Kathleen Quinn, responsiveness to community needs, and a significant impact on Paula Overfelt and improving access to healthcare for the ci zens of its state. Regina Bowling sign the Paula Overfelt became involved with the NAO Conference MAHEC Articles of Incorporation in 2007. Planning Commi ee in 2008. Her involvement increased as part of the Center Director Cons tuency Group Leadership Team, then as chair. In October 2016 she began a three‐year commitment as president‐elect, president, and is currently the immediate past president. Other current Missouri directors are serving on NAO commi ees: Stephanie Taylor, WCMO AHEC director, serving on the 2018 NAO Conference Planning Commi ee, NAO Communica‐ ons Commi ee and NAO CORE (Commi ee on Outcomes, Research and Evalua on). Dr. Kathleen Quinn serves on the NAO Conference Planning Commi ee.
Missouri Area Health Education Center | 30 year celebration | page 5 Legislative Champions Over the years, the success of Missouri AHEC receiving funding at the federal and state level would not be where it is without the strong support of our legisla ve champions past and present including:
Charlie Shields (former Senator) Brad Lager (former Senator) Chris Kelly (former Representa ve) Kurt Schaefer (former Senator) Senator Dan Hegeman Representa ve Deb Lavender U.S. Senator Roy Blunt
Above: Missouri AHEC staff attended the National AHEC Conference in Washington, D.C. this July 2018. The conference aligns with the opportunity to visit national legislators to advocate for AHEC funding. Below: Missouri AHEC staff attending the 2016 National Conference in Washington, D.C.
Staff and students from regional centers and program offices make the annual trip to Jef- ferson City, Missouri to visit state legislators and share their stories and highlight the im- pact of AHEC programming in the state.
KCOM AHEC MU AHEC A.T. S ll University The second received the first federal was established in award in 1988 to establish Columbia, when the an AHEC presence in University of Missouri Missouri. Located at the School of Medicine re‐ Kirksville College of ceived federal funding in Osteopathic Medicine, 1994. Today it s ll plays KCOM AHEC is the found‐ an important role in the ing for overall framework of the Missouri AHEC net‐ system opera ons, in work and currently serves par cular by its as fiscal agent in receipt of well‐established rural federal and state AHEC pipeline of medical grant awards. students.
1988 1989 1991 1994
NEMO AHEC SEMO AHEC MID-MO AHEC The Northeast Missouri A second regional center The Mid‐Missouri regional AHEC opened as the first was placed in the center opened in Rolla as regional center in Southeastern region of a catalyst for recruitment, Missouri in an effort to Missouri and provides an reten on, and local help reverse the decline educa onal environment support of healthcare in healthcare services, which connects students providers in the access, and opportuni es to careers, links health center of the state. for rural Missourians. professionals to rural It was the first regional communi es, and center established in promotes improved Macon un l they relocat‐ access to healthcare ed to Kirksville in 2010. services. TIMELINE
Three Program Offices Work Together From its incep on un l 2017, Missouri AHEC was unique from other states in that it was one statewide organiza on with three separate grants from Health Resources and Services Administra on (HRSA). Although each medical school and AHEC Center are unique and different, the MAHEC system func ons as one statewide en ty including one central data system. More importantly, all components of MAHEC collaborate and work towards the same mission of building and increasing Missouri’s healthcare workforce.
Missouri Area Health Education Center | 30 year celebration | page 7
1994-95: Leadership planning meeting at KCOM in Kirksville to start development of the Mid-Missouri SLU AHEC AHEC regional center. Left to By 2001, the needs of the right: Rich Oliver, PhD, Director, St. Louis metropolitan School of Health Related Professions, region are a ended to MU School of Medicine; Sherri through a collabora ve pilot Hinrichs, Executive Director, SEMO project between Saint Louis AHEC; Hal Williamson, MD, Depart- ment of Family Medicine, MU School University, ATSU and MU of Medicine; Weldon Webb, Associate AHEC Programs. Saint Louis Dean for External Affairs, MU School University received federal of Medicine; Janet Head, MS, RN, funding in 2002 to establish KCOM AHEC Project Director; John the SLU AHEC P Mosher, Executive Director, NEMO O and ECMO AHEC AHEC; and Michael French, KCOM Regional Center. AHEC Co-Director.
SWMO AHEC ECMO AHEC WCMO AHEC The establishment of the East Central Missouri The West Central AHEC regional AHEC center in Area Health Educa on was the final regional Springfield helped Center was born out of a center to be established expand AHEC services for great need in the St. Louis and serves the second the Southwestern part of metropolitan community largest urban city in the state to address to provide recruitment Missouri as well as three healthcare workforce and training in the urban rural coun es that border issues and develop underserved areas. the Kansas City metro solu ons for providers, area. healthcare systems, and communi es.
NWMO AHEC Northwest Missouri opened it’s regional center in St. Joseph. Originally an outgrowth of the Northwest Missouri Healthcare Agenda, the AHEC center provided much needed clinical training, youth recruitment, and community educa on resources for the Northwestern part of the state. C S
MAHEC health career programs provide Missouri’s youth with opportuni es to explore health careers, foster their interest in becoming future healthcare providers, and helps them prepare to enter these compe ve training programs. Ac vi es range from classroom presenta ons, hands‐on science ac vi es and career explora on workshops to summer camps, internships, shadowing, and individual career planning sessions. Through its well‐developed community rela onships, MAHEC programs offer academic enrichment, mentoring, and lead‐ ership development that help students iden fy and a ain their health career goals. MAHEC also provides incorporates service learning pro‐ jects that encourage young people to enhance the communi es in which they live.
G H A was H O S PRIMO A were sponsored by developed specifically for students age five A (HOSA) is a na onal organi‐ the Missouri Department of Health and through second grade and used puppets to za on founded in 1975 with the purpose Senior Services in the 1990’s and organized introduce healthcare professionals such as of developing leadership and technical by Missouri AHEC to provide one‐ and two‐ family doctor, paramedic, emergency room skills through mo va on, instruc on and week academic experiences focusing on nurse, x‐ray technician and pharmacist. and recogni on. Over the years, MAHEC algebra, chemistry, and biology as well as AHEC regional centers provided programming regional centers played an integral part field internships. These academies were and AHEC high school students also used the in establishing and suppor ng area HOSA held at various college campuses. Acade‐ puppets for community service projects. chapters throughout Missouri rural and mies were replaced in 2000 with the ACES urban areas. In 2012, the Missouri longitudinal pipeline programs. Founda on for Health funded a three‐ year pilot program to ini ate HOSA programs in ten rural and urban under‐ served middle schools Several AHEC regional centers were involved to support the development of these chapters. Today, there are more than 80 HOSA chapters across the state made up of middle school, secondary, post‐ secondary, adult and collegiate students enrolled in health science educa on and M AHEC S H biomedical science programs or have interests in pursuing careers in health summer camps expose (M*A*S*H) professions. middle‐school students to health careers Y H S C was through tours of hospitals, health depart‐ developed by the Connec cut AHEC to ments and emergency services and par ci‐ introduce students to health careers through pate in hands‐on ac vi es like suturing, service learning. Students gained awareness injec ons, proper hand washing, basic first‐ regarding services and programs in their aid, and vital signs. Held as early as 2000, community and vulnerable popula ons. these camps were a collabora on between They provided much needed volunteer assis‐ AHEC regional centers and local community tance through hands‐on ac vi es and imple‐ partners and health organiza ons. K‐5 6‐8 menta on of a community service project. Missouri Area Health Education Center | 30 year celebration | page 9 AHEC C E S ‐ M E S ATSU‐KCOM AHEC/A P ‐ P (ACES) has been the AHEC A (M.E.S.A.) The M.E.S.A P W S helps signature high school program since 2001. program grew out of one of KCOM’s pre‐health undergraduates and ACES Students with a strong interest in primary students’ interest to teach anatomy to students learn about the process and reali‐ care medicine, nursing, den stry, or mental high school students. Beginning in 2006 es of preparing for and surviving in profes‐ health par cipate in workshops to gain the workshop provides a learning oppor‐ sional school. Ini ated in 2012 to emphasize hands‐on skill training, career explora on tunity involving guided dissec on labs and and encourage oral health careers and and college prepara on. Students also interac ve video presenta ons from Kirks‐ spread the word about MOSDOH (Missouri receive one‐on‐one career counseling, ville. Planned and presented by KCOM School of Den stry & Oral Health), this networking with healthcare professionals Anatomy Fellows, these sessions are broad‐ series now addresses a variety of primary and organiza ons, opportuni es for sum‐ cast to regional AHEC sites around the care disciplines. There have been three mer internships and early applica on to state. The goals for each M.E.S.A. dissec‐ webinars per spring, and average par cipa‐ health professions programs. Since its on lab vary depending on the specimen on has included 3‐5 regional AHECs with incep on, almost 1,000 Missouri high but each includes a comparison between 2‐15 students per site. school and college students par cipated in the specimen and human anatomy. The longitudinal health career prepara on M.E.S.A. dissec on labs make a a significant ac vi es provided by AHEC. contribu on to future healthcare work‐ force.
MU H S provided students S ‐ create from AHEC regions with opportuni es to opportuni es for regional centers to work visit the University of Missouri campus and directly with schools in their communi es I o en provide opportuni es explore the many op ons for health career to introduce students to health careers by for students to work with hospitals, health training at the MU School of Medicine, bringing in health professionals as mentors departments, and other healthcare organi‐ Sinclair School of Nursing, and the MU to serve on panels and discuss health za ons to gain insight into the health of School of Health Professions. Students topics, engaging health professions their community by par cipa ng in projects experience living in dorms, ea ng in cam‐ students and professionals in crea ng such as health screenings, homeless out‐ pus dining halls, and learning about college curriculum around nutri on, public health reach, oral health ac vi es, and more. life from current undergraduates. and preventable diseases, and providing Students work alongside health profession‐ hands‐on ac vi es in the classrooms. als and mentors and gain valuable experi‐ ence in the real world. P
Missouri AHEC supports the training of medical, nursing, oral health and other health professions students in underserved communi es. AHECs facilitate preceptor and training site iden fica on and development, may assist with student housing, support students in mee ng non‐clinical academic requirements, and provide opportuni es for students to learn about and become engaged in the community. By col‐ labora ng with MAHEC in training, a community gains increased access to students and increased opportuni es to recruit them to return to the community to prac ce when their training is complete.
S E M S In an effort to address physician shortages in Missouri, all three Missouri AHEC program offices implement programs for students comple ng their first year of medical school to experience rota ons in rural and urban communi es. These opportuni es provide students with a chance to increase their knowledge of rural and urban prac ce in community‐based primary care, spend me in one of the AHEC communi es across Missouri, improve their clinical skills, recognize the importance of community resources in achieving and maintaining health.
During the summer: University of Missouri School of Medicine students train throughout Missouri for four‐, six‐ or eight‐week rota ons, primarily with primary care providers in rural areas. A.T. S ll University/Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine students train for two weeks each in over 100 sites, mostly T C N primary care sites in underserved areas, organized by the AHEC In 1994, the NEMO AHEC Cer fied Nurse Assistant Consor um regional centers. was created to fulfill a growing need to train and cer fy nursing Saint Louis University School of Medicine students are engaged assistants. It was a unique consor um between the NEMO AHEC, in a six‐week summer preceptorship with community‐based North Central Missouri College in Trenton (NCMC), and several long family medicine physicians that included 20+ hours per week in ‐term facili es. This partnership lasted over 10 years and helped the clinic and addi onal hours par cipa ng in community health train over 450 students. service projects. In 2017, Northwest Missouri begin offering CNA training in their region a er hearing some of their ACES students chose not to One student said, “This experience was my first me being in a do par cipate in Health Occupa ons classes because of scheduling rural se ng. One of the aspects I loved most about the doctor’s prac‐ conflicts with dual credit or Advanced Placement courses. AHEC ce was the con nuity of care, which I think is more easily fostered provides this opportunity the summer a er they graduate so they within a smaller community. I believe that these experiences will posi‐ can complete the course and head to college with a cer ficate to vely influence any decisions I make regarding medical specialty and work for be er pay, gain hands on experience in healthcare and prac ce loca on.” build confidence working with pa ents.
Missouri Area Health Education Center | 30 year celebration | page 11 AHEC H A AHEC C Placing health professions students in community‐based se ngs One of the joys for anyone who works for an AHEC is to for clinical training has demonstrated improved outcomes in terms of have former students return to prac ce in your region. Over the chosen prac ce sites. Students who train in underserved urban or past 30 years, AHEC has seen many success stories when the rural se ngs are o en recruited to prac ce there. Having had the student because the provider/preceptor. In a family medicine chance to live in the community and become familiar with the clinic in northwest Missouri, all 12 providers have either taught healthcare system and staff makes the student more likely to return students or were students themselves. All five nurse prac on‐ as a prac cing professional. ers completed clinical training rota ons coordinated by the Students some mes need a temporary place to live while they AHEC, and all of them now serve as preceptors to nurse prac ‐ learn for varying lengths of me – from two weeks to six months. oner students. Not only are they providers, they are integrated When temporary housing is not available in a community, it is diffi‐ into the community, serving as board members, assis ng with cult to place students there for training. In most cases, however, it high school health career explora on ac vi es, provide job is hospitals that share costs with AHECs to foot the bill. Temporary shadowing opportuni es and now teaching the next genera on housing for health professions students is far too expensive for the of health professions students. AHECs to maintain without assistance, even though students o en Three of these physicians completed their clinical rota ons pay nominal rent. through NWMO AHEC as medical students. Dr. Tara Brown, Dr. Hospitals are eager to have the opportunity to recruit new Ben Reine, and Dr. Sarah Wiederholt. Dr. Bryan Green, an MU graduates from residencies, nursing schools, physician assistant Rural Track student, returned to northwest Missouri a er a few programs, the therapy programs, and many technical training years of prac ce in other Missouri communi es. Across Mis‐ programs. Consequently, the hospitals are well‐served to provide souri, there are hundreds of health professionals that offer AHEC with housing support. learning opportuni es to students as they do at this clinic and Kathleen Quinn, PhD, MU AHEC Program Director said, “The many more successful provider/ AHEC rela onship stories to partnerships between the medical schools, regional centers and share. Thank you to all Missouri health professions who teach hospitals and the dedicated teams of physician educators have made the next genera on! it possible for us to place more students in Missouri, where a vast shortage and a great need for healthcare providers exist.” M H C W C In 2016, Missouri AHEC ini ated a coali on of key stakehold‐ ers to strengthen the primary care workforce for the state of Mis‐ SLU L L and D D were set up souri by addressing advocacy and delivery of primary care for Mis‐ as a combina on of elec ve course, interest group and service sourians. These partners included Missouri Hospital Associa on, program. SLU Labor of Love provided students with training in Missouri Primary Care Associa on, Missouri Department of Health domes c violence awareness, doula training, and tradi onal aspects and Senior Services, and Missouri State Board of Nursing. Mem‐ of the birthing process. Then students would provide doula support bers of the coali on meet regularly and engage in several priority services, health educa on and community resources to domes c efforts including (1) The crea on of a healthcare workforce data violence survivors in par cipa on with the YMCA. Students who system; (2) Poten al tax incen ve for primary care preceptors; (3) either take the doctors for diversity elec ve or join the interest Increasing funding for new and exis ng primary care residency group provided monthly hands‐on lessons in medical science and programs; (4) Increasing/enhancing funding for primary care train‐ professional develop and weekly mentoring sessions in partnership ing through scholarships and loan repayments, and (5) Crea ng with faculty from the Collegiate School of Medicine and Bioscience. coordinated preceptor development programs and resources. C
Health educa on and community outreach has played a vital role in providing public health awareness over many decades. AHEC staff and students, from high school to health professions, par cipate in developing and implemen ng ac vi es for the community, some mes for service learning projects or as part of a larger na onal grant effort. Over the years many programs have been offered throughout the state such as: * Stop the Pop * Bioterrorism Preparedness Training * Oral Health Care * Tar Wars * Nutri on and exercise * Making Proud Choices * CPR Training * Health Literacy
H L V M H P HPV E In 2007, the Missouri Founda on for Health The Na onal AHEC Organiza on was part In 2015, the Northeast Missouri (MFH) invited three partners to join them in of the Joining Forces Ini a ve chaired by AHEC office was selected to take part forming the Health Literacy Missouri Coordi‐ former First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. in the Na onal AHEC Organiza on’s na ng Council to address low health literacy Jill Biden. Our role na onally was to pro‐ HPV Immuniza on Project by forming in Missouri, especially among vulnerable, at‐ vide con nuing educa on to health profes‐ partnerships and organizing trainings risk popula ons. The Council included South‐ sionals on the behavioral health issues of for healthcare providers throughout west Missouri Area Health Educa on Center our veterans/military service members of (SWMO AHEC) Center, The Center for Health Missouri. The goal of the project is to the wars of the past ten years. The goal provide educa on to health profes‐ Policy at the University of Missouri‐Columbia, was to reach 10,000 providers, but more sionals and students in health profes‐ and the St. Louis Collabora ve based at than 13,000 were reached by AHECs all Washington University’s Health Communica‐ across the country. sional schools regarding the Human on Research Laboratory . In Missouri, several regional centers par‐ Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. By in‐ These partners came together to build cipated in the outreach. Mid‐Missouri creasing awareness and training Health Literacy Missouri: a comprehensive AHEC held the first AHEC‐facilitated Veter‐ health professionals about the HPV health literacy resource center for the state an’s Mental Health session in Jefferson City. vaccine, the overall effort is to increase of Missouri. This organiza on was designed Following suit, Northwest and West Central HPV vaccina on rates of girls and boys, to address the health literacy needs of con‐ Missouri AHEC collaborated with the Kan‐ ages 11 and 12. Through the network sumers and professionals throughout the sas City VA Medical Center on its Veteran’s of ten offices, MAHEC is par cipa ng state by iden fying needs, resources, and Administra on Health Summit. Southeast in the project to help spread the word programs which can improve the health liter‐ Missouri AHEC par cipated in the VA sum‐ acy of all Missourians. Programs included that the HPV vaccina on is the best mit held at the John J. Pershing VA medical way to prevent many types of cancer. training on plain language, offering educa on Center in Poplar Bluff and Northeast Mis‐ resources to help healthcare providers com‐ souri AHEC coordinated four events for municate effec vely with pa ents, crea ng providers and students including a veterans systema c change at point of medical care, seminar held for ATSU students. strengthening the evidence base for health literacy, and improving health literacy educa‐ L S T on and community collabora ons. AHEC has offered a wide range of CPR‐ related ac vi es for community and stu‐ dents over the years. CPR is an important life and job skill for community members and a founda onal skill for most health pro‐ fessionals. High school students complete CPR training as part of the ACES curriculum. AHEC regional centers also became a “lending library” when the American Heart UMKC Dental Hygiene students partner Associa on provided each region with ten with regional AHEC centers to identify audiences for oral health education during training kits to be loaned out to regional their dental hygiene rotations. high schools in response to 2017 state legis‐ la on that mandated that all high schools provide CPR awareness training as a re‐ quirement for all graduates.
Missouri Area Health Education Center | 30 year celebration | page 13 L AHEC Scholars Kicking off our 30th year has included the mitment to engage with peers from their On October 6, 2018, MAHEC held its development of an en rely new program region and across Missouri and complete a inaugural AHEC Scholars Statewide for health professions students called AHEC defined set of clinical, didac c, and commu‐ Retreat in Columbia, MO. The all‐day Scholars. This program is designed to sup‐ nity‐based ac vi es in rural and/or under‐ didac c event provided opportuni es plement educa on and training of current served urban se ngs. for AHEC scholars and other health health professions students by gaining addi‐ Our Scholars represent medicine, dental, professions students to interact with onal healthcare knowledge and experi‐ pharmacy, nursing and advanced prac ce and learn from accomplished leaders in ence in rural and/or underserved urban nursing, physician assistant, social work, the healthcare field. The students le se ngs. physical therapy, occupa onal therapy, with a greater understanding of the AHEC Scholars is a signature program for public/popula on health and other health‐ unique factors that medically under‐ AHECs across the country focusing on pre‐ related programs. They have a current in‐ served popula ons experience on a day paring health professions students to work terest in rural and/or underserved urban to day basis. One student stated, in rural or underserved urban communi es healthcare. Topics include: “Overall, [the retreat] was a very valua‐ and provide healthcare to underserved Interprofessional Educa on ble learning experience. I am excited to communi es and popula ons. The pro‐ Behavioral Health Integra on explore this wonderful learning oppor‐ gram focuses on building regional interpro‐ Social Determinants of Health tunity [that the AHEC Scholars program fessional cohorts of students from mul ple Cultural Competency has to offer].” disciplines. Scholars make a two‐year com‐ Current and Emerging Health Issues Prac ce Transforma on. KIRKSVILLEKCOM COLLEGE OF OSTEOPATHIC MAHECEDICINE AHEC PROGRAM OFFICE
Since its incep on on October 1, 1988, the A.T. S ll University—Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine AHEC Program Office has worked with many partners across the state of Missouri and beyond to establish and enhance the Missouri AHEC (MAHEC) Network. ATSU’s 30‐year commitment to the MAHEC Network springs from the match between the missions of ATSU and MAHEC, especially a focus on fostering a diverse healthcare workforce that values interprofessional collabora on, community health improvement, and service to underserved communi es and popula ons. In 2017, on behalf of the three University Program offices and seven regional AHECs, the ATSU‐KCOM AHEC Program Office submi ed a single HRSA grant applica on for the Missouri AHEC and, currently, administers the awarded funds for the MAHEC Network. The transi on to a single grant applica on allows the network to work together to develop, implement, and evaluate the new AHEC Scholars Program and other ac vi es with increased efficiency.
C ‐B C E : Star ng in 1992, ATSU‐KCOM worked with AHEC to ini ate the Missouri Region program, placing medical students for their third and fourth‐year clinical rota ons in community‐based training sites in Missouri. Among the communi es in which Missouri Region students have trained are Kirksville, Hannibal, Rolla, St. Joseph, Cape Girardeau, Sikeston, Springfield, Joplin, Kenne , West Plains, Jefferson City, and Saint Louis. Since 1992, approximately 1,450 KCOM medical students have completed third‐ and fourth‐year clinical educa on in Missouri communi es through the Missouri Region; over 125 KCOM graduates who trained in the Missouri Region served as MAHEC clinical precep‐ tors during the period 2012‐2017. Below is an illustra on of the statewide reach of the Missouri Region program is found in the following small sample of Missouri Region alumni who prac ce in Missouri and have served as preceptors or directors of student medical educa on for students following in their footsteps
STUDENTS TO PRECEPTORS‐MISSOURI REGION PROGRAM PRECEPTOR KCOM CLASS MAHEC REGION
MICHAEL PATTERSON, D.O. 1994 ECMO AHEC M M R L S Lectures are available live to all third and fourth year VICTORIA DAMBA, D.O. 1997 SEMO AHEC training sites in Missouri and are archived for wider availability. Since 2011, approximately 1,859 health professions students and CHERYL WILLIAMS, D.O. 1997 SWMO AHEC other interested health related professionals have par cipated in these lectures. RACHELLE GORRELL, D.O. 1998 MID‐MO AHEC C C M S : CHRISTOPHER KAFKA, D.O. 1998 WCMO AHEC The ATSU‐KCOM AHEC Program Office coordinates a two‐ semester Spanish language and culture course for medical/dental STEVEN BRUSHWOOD, D.O. 2000 NWMO AHEC students on the Missouri campus. Taught by TSU Modern Languages faculty, with TSU students majoring in Spanish serving MATHEW HARDEE, D.O. 2007 NEMO AHEC as standardized pa ents, the course helps ATSU students enhance language skills and enrich their understanding of cultural influences on health beliefs and interac ons with providers.
Missouri Area Health Education Center | 30 year celebration | page 15 G W E P With funding provided by Saint Louis University under a GWEP E C E grant from the Health Resources and Services Administra on, the ATSU‐KCOM’s Early Clinical Experiences (CE) are designed to ATSU‐KCOM AHEC Program Office and four regional AHECs collabo‐ enhance medical student awareness of opportuni es in primary care rate with SLU to deliver services and provider educa on to improve and in agencies caring for people in Missouri’s high need communi‐ healthcare for popula ons of older adults. As part of this collabora‐ es. Though KCOM’s annual class size has increased from approxi‐ on, students and providers have been trained to administer the mately 140 in the early 1990s to approximately 175 as we approach Rapid Geriatric Assessment (RGA), older adults with mild to moderate 2020, the ATSU‐KCOM AHEC office has con nued to provide coordi‐ demen a have benefited from Cogni ve S mula on Therapy, and na on and administra ve support for two important community‐ other elders have par cipated in Ma er of Balance programs. based learning experiences. Since 2016, 1,437 RGAs have been administered, and 1,030 providers Since 2002, CE I has provided first‐year students three two‐hour and students have been trained on the RGA and gained enhanced opportuni es to shadow prac oners and staff in clinical and commu‐ knowledge and skills in geriatrics. Shown above: ATSU and Truman nity sites that offer a range of health‐related services. CE II serves as State students par cipa ng in the Fall 2018 individual CST (i‐CST the first “real/official” clinical rota on for KCOM students and intro‐ course). duces students to the daily experiences of primary care, community‐ based prac ce and being part of a care team. Administered collabora‐ vely by the ATSU and regional AHEC offices since 1993, these two‐week clinical placements in Missouri between the first and second years of medical school allow students to integrate their first year classroom learning and regroup for their second year of course‐ work. CE II serves as an energizer and a reminder to students and our community‐based preceptors of why they chose medicine as a career. Early and con nuing primary care experiences contribute to KCOM’s high rate of graduates matched into primary care residencies (64% in 2017).
IPE‐C ‐C C C Since its introduc on in 2013, 492 students working in 107 teams have par cipated in the IPE‐CCC. Ini ated by a team of students and faculty on ATSU’s Arizona campus, it quickly gained support and par cipa on from the ATSU‐Missouri, TSU, and ATSU‐ Arizona campuses/communi es. The six‐week Missouri campus I H P (IPHP) IPE‐CCC course allows students from seven disciplines (medical, den‐ The ATSU‐KCOM AHEC Program Office has facilitated ATSU‐ tal, nursing, health science, communica on disorders, athle c train‐ KCOM’s home visi ng program since its introduc on by the Depart‐ ing, and social/cultural science) to work in teams to develop leader‐ ment of Family Medicine in 2000. In 2003, an interprofessional ship skills and learn about, from, and with other health professions op on was introduced which has evolved into the current Interpro‐ disciplines. fessional Health Partners program. IPHP offers ATSU medical and Student teams are provided a complex, web‐based case and dental students the opportunity to work with Truman State Universi‐ asked to develop a pa ent/family‐centered care plan that focuses ty (TSU) nursing, health educa on and other health related students on pa ent safety, quality of care and interprofessional team work. in interprofessional teams with community elders. Teams visit the The culmina on of this team project is presenta on by the student elder volunteer three mes, gather a health history, assess vital team to a group of judges that describes their pa ent care “dream signs, complete a variety of other assessments, and provide condi‐ team” and cri cal elements of care for the pa ent and his/her on‐specific educa on to pa ents in their homes. The course gives family. students the opportunity to learn about other health disciplines, work with older adults, and enhance teamwork and communica on skills. The program "pa ents" are older adult volunteers from the community. Since 2014, 708 students have par cipated in the program and provided 2,124 hours of service to elders. UNIVERSITYMU OF MISSOURI SCHOOL AHEC OF MEDICINE AHEC PROGRAM OFFICE
MU Rural Track Program As the state’s leading educator of physicians prac cing in Missouri, the MU School of Medicine is in a key posi on to improve the supply and distribu on of physicians in rural Missouri. Although it cannot single‐handedly solve Missouri’s rural health problems, the school has the unique poten al to enhance the physi‐ cian work force. In response to the challenge, Dean Lester R. Bryant, requested the crea on of the MU Area Health Educa on Center (MU AHEC) Program Office in 1994 to address the shortage of physicians in rural areas of the state. The pipeline graphic illustrates the four dis nct but related curricular and clinical components of the program: the Bryant Scholars Pre‐Admissions Program, the Summer Community Program, the Rural Track Clerkship Program, and the Rural Track Elec ve Program. Weldon Webb, former Associate Dean for Rural Health; Hal Wil‐ liamson, MD, former Vice Chancellor for MU Healthcare System; and Michael Hosokawa, Ed D, current Senior Associate Dean, played pivotal roles in founding and sustaining the MU Rural Track Pipeline Program (MU RTPP). Sadly, Dr. Bryant died at age 87 on May 2, 2018, in Jonesborough, Tennessee but he le behind a las ng legacy of enduring accomplishments at MU.
Program Outcomes for Bryant Scholars, 47.5% have matched into a primary care specialty. Approximately 60% prac ce in a rural loca on, 70% prac ce in Missouri, and 50% prac ce in rural Missouri.
Bryant Scholars Dr. Andrea Schuster tells her story about fulfilling her dream to become a rural physician and the influence the Rural Track Pipeline Program had on her success.
“I grew up in Pilot Grove, Missouri, a small town about 40 miles west of Columbia. From a very young age I wanted to be a physician, probably because I adored my pediatrician and admired the way he put my parents at ease when I was sick. I have no family members that are medical doctors, and while my parents were always supportive, we were basically flying blind when it came to plan- ning for my career. I found out about the Bryant Scholars Program as a freshman in college, through my high school guidance counselor. I applied and thankfully was accepted during my sopho- more year at Mizzou. The Bryant program provided me with a structure for succeeding in under-graduate and medical Dr. Andrea Schuster (right) is a school. I was introduced to advisors, met other premed students from rural backgrounds, and partic- clinical faculty member in the MU ipated in retreats that taught me what to expect as a medical student. The experience was invaluable, Family and Community Medicine and I finally had a concrete plan and the support I needed to become a doctor.” Department and works at a clinic in Fayette, Missouri. She is pictured with Kelly Dougherty, an M1 who is a Bryant Scholar and her mentee.
Missouri Area Health Education Center | 30 year celebration | page 17
Rural Immersion The MU Rural Track Pipeline Program con nues to innovate a improve students’ experiences to help them learn about the unique opportuni es associated with a career in rural medicine. The Rural Immersion Program is a four‐day experience in a rural community for health professions students who are interested in living and working in a rural area. This is a non‐clinical experi‐ ence designed to highlight the social and communal aspects of rural life. Rural Immersion was held in Chillicothe, MO and Han‐ nibal, MO in past years, and is scheduled to be held in Sedalia, Summer 2018 Rural Immersion Participants in Hannibal, MO. MO during the Summer of 2019. Through group ac vi es and mee ngs with community leaders, par cipants get a preview of life as a rural healthcare professional. Students spend me in mul discipli‐ nary groups interviewing community leaders from one of four emphasis areas (business and government, educa‐ on, healthcare, and natural resources). At the end of the experience, students present their findings to student groups and members of the community. By par cipa ng in the Rural Immersion Program, students from medicine, pharmacy, public health, speech pathology, diete cs, den stry, and nursing experience working with other healthcare professions in a collabora‐ ve environment. Past par cipa ng schools include, MU Sinclair School of Nursing, UMKC School of Pharmacy at MU, MU School of Health Professions, MU School of Medicine, MU Masters of Public Health Program, Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine, and Missouri School of Den stry and Oral Health.
Rural Track Success Stories
MU School of Medicine class of 2011 graduates Dr. Fallan Mayabb and Dr. Trevin Mayabb both par cipated in the AHEC Rural Track Program. Dr. Fallan Mayabb is prac‐ cing obstetrics and gynecology at the Missouri Delta Women’s Care Center in Sikeston, Missouri. Dr. Trevin Mayabb is a family physician with the Ferguson Medical Group in East Prairie and Sikeston, Missouri. “We both feel that the Rural Track Program was invaluable in preparing us for rural practice in both of our fields. The Rural Track Program gave us the opportunity to immerse ourselves in rural medicine between first/second years of medical school and during our clini- cal rotations in third year. Not only did this give us the experience to prepare us for rural medicine but it introduced us to our future partners! We are both now working with our previ- ous preceptors in very fulfilling practices. We are also teaching as rural preceptors to bring the pipeline full circle.”
For information about the MU Rural Track Pipeline Program, please contact Kathleen Quinn, PhD, Associate Dean for Rural Health at [email protected]. SSLUAINT LOUIS UNIVERSITY AHEC AHEC PROGRAM OFFICE
The Saint Louis University AHEC Program Office started as a collabora ve The SLU AHEC Program is successfully entering its pilot project with the Kirksville and MU AHEC Programs in 2001 to address 18th year of programming. We have worked with the the unique needs of the St. Louis region. At the me, East Central Missouri ECMO AHEC Regional Center to develop a diverse (ECMO) AHEC regional center was suppor ng clinical rota ons and training experiences for MAHEC students in the St. Louis metropolitan area. In 2002, assortment of coali on ac vi es, partnerships and federal AHEC funding facilitated a formal collabora on between SLU AHEC students programs. I will be con nuing these efforts Program Offices and ECMO AHEC Regional Centers to develop programs and as the new Deputy Director of SLU AHEC as of De‐ services for five county regions of St. Louis City, St. Louis County, Jefferson cember 2018. Nicole Weithop, MA, who was deputy County, Franklin County and St. Charles County. SLU AHEC has developed a number of coopera ve agreements with a director through November, is resuming her work to range of different health professional training programs at SLU and has es‐ expand the nursing workforce at Saint Louis Universi‐ tablished the AHEC Program Commi ee with representa on from the ty’s School of Nursing. Schools of Medicine, Nursing, Allied Health (Physical Therapy, Occupa onal Chris Jacobs, MD, is the Saint Louis University Therapy, Physician Assistant), Social Work and Public Health, as well as the Office of Student Affairs within the School of Medicine and local Family Medi‐ Department of Family Medicine department chair cine residency programs. The goal of these coopera ve agreements is to and AHEC Program Director as of January 2017. Dr. iden fy common areas of need and develop programs that enhance recruit‐ Jacobs brings prior experience as the Program Direc‐ ment and matricula on of students in mul ple disciplines with a focus on tor of the St. Mary’s Family Medicine Residency and disadvantaged students and students from medically underserved areas entering primary care‐related disciplines. Through these collabora ons, the Director of the Department of Family Medicine at SLU AHEC program has developed four strong areas of focus: SSM Health Care. Addi onally, we s ll benefit from the help of Fred Ro nek, MD, MAHCM, SLU AHEC’s Collabora on within the Department of Family and Community previous medical director and Kelly Everard, PhD, the Medicine on academic and community‐based clinical training of students and the support of family medicine preceptors across head of the Medical Student Educa on Division, who the region. contribute to our rigorous and innova ve family med‐ Collabora on on interprofessional curriculum – including academic icine service learning and interprofessional programs. and community‐based training experiences with the College of Although I am just beginning my role as Deputy Health Sciences and the Schools of Medicine, Nursing and Social Work. Director at SLU AHEC, I am very proud of the work The MD with Dis nc on in Community Service program, that AHEC that MAHEC thus far has accomplished. I am also manages on behalf of the School of Medicine to mentor approximate‐ looking forward to collabora ng with ATSU/KCOM, ly 80 students per year in health‐related services across their four MU and all the regional centers which make MAHEC years of training. Collabora on and support for the ECMO AHEC regional center so effec ve in improving the health of residents of on pipeline programs that introduce high school students and Missouri. I am honored to par cipate in this im‐ teachers to health careers and the provision of enrichment programs portant 30‐year milestone. that encourage student matricula on towards college and health ~ Carissa van den Berk Clark professions training. With the addi on of Chris Jacobs, MD, as department chair for Family and Community Medicine and AHEC Program Director in 2017, we are look‐ ing forward to con nued development and collabora ons within SLU and across the region to address healthcare workforce needs and improve access to quality healthcare.
Carissa van den Berk Clark, PhD, MSW AHEC Deputy Director
Christine Jacobs, MD Sarah Skiold-Hanlin, MS SLU AHEC Director AHEC Program Coordinator
Missouri Area Health Education Center | 30 year celebration | page 19 Family Medicine Academic and Community‐Based Training SLU AHEC collaborates with more than 200 family medicine Representa ve Students from the Class of 2018 preceptors across the region that provide community‐based comple ng the MD WITH DISTINCTION IN clinical training for SLU students. Approximately 35% of students taking family medicine clerkships COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAM receive training in medically underserved areas. The Dis nc on Program works with approximately 10% of each AHEC has developed partnerships with St. Louis Community medical school class who commit to a four‐year, faculty‐ College and the Integrated Health Network to establish an mentored program of over 180 hours of health‐related services innova ve Scholars programs for the St. Louis metropolitan region. th and a 4 year project developed to meet a community need. SLU AHEC has worked with ECMO, the St. Louis Public Schools and Collegiate School of Medicine and Bioscience to coordinate tutoring, mentoring and hands‐on‐healthcare interest group. Michael Baltes Interprofessional Training Programs Project: Health Resource Center Diabetes Clinic. AHEC staff are ac ve on Interprofessional Educa on (IPE) teams at The Diabetes clinic strives to improve quality of SLU, developing mul ple cases for the IPE grand rounds, internship care for diabe c and pre‐diabe c pa ents by offer‐ experiences and seminars. ing educa on on self‐management and access to AHEC staff have been ac ve in developing the MAHEC Scholars resources like medica ons. core curriculum. The modules address interprofessional educa on, behavioral health integra on, social determinants of health, cultur‐ al competency, prac ce transforma on and current and emerging health issues. Suhita Alluri The AHEC Medical Director has developed new programming in the Project: Cancer Screening Educa on for the SLU Family Medicine Residency, which is focused on training family St. Louis Homeless Popula on medicine residents in behavioral health and to be er integrate A er collec ng surveys and data, homeless individ‐ behavioral health consultants into primary care. uals were able to learn about healthy habits and AHEC staff collaborates with the Associate Dean for Curriculum preven ve prac ces, diagnos c tools, and im‐ development on programs to address pa ent‐centered care, portant screening guidelines for common cancers. racial discrimina on/bias and social determinants of health. AHEC staff are leaders of the Saint Louis University primary care prac ce‐based research network, ARCHNet, which recruits Mackenzie Harms physicians from the Saint Louis metropolitan region to collaborate Project: SLU SIGHT: Making Eye Care on research in behavioral and social determinants of health. Accessible Community Educa on and Community Service Working with SLU SIGHT, an independent special‐ Medical students and family medicine residents conduct communi‐ ty clinic, to reach over 320 pa ents for dilated ty health educa on programs for local schools on in mate partner exams or basic vision screenings. violence, healthy rela onships, mental health s gma, tobacco use and overcoming adversity. AHEC staff are faculty advisers for student interest groups provid‐ ing the above outreach educa on, plus Doctors for Diversity and other Family Medicine interest groups. AHEC staff administer the Rodney M. Coe, MD with dis nc on in community service program, mentoring approximately 80 medical students (20 per class) who commit to a 4‐year program of health‐ related community service and evaluate project in their 4th year. AHEC staff facilitated the most recent Primary Care Priority Groups Roundtable in Jefferson City, MO. AHEC staff help organize the annual Primary Care Research Sympo‐ Patrice Vallot and Alexis Webber sium at SLU. Project: HERO (Health Educa on and Resource Outreach for Students Entering Family Medicine and Primary Care Parents AHEC programs have posi vely impacted the number of medical A project focused on giving parents in underserved areas the tools students entering family medicine. In 2018, family medicine was one to make healthy decisions both physically and emo onally. of the top resident match in the School of Medicine with 28 students. Medical School Class of 2017 15% (28) of students entered Family Medicine 51% (92) students joined residency program in primary care disciplines (Family Medicine, General Internal Medicine or Pediatrics) 25% (23) of the students entered a primary care residency program in Missouri N M AHEC
Northeast Missouri AHEC is the oldest regional center in Missouri and only one of three which was developed as a stand‐alone 501c3 community non‐profit agency. While this tax status enables unique partnerships and opportuni es, the center is vulnerable to all envi‐ ronmental factors which influence other small businesses in Missouri. Despite the rising challenges, NEMO AHEC has managed to maintain a core staff and programming over the past 30 years! In rural and underserved areas, community is key. NEMO AHEC con nues to increase outreach in the local communi es to provide health educa on and improve quality health awareness. During the past six‐month period, NEMO AHEC has been in contact with 700+ community members of the region.
Na onal AHEC Organiza on HPV Immuniza on Project The Na onal AHEC Organiza on received funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Preven on to provide educa on to health professionals regarding the Human Papilloma‐ virus (HPV) vaccine. AHEC en es in all 50 states are working to increase HPV vaccina on rates. NEMO AHEC houses one of four project specialists in the na on.
During the annual family health fair William Matthew Middle School, community partici- pants enjoy health-related games, receive health education free health screenings and engage with local health providers.
Missouri Area Health Education Center | 30 year celebration | page 21 Regional Success Stories
Michelle Kenney, MD Aurora Powell Bell, DO Dr. Kenney is a former ACES student Aurora Bell joined AHEC in high school. of Northeast Missouri AHEC with over She completed medical school at A. T. S ll University. Dr. Bell currently comple ng her 300 hours of program par cipa on. residency in family medicine. She a ributes She is a na ve Missourian raised on a her decision to pursue medicine to farm outside Kirksville, Missouri, Being a explora on ac vi es, job shadowing, and physician trained in pediatric medicine, networking through AHEC. Dr. Kenney has a unique set of skills rep‐ resen ng the awareness of rural physi‐ Jessica Snyder, MD cian shortages in Missouri and throughout the country. “This has Dr. Snyder began her journey with AHEC in been an ongoing problem for years and it’s likely to get worse,” high school with the ACES program. Kenney said. “I feel like everyone should have good care, and it She ac vely par cipated in educa onal workshops as well as job shadowing oppor‐ should be available and not something that is granted only to peo‐ tuni es. She was an MU Bryant Scholar ple in urban areas. If we’re going to target the overall health of the and completed clinical training through the country, access is huge.” Northwest Missouri AHEC. Dr. Snyder is Dr. Kenney has experience with many of the unique challenges currently a family medicine specialist resident and plans to prac ce in her home which come with rural medicine. Hands‐on experience during her area of rural northeast Missouri. MU Rural Track rota ons through the NWMO AHEC region is what ul mately led Kenney to commit to prac cing medicine near her hometown of Kirksville. Dr. Kenney also found some unique bene‐ fits of rural prac ce. Rural pa ents were genuinely more excited to see her because they understood the scarcity of doctors in rural communi es. Kenney was able to see more pa ents every day which gave her experience diagnosing and trea ng the wide variety of illnesses and condi ons rural physicians handle daily.
M*A*S*H Camps are annual “hands‐on” science and health summer day camps for students entering 6‐8th grades aimed to spark an inter‐ est in healthcare and science prior to high school coursework. Camp instructors include local health professionals, health educators, and faculty from area high schools and colleges. Students par cipate in a variety of ac vi es including chemistry/biology labs, scrub/dissec on labs, Emergency Medical Service demonstra ons, hospital tours, and other healthcare career ac vi es. M*A*S*H Camp goals include gen‐ era ng interest in science and health careers, exposing students to the variety of healthcare careers available. S M AHEC
For almost three decades, the South‐ con nuing educa on programs, a ract eastern Missouri AHEC has worked collabo‐ students to health careers and conduct ra vely with community partners in its health educa on ac vi es to meet exis ng 22‐county service region in leveraging gaps. Over the years, those ac vi es have federal and state funding with local partners grown to also address emerging to build an opera onal infrastructure dedi‐ healthcare issues of the region, such as cated to mee ng local healthcare needs. cultural competency, health literacy, and In addi on to numerous community stake‐ more. SEMO AHEC in collaboration with South- holders, credit for the success of the center Focusing on primary care medicine, east Missouri State University, conducted a is significantly a ributable to its Board of nursing, den stry and dental hygiene, as Community Health Worker (CHW) class for Directors and leadership over the years that well as the full range of allied health the bootheel area of the region. Pictured are nine of the ten students receiving their CHW has helped to guide and direct program professions, students who train at SEMO completion certifications. ac vi es. AHEC clinical sites have the opportunity to The steering commi ee charged with experience the real world of interdiscipli‐ the organiza on and development of the nary healthcare while becoming immersed SEMO AHEC center in 1991 recognized that in community life through social and a comprehensive program focusing on all community service ac vi es. The over‐ components of MAHEC ac vi es would be arching goal of these efforts is to a ract necessary for the center to respond to the and retain new rural preceptors for the tuni es to enhance skills and keep them needs of its region. A er establishing a 23‐ bootheel area. mo vated towards their health career member board of directors with broad rep‐ SEMO AHEC also places great empha‐ goals. These efforts wouldn’t be possible resenta on from community collaborators sis on ac vi es directed towards early without the partnerships with local hospi‐ across the region, the center began work to iden fica on of students interested in tals health departments, schools and com‐ establish clinical training sites, provide health professions. SEMO provides oppor‐ munity organiza ons.
It’s not o en that you find someone who has provided leadership and guidance to an organiza on 25 years, but Southeastern Missouri Area Health Educa on Center (SEMO AHEC) has such an individual. Desma Reno has been a board member for the organiza on since 1994. She has served the board in a variety of leadership roles including serving as commi ee chair to various commi ees, Vice President of the Board and as Board President. She also has served on the state AHEC advisory board. Desma is a nurse educator at Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau, MO. Desma says her background as a nurse and a nursing instructor at Southeast Missouri State University is what led her to a posi on on the board. “My role in educa on and prac ce gives me background needed to be Desma Reno, PhD, an advocate and voice for healthcare needs across the region and by working with others in the region APRN, GCNS-BC, has who are involved in workforce development, health educa on and nursing educa on, the mission of the served as an AHEC Board Member for 25 Na onal AHEC Organiza on (NAO) to enhance access to quality healthcare through advocacy, educa on years. and research is being fulfilled,” Desma remarked. “The strategic partnerships with academic programs, communi es and professional organiza ons are essen al to the success of the SEMO AHEC and helps to improve the supply and distribu on of healthcare professionals across the region.” SEMO AHEC salutes Desma Reno for 25 years of service to the board and the AHEC mission.
Missouri Area Health Education Center | 30 year celebration | page 23 Regional Success Stories
Through milestones and ini a ves, the SEMO AHEC office has worked to bring about the successes which have result‐ ed in the iden fica on, recruitment and placement of many new providers all across the region including: Teresa Loden, DO, Houston Jason Loden, DO, Houston Kristen Alexander, DMD, Poplar Bluff Kristen Alexander is the perfect ex‐ knew me as a person, the school knew that I Rick Wirz, DO, Poplar Bluff ample of perseverance and dedica on. would be a successful candidate.” Kristen described the impact of SEMO Trevor Mayabb, MD, East Prairie From the me she was young, she wanted to be a den st and her determina on AHEC this way. “If I could describe the im‐ Fallan Mayabb, MD, Sikeston made that happen in June of 2017 when pact SEMO AHEC has had on my life, I would Sco Roush, DO, West Plains she graduated from ATSU Missouri School describe the organiza on as paver stones. Cur s Jansen, DO, Cape Girardeau of Den stry and Oral Like stone pavers, Chris Crocker, DO, Cape Girardeau Health’s first class of den‐ “I’ve always had the encourage- SEMO AHEC provided Stephanie Neal, FNP, Cape Girardeau tal students. Kirsten was ment and support of SEMO AHEC a pla orm and foun‐ Laura Glueck, DO, Jackson in the ninth grade at Pop‐ that I could do anything I set my da on by suppor ng mind to as long as I put in the lar Bluff High School and guiding me Sco Kirkley, MD, Farmington effort and stayed committed. From Jamesy Smith, DO, Farmington when she began her jour‐ a freshman in high school to now through health career ney through the South‐ practicing dentist, the SEMO explora on. I always eastern Missouri AHEC in AHEC family continues to be one had the encourage‐ of my biggest encouragers and it is the ACES (Area Career THAT which continues to impact ment and support of Enhancement Scholars) now my career as a dentist.” SEMO AHEC that I program. She con nued ~ Kristen Alexander, DDS could do anything I her involvement through set my mind to as her high school career while a ending long as I put in the effort and stayed com‐ Southeast Missouri State University, and by mi ed. From a freshman in high school to working as a program specialist at the now prac cing den st, the SEMO AHEC fam‐ SEMO AHEC office. Kristen said, “AHEC ily con nues to be one of my biggest encour‐ truly had a hand in connec ng me with the agers and it is THAT of which con nues to dental school I a ended. Because the AHEC impact now my career as a den st.”
Stephanie Neal, MSN, APRN, FNP-C Curtis Jansen, DO Stephanie Neal is an occupational Dr. Curtis Jansen was an ACES student from Jackson, medicine nurse and Southeast Health Missouri. He participated in AHEC activities in high in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Origi- school and college. He graduated from ATSU in 2011 nally from Ellington, Stephanie par- and is a hospitalist at Southeast Hospital in Cape ticipated in ACES activities through Girardeau, Missouri. He continues to be an active the SEMO AHEC while in high supporter of the SEMO AHEC by serving as a precep- school. tor for third-and fourth-year medical students. M ‐ M AHEC
When Mid‐Missouri AHEC started opera ng in 1995, its pri‐ mary func on was to facilitate educa onal experiences for MU Hosted by and KCOM medical students. Nurse prac oner, physical therapy, and social work students soon followed. As the years went by, clinical training sites were expanded, and Mid‐MO AHEC had cul ‐ vated core training sites in Marshall‐Sedalia and Osage Beach are‐ as in addi on to the Rolla area by 2001. MU and Mid‐MO AHEC brought Mercy‐Lebanon on board with a Caring for Missourians grant in 2010. Youth recruitment ac vi es also expanded. Exposure and explora on of health careers with K‐12 students grew rapidly Classroom presenta ons, summer camps and service learning op‐ portuni es were developed. In 2001, an AHEC health careers pipe‐ line program called ACES was rolled out across the state. In 2012 the Missouri Founda on for Health funded efforts to engage middle school students and teachers with HOSA – Future Health Professionals. In the past year or so, focus has shi ed to Mid‐MO AHEC has collaborated with the Auxiliary Volunteer ac vi es for students farther along in their health professions Services at Phelps Health to create two volunteer programs. programs. MAHEC Scholars is being implemented at Mid‐Missouri These programs afford undergraduate students the oppor‐ AHEC. tunity to engage in the pa ent experience. In 2011 Mid‐MO AHEC began work on a three‐year grant with Safe Send Off (SSO) students are trained in proper wheel‐ A.T. S ll University to recruit students for the newly approved chair use and work with the Pa ent Transport Department to dental school to be opened in Kirksville, Missouri School of Den s‐ expedite discharges. They also round through mul ple de‐ try and Oral Health. partments checking blanket warmers and comple ng various The MAHEC Digital Library (MDL), ini ated in 2001, con nues non‐clinical tasks. Also, SSO volunteers can be found reading to provide a broad range of online resources to students, precep‐ to and conversing with pa ents on a number of different tors, and other healthcare providers across Missouri. Annual floors. membership and agreement is required and users are offered pro‐ The second program is on the Acute Rehab unit. Think fessional library services including mediated searching, training, “Game Night!” These student volunteers play games, watch and interlibrary loan for materials not available through the MDL. movies and spend me visi ng with pa ents. On Halloween, the volunteers wore costumes and delivered candy to the people on the floor. One student said of the experience, “People I talk with each week like to share with me about their sorrows as well as their joys in life. One woman was determined to get better, so she and her husband could make their annual trip to Branson. Another woman loved to talk about her late husband whom she had been with for over 66 years. They've shared with me personal details about their lives, but also just fun things that they wanted to pass along.” Most of the students a end Missouri University of Science & Technology; a few a end East Central College. There are over a dozen volunteers that spend me every week with people in the hospital. A er 50 hours of volunteering, the students receive a cer ficate from the Director of Volunteer Services a es ng to their achievement.
Missouri Area Health Education Center | 30 year celebration | page 25 The Mid‐Missouri AHEC Home Visit Project allows Interprofessional teams of students to work closely with members of our community who have chronic health issues. The students evaluate, educate, and help their client set a health‐related S.M.A.R.T goal and then follow up with them over the course of a month. S.M.A.R.T goals are Specific, Measurable, A ainable, Realis c, and Time‐Sensi ve. Each team consists of three or four health professional students. For example, one conducted. The students conduct medi‐ determine what resources you have available team consisted of a medical, a social work, cine reconcilia on – cataloging and re‐ to you in your community. It wasn't un l and a nursing student, while another team viewing all the medicine that a person several mee ngs that we determined mean‐ consisted of a medical, a pre‐med, and a takes. A er that they teach the person a ingful employment would greatly benefit our counseling student. All students complete simple S.M.A.R.T goal model then invite client. Further research and inves ga on led introductory modules covering Interprofes‐ them to create one. us to u lize the local sheltered workshop. sional educa on and collabora ve home The follow‐up visits revolve around The logis cs and arrangement for employ‐ visits. helping that person achieve their goal, ment at the local sheltered workshop were A er the clients are iden fied and sign bringing addi onal educa on materials rela vely easy in comparison to actually de‐ the proper release forms, the students and facilita ng access to any resources vising the idea. then prepare for the visit by reviewing the that may be beneficial. Here is what one In medicine it is important to the treat person’s medical record. From there, they of the students had to say regarding the the pa ent, not the disease, so we applied map where the person lives rela ve to Home Visit Project: “One of the most this philosophy to our situa on by facilita ng different community resources such as challenging aspects of the experience our client the opportunity to work at a shel‐ health clinics, churches and grocery stores. was the genera on of a real and mean‐ tered workshop. We hope that by changing The ini al home visit takes approxi‐ ingful idea for our client that would pro‐ the client's lifestyle that we can improve the mately three hours. Every step is explained vide a real and las ng impact for him. problems stemming from the client's previ‐ and the client is invited to be part of the We weren't convinced that many of ous lifestyle.” healthcare team. Along with age‐ our ini al ideas would have really appropriate surveys, screenings for social benefited the client in the long term. In determinants of health and depression are addi on, it can be a challenge to even
Phelps Health Hosts Mid‐MO AHEC for Decades In 1994, Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine (KCOM) and University of Missouri‐Columbia School of Medicine (MU‐SOM) joined forces with Phelps County Regional Medical Center (PCRMC) to establish and support the Mid‐Missouri AHEC. The hospital’s generous and progressive board of trustees decided it was crucial to the future of rural medicine to host the Mid‐Missouri AHEC and adopt the spirit of its mission – to enhance access to quality healthcare, par cularly primary and preven ve care, by improving the supply and distribu on of healthcare professionals via strategic partnerships with academic programs, communi es, and professional organiza ons. Phelps Health, as PCRMC and its affiliates are now known, has grown tremendously since 1994. The name change reflects that growth. The Medical Office Building (MOB), completed in 2007, provided approximately 120,000 square feet of physician suites and pa ent ser‐ vices. The Waynesville Medical Plaza opened in July 2015. It is a 56,000‐ square‐foot health center that provides services to residents in the Pulaski County area. Immediate Care services at the Plaza opened November 2017. The Delbert Day Cancer Ins tute (DDCI), a state‐of ‐the‐art cancer center providing excep onal, integrated cancer care services to pa ents and their families, opened January 2017. S M AHEC
Southwest Missouri AHEC is located in A.T. S ll University (ATSU) and Kansas City Springfield, Missouri at Missouri State University of Medical and Biosciences Hosted by University (MSU). In addi on to our primary (KCUMB) core students assigned to the office at MSU, a new satellite office in Bolivar SWMO Region. At AHEC, we plan, schedule, at Ci zens Memorial Hospital helps us to and coordinate third‐ and fourth‐ year medi‐ serve our 21‐county region of primarily rural cal student clinical rota ons. We also proc‐ residents. In order to meet the AHEC mission tor shelf exams, provide mentorship, and of increasing access to quality healthcare by assistance preparing for audi on rota ons increasing the number of students who pur‐ and residency placement. Our medical stu‐ sue healthcare training op ons, we work dents, along with a couple Master of Public “The AHEC ACES program really through two main avenues. Health students, also par cipate in the AHEC helped me solidify and fine tune Our recruitment team of health career Scholars program, which is new to AHEC. my career interests in medicine. coordinators work hard to visit as many This program provides a curriculum to stu‐ With their resources I was able to gain the shadowing and communi- schools as possible delivering “Transportable dents that focuses on Six Core Topics im‐ ty volunteer experiences that I Workshops” (TWs). These workshops take the portant to healthcare leadership roles, needed to explore the healthcare experience to the student instead of requir‐ which our students will eventually hold. field. Thanks to one of their health ing them to travel to Springfield or Bolivar. AHEC has recently made strides with information workshops I found the medical school that was the per- TW op ons include dissec ons, phlebotomy, Preceptor Development Ini a ves. We plan fect fit for me, and I still enjoy infec on control, introduc on to health ca‐ and facilitate a SWMO AHEC Collabora on coming back to work with the new reers, public health, CPR, etc. We also have with representa on from the two major students who are trying to build two AHEC Career Enhancement Scholars health centers in Springfield; the two major their own foundation for a future in healthcare.” (ACES) clubs, one based out of Springfield and health centers in Joplin; a Federally ~ Dr. Jaclyn Pohlers one based out of Bolivar. ACES provides a Qualified Health Center; ATSU, KCU, and MU more in‐depth opportunity for high school Medical Schools; MSU Physician Assistant students to explore medical careers. Students and Nurse Prac oner Programs; and ATSU, par cipate in addi onal workshops, online MU, and SWMO AHECs. This group has de‐ curriculum, job shadowing, volunteerism, veloped mul ple resources for new precep‐ individual career planning, and mentorship tors and hosted events to recruit precep‐ opportuni es. tors. Ac vi es conducted in SWMO are now Our clinical team of a project coordinator being shared across the state. and clinical educa on manager work with T W SWMO AHEC has close working rela on‐ SWMO AHEC Staff consists of Exec- ships with many rural schools in the south‐ utive Director, Trisha Riggs, MPH, west region. AHEC health career coordina‐ CGW, Project Coordinator Cassan- tors take these Transportable Workshops to dra Henne, BS, Clinical Education the schools to provide presenta ons on Manager Karishma Agarwal, MBBS, different healthcare careers, infec on con‐ MPH, Health Career Coordinator trol, CPR, dissec ons, and many other top‐ Heather Phillips, MS, RD, LD, Health ics. Rural schools are especially willing to Career Coordinator Trish Lavish, BS. partner with us on these workshops be‐ Missouri State University Student cause it brings the resources to the students Assistants include Heidi Banks, Sierra instead of requiring the students to travel. Johnson, Destiny Hanks, Kamala Schools that we work closely with include Simkada. Osceola, Carl Junc on, Sparta, Fair Play, and Pierce City.
Missouri Area Health Education Center | 30 year celebration | page 27 Regional Success Stories
Adam Bolyard, DO Internal Medicine, Mercy Clinic, AHEC Core Student Southwest Missouri AHEC is an integral resource for area medical students that supports and coordinates students’ clinical experiences in our area. Having worked with the AHEC as a student, it is a pleasure to return as a physician to precept students. It is rewarding to mentor students and a great way to attract fu- ture colleagues to the area.”
Jaclyn Pohlers, DO Family Medicine, Cox Health Center Republic Jaclyn is from Clever, MO. She was a high school ACES student with SWMO AHEC. She gradu- ated in 2013 from the Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine after completing two years of rotations with the SWMO AHEC center as a core student. She attended the Rapid City Regional Hospital’s Family Medicine Residency Program. Jaclyn is now an active preceptor and is a member of the SWMO AHEC Advisory Council.
SWMO Clinical Training Quick Facts Hospital and Clinic Affilia ons 2011‐2017 Ci zens Memorial Hospital Command Family Medicine 2091 clerkship rota ons Cox Medical Centers Springfield (North & South)
Cox Medical Center Branson 2011‐ 2016 Cox Mone Hospital 805 primary care rota ons Jordan Valley community Health Center 229 Different clinical sites used Mercy Hospital Springfield All clinical training sites located in Health Professional Mercy Hospital Aurora Mercy Hospital Cassville shortage areas (HPSAs) 49 prior MAHEC par cipants now serve as preceptors for Southwest Missouri AHEC region, 32 in primary care
AHEC M SWMO AHEC ACES students help out as "pa ents" during a mass casualty event. AHEC providing the moulage for disaster simula ons helps create a more realis c situa on for triage training experiences for students, first responders, nurses, and regis‐ tra on staff in the event of an emergency or mass casualty/injury scenario. The students love par cipa ng as pa ents because it gives them hands on volunteer hours and the perspec ve of the pa ent during a high‐ intensity pa ent care exercise. SWMO ACES students participate in disaster preparedness activities, portraying “victims” so that health professions students and community volunteers can practice triage. N M AHEC
As Missouri AHEC celebrates its 30th year, Northwest Missouri AHEC celebrates it’s 22nd year. It is impossible to list all the successes throughout those years; below are highlights with a few of the many success stories to follow:
The first mee ng of the Northwest Missouri AHEC Advisory Board was held on October 23, Hosted by 1996.
Michelle Cebulko, MD, St. Joseph, was the first Rural Track Student from the University of Mis‐ souri School of Medicine and MU AHEC to complete rota ons through NWMO. Dr. Cebulko re‐ turned to her home town to prac ce and con nues to serve as preceptor to medical students.
First ACES (AHEC Career Enhancement Scholars) class accepted in 2001; 10 of the 26 had a ended the PRIMO Academies and 13 of the 26 are health professionals or engaged in health or Mosaic Life Care (formerly Heartland science related fields (one is a mor cian). Since then, more than 350 students have par cipated Regional Medical Center) has generously in the ACES program through NWMO AHEC. served as the host of Northwest Missouri AHEC since 1996. In addi on to the leader‐ Since 1997, NWMO AHEC staff have made more than 500 health career presenta ons in schools ship provided by Mosaic, there are so many or at health career workshops to more than 18,000 students. health professionals willing to share their love of their professions through job shad‐ In 2005, NWMO AHEC received a Workforce Investment Board grant to begin health careers owing, presenta ons and mentoring. workshops. Those workshops con nue monthly during the academic year with students from many regional high schools a ending.
Began coordina ng clinical rota ons for nurse prac oner and physician assistant students in 2010.
Became a clinical training site for ATSU‐Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine third and fourth year students in 2011.
Received Northland Business and Educa on Alliance award in 2007 for Youth Health Service Corps curriculum at Winnetonka High School.
Strengthened the ACES program in NWMO by using the Na onal Health Skills Exam as a pre and pos est for students, tes ng their knowledge of healthcare founda ons, appropriate for their educa on. Also began offering Youth Mental Health First Aid to ACES as a result of partnership Charlie Senator Dan with St. Joseph Health Department. Shields Hegeman Ac vely par cipated in addi onal funding opportuni es through the Na onal AHEC Organiza on When Northwest Missouri AHEC started, (NAO) focusing on Veterans Mental Health, Healthcare Marketplace, and HPV immuniza ons. two state representa ves had already been involved in the Northwest Agenda that pre‐ Execu ve director ac ve in NAO leadership from commi ee members, Center Director Cons tu‐ ceded the implementa on of the center: ency Group chair and term as President, Na onal AHEC Organiza on Board of Directors. Charlie Shields and Dan Hegeman. Representa ve Shields served his terms Ben Reine, DO, ACES class of 2002, selected as Director of Medical Student Educa on and medi‐ in the House and was then elected to the cal director for NWMO AHEC. Senate. He was a Missouri AHEC Champion his en re service in the Missouri Legislature. Launched AHEC Scholars program September 2018. At the same me, Representa ve Dan Hegeman also served in the House; in 2014 AHEC Clinic ‐ seven physicians and six nurse prac oners have created our “AHEC Clinic”. Three he was elected to the Missouri Senate. He physicians have served as preceptors for over 15 years, the remainder par cipated in AHEC clini‐ has also been a Missouri AHEC Champion cal training here or in another Rural Track site, three of them completed their third and fourth during his terms in the House and Senate. year clinical training in northwest Missouri, and Dr. Ben Reine has been part of AHEC since high While Missouri AHEC has been fortunate school. Each of the current nurse prac oners completed rota ons coordinated by NWMO to have many legisla ve supporters, it’s unu‐ sual to have two such strong legisla ve sup‐ All NWMO AHEC staff ac vely involved in Missouri AHEC. porters serve both in the House and Senate and support us so solidly.
Missouri Area Health Education Center | 30 year celebration | page 29 Recognizing Board ACES – from students to professionals Members: now serving in their communities Serving as supporters for twenty years: Mary Sanders A ebury mental health Judy McIn re, Mound City Ben Reine, DO Ka e Dias, DO ACES 2002 PRIMO Academies, Community Representa ve Family Medicine physician Family Medicine Lilli Parsons, RN, King City and preceptor, St. Joseph, physician and preceptor, Public Health Director of Student Medical Albany/Stanberry, Pat Dixon, BSN, MS Educa on for AHEC. Grant City. Represen ng Clay County Joni Bestgen, St. Joseph Mosaic Life Care
Addi onal board members: Dana Browning, DDS Lisa Hostetler Emily McCoy Workforce Investment Board Fallon Cordell Ma ngly, DDS Joy Kieser S ens, DDS ACES 2004, rural dental Northwest Health Services ACES, rural dental clinic in clinics in Chillicothe. Ben Reine, DO Stanberry. Jane Schwabe, MD Davin Turner, DO Anne e Weeks Represen ng Andrew County and Business Senator Dan Hegeman Ex‐Officio Member since 1996
Mary Reid Williams, Claire Brocke NWMO AHEC staff Gregson, BSN BSN, MSN Paula Overfelt ACES 2011, current Doctor ACES 2003, Masters in Execu ve Director (2001‐present) of Nursing Prac ce Nursing Administra on. student. Janice Neumann Clinical Training Coordinator (since 2007) Darci Shuster Health Professions Coordinator (since 2016)
The coming generation of ACES, now health professions students and AHEC Since 1997, supporters. NWMO AHEC staff have made more than 500 health career presenta ons in schools Jordan Snook Cory Smith or at health career Fauce Savannah workshops to more than ATSU/KCOM MU School of Medicine 2nd year medical student. 1st year medical student. 18,000 students. E C M AHEC
In the 20th Anniversary brochure, James ple healthcare disciplines through commu‐ Hosted by E. Balls, a charter board member of ECMO nity‐based training and recruitment. AHEC and the organiza on’s first board Unlike many AHECs, ECMO AHEC is located chair, said, “East Central Missouri Area in one of the largest urban se ngs in the Health Educa on Center was born out of a state, and is an ambi ous urban/suburban great need in the St. Louis metropolitan program. community. Children need someone to ECMO AHEC has been hosted by SSM mentor them and help them find a reward‐ Health since November of 2017, and is a ing career.” That is what ECMO AHEC has SSM St. Louis Network cost center. SSM been successfully doing since it was estab‐ Health is a Catholic not‐for‐profit health lished in 1998. system serving the comprehensive health ECMO AHEC is one of seven regional needs of communi es across the Midwest centers that work in collabora on with the through a robust and fully integrated Saint Louis University School of Medicine, healthcare delivery system our shared A.T. S ll University‐ Kirksville College of vision and commitment to developing Osteopathic Medicine, the University of diverse and strong leaders in healthcare Missouri Columbia School of Medicine and will help propel ECMO AHEC to new local communi es to form the statewide heights. SSM Health provides funding and Missouri AHEC network. The ECMO AHEC other resources to help expose, train and region comprises St. Louis City, St. Louis develop our students. County, St. Charles County, Jefferson County Under the leadership of current and and Franklin County. past Execu ve Directors, Tamra Lisy, The target communi es within these Barbara Bowman, Alfreda Brown and coun es are those designated as medically Shearon Holmes, ECMO AHEC has underserved or having a shortage of health re‐created itself many mes throughout professionals. the years. Shearon Holmes, the current Federal funding to Missouri in 1988 director states, “We have had ups and established the founda on for an AHEC downs in funding and resources, but have system to address the shortage of primary never wavered in our dedica on to devel‐ ECMO AHEC is responsible for the Pre- healthcare providers. Since then, the seven oping a diverse healthcare workforce. Entry Immersion and Summer Communi- regional centers that have been established Serving the under‐served by developing ty Involvement components of the Saint and three of Missouri’s medical schools, and suppor ng our students throughout Louis University School of Nursing HRSA along with numerous collaborators across their healthcare training and educa on is Nursing Workforce Diversity program. the state, have taken up the torch to our primary goal.” improve the supply and distribu on of mul ‐
Missouri Area Health Education Center | 30 year celebration | page 31 Regional Success Stories “Being a 14-year old having to go We are proud to highlight some of our past participants who have pur- to school with broken front teeth sued a career in healthcare and embody our goals for diversity, leader- caused me self- consciousness. ship and practice transformation. Undergoing successful dental treatment, I developed the desire to pursue a career in dentistry.” ~ Justin Garner, DDS Dr. Jus n Garner is ECMO’s first student to graduate from a dental program. He graduated from the University of Missouri‐Kansas City and completed a rota on at Myrtle Hilliard Davis Comprehensive "ECMO AHEC has helped me Health Center in St. Louis. Dr. Garner also completed a residency at not only figure out which career University of Michigan’s Advance Educa on in General Den stry in path I wanted to pursue, but it 2008 before accep ng a posi on with the Dental Department at Swope Health Center in Kansas City, Missouri. also helped me academically through high school and helped me gain experience in healthcare that has helped prepare me to Dr. Shayla Barber earned the creden als of DDS and is licensed to work with patients and become a prac ce in the state of Missouri. Dr Barber’s prac ce is located in well-rounded practitioner," the city of Saint Louis, Missouri. She par cipated the ACES program ~ Brittany Daniel in high school and con nued her involvement while a ending col‐ lege at Lindenwood University. She was accepted to the UMKC School of Den stry and graduated in May of 2016. While at the UMKC School of Den stry, she mentored another ACES student, “For me AHEC has truly been Bri any Daniel, and helped her get accepted into the UMKC School the pipeline it was designed to be. of Den stry. During undergraduate, medical school and residency the program has provided me many opportu- Bri any Daniel par cipated in the ACES program in high school nities to learn, network and and con nued her involvement while a ending college at the Uni‐ demonstrate leadership. AHEC is versity of Missouri and Washington University in St. Louis. She is an extended family, with individ- currently in the AHEC Scholars Program while a ending Dental uals who provided guidance and School at UMKC School of Den stry. She will graduate in May of motivation as I navigated the 2020. field of medicine.”
~ Iesha Draper, MD
“I knew I wanted to be a physi- Dr. Iesha Draper is a doctor in Saint Louis, Missouri and is affiliat‐ cian prior to joining ECMO ed with SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital‐St. Louis AHEC, but this program solidi- University. She received her medical degree from A.T. S ll Universi‐ fied my passion for medicine. ty Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine. Dr. Draper began It gave me early exposure to all par cipa ng in ECMO ACES Plus ac vi es early in college. While in aspects of the field and also college and as a student at A.T. S ll University/Kirksville College of allowed me to serve many Osteopathic Medicine, she mentored ACES students. St. Louis communities through volunteering and service.
I currently volunteer at CSMB
Eniola Gros is one of the ECMO ACES students who followed in Dr. through the Saint Louis Universi- Draper’s footsteps. Now in her second year at the Saint Louis Uni‐ ty School of Medicine Doctors for versity School of Medicine, Eni tutors and mentors ACES students, Diversity program. With this, I as well as represen ng us at the 2018 Legisla ve Day in Jefferson am able to give back to the pro- City. Ms. Gros joined ECMO‐AHEC in her freshman year of high gram that gave so much to me school in 2007. She graduated from Ladue Horton Watkins High growing up.” School in 2011. At the University of Missouri‐ Kansas City, she ma‐ ~ Eniola Gros jored in Chemistry and graduated in 2014.
W C M AHEC
In 1998, the west central AHEC region was established to provide AHEC services to Cass, Hosted by Lafaye e, Johnson and Jackson coun es. Originally hosted by the Greater Kansas City Local Investment Commission, LINC provided in‐kind and founda onal support for WCMO AHEC. LINC’s access to high‐risk communi es offered AHEC an opportunity to provide ac vi‐ es for a er‐school and summer school based ac vi es at LINC Caring Communi es as well as the teens in the foster youth program. Regional centers are strong in part by the In 2012, WCMO AHEC transi oned to a par cipa on and support of advisory board new host, the Health Care Collabora ve (HCC) members who provide guidance and of Rural Missouri , a 501c3 rural health net‐ resources to help AHEC meet its goals and mission. work located in Lexington, Missouri. This new partnership is Current Board Members: opening doors to working more directly with some of the rural communi es in the region’s Amanda Arnold Health Care Collabora ve of Rural Missouri service area. HCC also owns and operates four
federally qualified health centers, and u lizes Kathie Ervie AHEC services to coordinate clinical rota ons University of Missouri—Kansas City for health profession students. School of Medicine/PA Program Serving both rural and urban coun es Dr. Jeremy Bonnessen provides students in AHEC programs such as Summit Technical Academy ACES with an opportunity to network with students from diverse backgrounds. Over the Todd Gerringer past twenty years, WCMO AHEC has devel‐ Metropolitan Community College oped and provided programs and collaborated Kansas City Health Science Ins tute
with many community efforts to offer career Richie Bigham explora on and health educa on programs University of Missouri‐Kansas City including: School of Den stry
Youth Health Service Corps Dr. Sharon Li le‐Stoetzel Cristo Rey Health Careers Club Graceland University Imagine Renaissance Health Career Club Medical Explorer Post Martha McCabe KC STEM Alliance Cover the Uninsured
Stop the Pop Dr. Rhonda Manney What’s Up, Doc? RN/BSN/MSN/EdD Saint Luke’s Health Care Health Literacy
College and Career Fairs During the twenty year history of WCMO Health Career Presenta ons AHEC there have been three execu ve ACES Pipeline directors: Stephanie Taylor, 2005 ‐ present Making Proud Choices Ashley DeVilbiss, 2002 ‐ 2005 Wendy Grey, 1998 ‐ 2001
Missouri Area Health Education Center | 30 year celebration | page 33 Regional Success Stories
Amanda Arnold, RN/BSN Tara Seals, RN, PNP Erin Jewell, D.O.
For Amanda Arnold par cipa ng in AHEC Tara’s AHEC journey started in high school For as long as she can remember, Dr. Erin was extremely beneficial as she started to pursue with hands‐on skills, shadowing health profes‐ Jewell dreamed of becoming a physician. Erin a health career. “AHEC staff guided me through sionals, and career counseling which helped learned about AHEC during high school and was high school and helped me to look at schools, direct her career choice from being a pediatrician excited about all the health career opportuni es scholarships and volunteer opportuni es that to becoming a pediatric nurse prac oner. that she could be exposed to through workshops, would be beneficial for my career. The network‐ “AHEC provided me with an amazing mentor— shadowing and leadership opportuni es like ing opportuni es fostered great rela onships Meredith Black. She met with me at least three working with an inner city elementary school to with other students and healthcare professionals mes each semester in college, and guided me in develop project learning based science curricu‐ some I s ll work with today,” said Amanda. goal planning, me management and shadowing lum for their summer school. It was during an AHEC provided Amanda with resources such opportuni es in different special es in nursing,” AHEC tour of Kansas City University of Medicine as shadowing opportuni es, le ers of recommen‐ said Tara. and Biosciences (formerly University of Health da on, resume prepara on and financial support. There were endless opportuni es through Sciences) that a love of osteopathy was born. Today, Amanda works for the Health Care Collab‐ AHEC from networking to “Both of my par‐ ora ve of Rural Missouri as the Director of Quali‐ mentoring, to talking at “My involvement with AHEC has ents were teachers, so I ty as well as overseeing the Risk Management the Capital to share her allowed me to not only be a physician, knew that if I wanted to program, care coordina on efforts, and discount personal success story, to but also to return to the community fulfill my goal I would prescrip on drug programs for four federally need to find the funding most recently serving as a I grew up in and supported me during qualified health centers. for school. Because of student panelist at the my youth. I am so grateful for the “AHEC is a phenomenal program that helps my involvement, I was Na onal AHEC Conference steer students looking to go into the healthcare connection to AHEC for broadening awarded the PRIMO in Washington D.C. field in the right direc on as well as con nue to my horizons and helping me to realize loan. This funding Tara spent her first support them during school.” Amanda adds, my potential.” allowed my dream of eleven years working as a “The rela onships that were established and becoming a physician to nurse Missouri in pediat‐ built through the AHEC program con nue today.” ~ Dr. Erin Jewell become a reality,” said rics, public health, and as Dr. Jewell. She now a travel nurse. She now works for the Children’s works for Compass Health Network as an outpa‐ Na onal Medical Center’s school‐based health ent psychiatrist serving much of Cass County, clinic at Ballou High School in south DC and PRN MO. with the Holy Cross Hospital providing care for newborns and pediatric pa ents who need to be admi ed for inpa ent care from the emergency room. Celebrating 30 years 1988 - 2018 East Central Missouri AHEC Hosted by SSM Health Care 12255 DePaul Drive, Suite #97 Bridgeton, Missouri 63044 www.ecmoahec.org Shearon Holmes, Executive Director
Mid-Missouri AHEC Hosted by Phelps Health 1110 West 11th Street Rolla, Missouri 65401 www.midmoahec.org Jan Shipley, Executive Director
Northeast Missouri AHEC 312 South Elson Street Kirksville, Missouri 63501 www.nemoahec.org Robin Worthington, Executive Director
Northwest Missouri AHEC Hosted by Mosaic Life Care 5325 Faraon Street St. Joseph, Missouri 64506 www.nwmoahec.org Paula Overfelt, Executive Director
Southeast Missouri AHEC KCOM AHEC 506D Hazel Street Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine Poplar Bluff, 63901 A.T. Still University www.semoahec.org 800 W. Jefferson Street Laura McVay, Executive Director Kirksville, Missouri 63501 660-626-2887 Southwest Missouri AHEC Hosted by Missouri State University SLU AHEC 901 S. National Avenue Saint Louis University School of Medicine Springfield, Missouri 65897 Department of Family and Community Medicine www.ahec.missouristate.edu 1402 South Grand Blvd. Trisha Riggs, Executive Director O’Donnell Hall, 2nd Floor Saint Louis, Missouri 63104 West Central Missouri AHEC 314-977-8480 Hosted by HCC of Rural Missouri 825 South Highway 13 MU AHEC Lexington, Missouri 64067 University of Missouri School of Medicine www.wcmissouriahec.org 1 Hospital Drive. DC018.00 Stephanie Taylor, Executive Director Patient Centered Care Learning Center Columbia, Missouri 65212 573-884-7370