Lowcountry Regional Coalition

The four regional, community-based Coalitions were formed in 2005 by the South Carolina AHEC with funding from The Duke Endowment. The purpose of the Coalitions is to help increase the number of underrepresented minority South Carolina students who enter careers in health care.

The goal of the South Carolina Coalitions for Health Careers is to increase the entry of minority students into the health professions pipeline. The Coalitions address the need for more effective collaboration between secondary education, higher education, health training programs, grassroots agencies, faith-based organizations, and business leaders to address the shortage of health professionals within the state.

Currently, each Coalition meets on a monthly basis to develop plans to address the five identified strategy areas. The meeting calendar for each Coalition is set by the membership.

Any organization or individual with an interest in supporting the goal of the Coalition is invited to join their regional Coalition. Additional information regarding meeting dates and times are available by contacting the regional AHEC representative listed below.

The South Carolina Coalitions for Health Careers are not AHEC entities. The South Carolina AHEC serves as a convener for the Coalitions and supports the goal of the Coalitions.

The South Carolina Coalitions for Health Careers were established with support from The Duke Endowment with a four year grant that began in 2005. Key to the success of each Coalition after 2009 will be their ability to build a shared spirit of collaboration and an infrastructure that will sustain the Coalition beyond the end of grant funding. Each Coalition is working to solicit funds in their region from a broad range of businesses and industries that have a vested interest in assuring a high quality, diverse, healthcare workforce.

Funds provided by The Duke Endowment are being utilized by the Coalitions to implement activities that support the strategies established by the Coalitions. As the grant recipient, the South Carolina AHEC provides support for programmatic activities and oversight of the expenditure of funds.

Coalition membership provides an opportunity for individuals and organizations to work together to help address the future healthcare needs in their region of the state. In addition, participation in Coalition programs often directly support the achievement of the goals and objectives of member organizations.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Angelica Christie
SC AHEC Director of Health Careers Academy Program.
christae@musc.edu

Tavy Smalls
Lowcountry AHEC Health Career Program Coordinator.
smallst@lcahec.com


SCHOLARSHIPS INFORMATION & APPLICATION Bookmark these informative health careers sites. Career Voyages US Departments of Labor and Education Diagnostic Detectives Michigan Department of Community Health ExploreHealthCareers.org Association of Academic Health Centers, in collaboration with the Federation of Associations of Schools of the Health Professions (FASHP); funded by the Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation Health Occupations for Today and Tomorrow Michigan Health Council Health Occupations for Today and Tomorrow South Dakota Department of Health/Office of Rural Health H.O.T. Jobs: Health Opportunities in Texas East Texas Area Health Education Center West Texas Area Health Education Center Center for South Texas Programs Labs are Vital Abbott Diagnostics Division LifeWorks Office of Science Education, National Institutes of Health	SOUTH CAROLINA COALITIONS FOR HEALTH CAREERS Frequently Asked Question’s. *How and why were the regional Coalitions for Health Careers formed?* The four regional, community-based Coalitions were formed in 2005 by the South Carolina AHEC with funding from The Duke Endowment. The purpose of the Coalitions is to help increase the number of underrepresented minority South Carolina students who enter careers in health care. *What is the goal of the Coalitions?* The goal of the South Carolina Coalitions for Health Careers is to increase the entry of minority students into the health professions pipeline. The Coalitions address the need for more effective collaboration between secondary education, higher education, health training programs, grassroots agencies, faith-based organizations, and business leaders to address the shortage of health professionals within the state. Five strategies were identified as focus areas: Parental Involvement Student Motivation Public Policy Community Awareness Academic Performance *When and how often do the Coalitions meet?* Currently, each Coalition meets on a monthly basis to develop plans to address the five identified strategy areas. The meeting calendar for each Coalition is set by the membership. *Who can be a Coalition member?* Any organization or individual with an interest in supporting the goal of the Coalition is invited to join their regional Coalition. Additional information regarding meeting dates and times are available by contacting the regional AHEC representative listed below. *Is this an AHEC Coalition?* The South Carolina Coalitions for Health Careers are not AHEC entities. The South Carolina AHEC serves as a convener for the Coalitions and supports the goal of the Coalitions. *How are the Coalitions funded?* The South Carolina Coalitions for Health Careers were established with support from The Duke Endowment with a four year grant that began in 2005. Key to the success of each Coalition after 2009 will be their ability to build a shared spirit of collaboration and an infrastructure that will sustain the Coalition beyond the end of grant funding. Each Coalition is working to solicit funds in their region from a broad range of businesses and industries that have a vested interest in assuring a high quality, diverse, healthcare workforce. *How is the Duke Endowment Foundation award being used by the Coalitions?* Funds provided by The Duke Endowment are being utilized by the Coalitions to implement activities that support the strategies established by the Coalitions. As the grant recipient, the South Carolina AHEC provides support for programmatic activities and oversight of the expenditure of funds. *What are the benefits of Coalition membership?* Coalition membership provides an opportunity for individuals and organizations to work together to help address the future healthcare needs in their region of the state. In addition, participation in Coalition programs often directly support the achievement of the goals and objectives of member organizations. CONTACT INFORMATION Angelica Christie SC AHEC Director of Health Careers Academy Program. christae@musc.edu Tavy Smalls Lowcountry AHEC Health Career Program Coordinator. smallst@lcahec.com