President's Message

Thank you to all who participated in the NAO Leadership and Policy Conference held in Washington DC in April. The first of its kind conference was a milestone for the NAO and was well-timed to introduce AHEC and HETC to the new Congress.

Leadership and Policy Conference. The Education Chairs, Sarah Cunningham and Art Clawson, and their committee developed an interesting and timely track of education programming designed to meet our current needs. A very special thanks goes to the Public Policy and Advocacy Chairs. Laurie Wylie, Kathy Vasquez, Hilda Heady and Dr. John Blossom provided an outstanding set of workshops on advocacy techniques and education.

Also, congratulations to Dr. Charles Cranford, UAMS AHEC/HETC Program Director and Vice Chancellor for Regional Programs (Arkansas) who was honored by the NAO Board of Directors for his sustained service to the AHEC/HETC Network and the National AHEC Organization. Dr. Cranford is planning to retire soon and his statesmanship, experience and guidance will be sorely missed by us all as he enjoys a well-deserved vacation.

Also, recognized were the nine past president of the National AHEC Organization in recognition of our 10th anniversary. Their leadership and vision have assured the NAO’s success and growth to a self-sustaining and vital organization that meets the special education and advocacy needs of our constituency. Jeff Butler (OR), Steve Meltzer (WA), Steve Shelton (TX), Carol Wolff (NJ), Charles Huntington (CT), Laurie Wylie (WA), Kathy Flores (CA), Kery Hummel (MD) and Janet Head (MO) volunteered their time and talents to assure we, as an organization, can continue to grow and meet our ever-changing needs. They established a vision of progress and collaboration that has served us well and will assure continued growth and success.

Successful Hill visits during the conference have worked to raise our name recognition on the Hill. Reports as of this writing indicate that AHEC is in the FY2008 budget and we may be able to anticipate a slight raise from Congress. Please continue to make calls and keep your Congressional delegation enlightened about your efforts and needs.

Unfortunately, to date, our efforts have not resulted in getting the HETCs back in the budget. Several HETC Program Directors traveled to Washington DC and made Hill visits with other NAO members to plead our case for vital HETC programming. Though HETCs are only represented in a small number of states nationally, they have a major impact in both border and non-border states. We must continue to work together to move forward and make our case for HETC to Congress. Help us assure this message is heard by every Congressman.

Partnerships. Also, congratulations to the External Relations Committee, under Janet Head’s leadership the Committee continues to forge new partnerships with sister associations across the country. On behalf of the Board of Directors, I was proud to sign a memorandum of agreement with the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC). Developing more formal relationships with sister organizations like the AAMC, NACHC, NRHA and, most recently, the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine (STFM), is an NAO priority. These organizations share our interests in continued and increased Title VII funding. We must work together to leverage resources and collaborate to expand programming and advocacy efforts.

NRHA. It was a pleasure to see so many of you in Anchorage, Alaska for the annual National Rural Health Association Conference. Congratulations to fellow NAO members who also serve in NRHA leadership roles. The Conference and the setting were unique, insightful and truly indicative of the needs of our rural and underserved communities and their successes despite amazing odds.

And finally, I want to assure you that the National AHEC Organization will continue to do what matters to raise awareness of our programs and centers and advocate for increased funding for AHECs, HETCs and Title VII. Please let me or any member of the NAO Board know if you have a questions, special interest or suggestion. Continued success to each of you and have a great summer.

Susan Moreland
2006-07 NAO President

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Federal Update

The Basic and Model Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) Program Grant Cycle

·         The 2007 Objective Peer Reviews for the AHEC Program were successfully  completed on:

-          April 16-17, 2007 for Basic AHEC Reviews

-          April 18-20, 2007 for Model AHEC Reviews

·         The Office of Grants Management at the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) in conjunction with the AHEC Branch are processing the results of the Objective Peer Reviews and are in the process of preparing letters to all grant applicants notifying them of the results of the Objective Peer Reviews.

·         The estimated project start date for AHEC Program awards is September 1, 2007.

·         Program Officers are still accepting resumes for the 2008 Objective Reviews for the AHEC Program.  All professionals who are knowledgeable about the AHEC Program and its Centers are invited to submit recommendations for reviewers.

·         Please contact Program Officers, Norma Hatot at nhatot@hrsa.gov and/or David Hanny at dhanny@hrsa.gov, for additional information.

The Workforce Development Collaborative (WDC)

·         The WDC has continued to meet bimonthly via teleconference following the face-to-face meeting, which was held from March 21-22, 2007, at HRSA in Rockville, MD.  A written summary of the March meeting at HRSA is anticipated to be available on the Center for Quality Web site http://www.healthdisparities.net in the near future.

·         The WDC is currently working on developing a resource manual on strategies for improving health professions recruitment and retention at Health Centers (HCs) and for increasing the training taking place at HCs through the development or enhancement of linkages with AHECs and other academic health institutions.  The work of the WDC is aimed at addressing workforce recruitment, retention, and quality issues as well as strengthening the health care safety net for those most in need.

·         Please contact Louis D. Coccodrilli, AHEC Branch Chief, at lcoccodrilli@hrsa.gov or Vanessa Saldanha, ASPH/HRSA Public Health Fellow, at vsaldanha@hrsa.gov. 

The Advisory Committee on Interdisciplinary, Community-Based Linkages (ACICBL)

·         The ACICBL met on June 25-26, 2007, to discuss Health Information Technology, Electronic Medical Records, and their potential implications for Title VII, Interdisciplinary, and Community-Based Training Grant Programs.  More information about the ACICBL and the meeting agenda can be found on the HRSA Web site http://bhpr.hrsa.gov/interdisciplinary/acicbl/0607agenda.htm.

·         Nominations for qualified professionals to fill eleven appointments to the ACICBL are being sought.  Of the 11 positions, there are 2 AHEC and 2 HETC positions available.  A complete nomination packet should be comprised of the nominator’s letter providing the name of the nominee and an assessment of the nominee’s special abilities to meet the objectives of the ACICBL; a copy of the nominee’s most current CV; and the nominee’s one-page statement of personal interest, which documents his/her knowledge or experience with Title VII, Part D, sections 751-756, in support for health professional training grant programs.  Qualified candidates will be invited to serve three-year terms, from October 1, 2007 - September 30, 2010. 

·         For further information regarding the nomination process or to submit nominations, please contact Louis D. Coccodrilli, Designated Federal Official of the ACICBL, at lcoccodrilli@hrsa.gov and Vanessa Saldanha, ASPH/HRSA Public Health Fellow, at vsaldanha@hrsa.gov.  All nomination packages should be received no later than June 30, 2007.

For further information on Federal Updates, please contact Louis D. Coccodrilli, AHEC Branch Chief, at lcoccodrilli@hrsa.gov

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Best Practices

TEAMWORK: Your Patient’s Life Depends On It
By Laura Vares, Central RI AHEC

Quality in health care is dependent upon effective communication among health professionals in different disciplines. Medical errors are frequently the result of a breakdown in communication. On April 12, 2007, the ICDP* hosted an event featuring the Trauma Surgical Team of Rhode Island Hospital and The Institute for the Study and Practice

Panelists - Rhode Island Hospital Trauma Surgical Team and The Institute for The Study and Practice of Nonviolence.

of Nonviolence, in which more than 100 participants were made aware of the necessity and benefits of clinical and community teamwork in the healthcare setting. A small group exercise followed in which students representing nursing, social work, pharmacy, and the medical school, were asked to resolve issues presented by a case in which the patient faced complex circumstances.

Given the obvious need for healthcare professions to practice as a team, there is increasing concern that programs educating future practitioners are not adequately addressing this aspect of practice. It is likely that miscommunication, or the lack of communication, among healthcare professionals is due to the dearth of exposure and training that they have with one another during their schooling. For the most part, interaction among health profession students is currently occurring by chance rather than design. To address these perceived needs, it is imperative for schools of medicine, nursing, pharmacy, and social work to include inter-professional practice in the curriculum.

The ultimate goal of the Inter-professional Curriculum Development Project (ICDP) is to effect long-term change in health profession curricula that will foster the development of knowledge, attitudes, and communication skills essential for effective inter-professional practice in healthcare. This successful event was the second in a series organized by the Rhode Island AHEC Network in cooperation with a team of students representing each discipline and advice from faculty representing each program. For further information, please contact Laura Vares, Director Continuing Education Programs Central RI AHEC, Cranston, Rhode Island, laurav@centralriahec.org, 401.383.5831.

*The Inter-professional Curriculum Development Project (ICDP) is comprised of the Rhode Island AHEC Network, the School of Social Work and the School of Nursing at Rhode Island College, the College of Pharmacy at University of Rhode Island, and the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University.

West Texas AHEC Honored for CATCH Curriculum
By Shannon Kirkland, West Texas AHEC

In March, the West Texas AHEC was honored by the Texas Council on Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke (TCCDS) as an Outstanding Program for the 2007 Texas Cardiovascular Health Promotion Awards. The award is for commitment to the prevention of cardiovascular disease in Texas through implementation of an innovative and effective program.

West Texas AHEC receives Outstanding Cardiovascular Health Promotion Award. From left: Ronnie Laurance (Big Country AHEC); Shannon Kirkland and Pam Danner (West Texas AHEC Program Office); Dr. Thomas Tenner (TCCDS); Dr. Patti Patterson, (Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center); Tommy Sweat (Panhandle AHEC); Elisa Williford (Permian Basin AHEC); and Cindy Burleson (AHEC of the Plains).

The award recognized West Texas AHEC’s work to assist 64 rural school districts with implementing CATCH (Coordinated Approach to Child Health), a coordinated health curriculum, in 95 elementary schools. CATCH is multi-faceted, with components for

• the classroom – to educate children about good nutrition and exercise, as well as avoiding tobacco;
  
• the cafeteria – to help students make good choices about “GO, Slow, and Whoa” foods; and
  
• the family – to extend what is learned at school to the home.

Connecticut AHECs Respond to Emergency Preparedness Efforts
By Kitty Hillson, Northwestern CT AHEC, Inc. & Denise O. Williams, Central CT AHEC, Inc.

AHEC offices throughout the state of Connecticut are making strides in their efforts to involve Youth Health Service Corps student volunteers in emergency preparedness initiatives. As one of the preparedness presenters quoted, “Failing to plan is planning to fail.” Dissemination of high quality information and local planning activities will only help to strengthen our students’ ability to serve as assets during a time of need.

On May 10th Central AHEC, Inc. hosted its First Annual Emergency Preparedness Youth Conference for students, school coordinators and legislative representatives from the greater Hartford area. Youth Health Service Corps Coordinator Denise Williams in collaboration with representatives from the Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security, Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), Medical Reserve Corps and Hartford Hospital Bio-Terrorism Preparedness Program conducted multi-media interactive workshops, presentations and tabletop exercises to train participants.

Some Central CT AHEC students utilized their training by attending a CERT sheltering event on May 26th in West Hartford, CT. Students participated in cultural competency training, which was open to the public. Students then performed service learning by providing a blood pressure screening to other community attendees. Some students will attend an additional exercise, sponsored by Hartford Hospital, on June 9th.
 

Student dons chemical suit as an example of higher level response training that may be required some day.

USF AHEC and USF Pediatrics Programs Partner in Promoting Children’s Literacy Program
By Ellen Kent, USF AHEC Program, Tampa

So exactly what do AHEC, USF Pediatrics, and children’s literacy have to do with each other? A great deal!

In 2001 the University Of South Florida Department Of Pediatrics initiated its own Reach Out and Read program. The purpose of the ROR program (http://usfpeds.hsc.usf.edu/programs/reachout.htm) is to promote and facilitate the development of early literacy in children with a special focus on low income families who otherwise might not have access to books. The key components of ROR include: (a) pediatricians counsel parents to read to their children, to help them learn and succeed in school; (b) pediatricians give the child and parent a free developmentally appropriate book at each well child visit from six months to five years; and (c) volunteer readers are recruited to reinforce the ROR message by reading to children in the waiting room.

When the USF ROR program began in 2001, it was initially difficult to recruit volunteer readers. In the fall of 2003, the USF AHEC program initiated the novel USF Health Service Corps program, which has its own Faculty Coordinator responsible for planning and implementing health-related service projects for USF Health students as well as pre-health professional students. By the winter of 2004, the USF Pediatrics and USF Health Service Corps partnership was formed, and the USF Health Service Corps Coordinator began to recruit both undergraduate and USF Health students to serve as volunteer ROR readers. Each semester since then, the Coordinator has recruited and trained a new cohort of USF students to become ROR volunteers, by providing them with in-depth information as to the importance of early literacy as well as the ‘best practices’ of the USF ROR program.

The USF Pediatrics ROR program and USF Health Service Corps partnership has become an example of a successful service learning project: the students serve as volunteer readers and promote reading to low income children and their parents, while they in turn, learn about early literacy and the medical profession from their mentors, who are the USF medical students, residents and attending physicians! This past May, the Site Coordinator for the ROR program at USF, Dr. Sharon Dabrow, and Ellen Kent, MPH, Faculty Coordinator of the USF Health Service Corps, presented their poster, “The Evolution of a Successful Reach Out and Read Volunteer Program,” at the National Reach Out and Read conference in Toronto, Canada. Their poster focused on this successful partnership as well as the increased size, scope and impact of the ROR program on the community, as depicted in the photos below of volunteers reading to children in the clinic and at a health fair! For more information contact Ellen Kent, ekent@health.usf.edu.
 

Florida AHEC’s Rocking Anti-Tobacco Efforts Receive $10 Million for Statewide Expansion
By Anne Maynard, MPH, CHES, University of South Florida, Tampa

The music was pumping in Karen Stewart’s fourth period class at Pineview Middle School.

“Fergalicous… So delicious… It’s hot, hot!”

Under the watchful eye of University of South Florida (USF) College of Nursing students, 20 sixth graders were jumping and swaying around their classroom to the pop tune’s rhythmic beat.

Ian Mahoney checks his pulse after running in place while breathing through a straw and holding his nose to simulate the effects of smoking. Photo by Jim Damaske, St. Petersburg Times

“Okay,” shouted USF nursing student Crystal Nichols after pausing the CD, “now stop and take your pulse!”

As the class dutifully and silently counted their heartbeats, the nursing students handed out drinking straws. After completing a lesson on the effects of smoking on the heart, Crystal turned the music back on and instructed the kids to get up and dance around again while breathing through the straws.

This time, it was harder.

Some of the kids found it difficult to get enough air. Before a minute was up, a few stopped dancing and sat down.

“Okay, now take your pulse again,” Crystal instructed.

The kids took their seats and did as asked. For many their pulse rates were higher. The team of future nurses from USF explained that breathing through a restricted airway like a straw is similar to having emphysema – one of many conditions caused by smoking.

Sixth grader Joshua Williams helps USF senior nursing student Jamie Koontz write smoking facts. Photo by Jim Damaske, St. Petersburg Times

Since 2000 the USF AHEC Program has marshaled the resources of health professions students in a coordinated anti-tobacco effort known as PIPSA (Partners in the Prevention of Substance Abuse). Teams of health professions students from the USF Colleges of Medicine and Nursing, Manatee Community College, New College of Florida, Manatee Technical Institute, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine and doctoral students from the Florida A&M University School of Pharmacy were trained to deliver an anti-tobacco message aimed at vulnerable young people such as these sixth graders. Based on PIPSA’s history of successfully training health professions students and reaching youth, the Florida legislature recently approved $10 million for the Florida AHEC Network to expand this program to all 67 counties in the state.

“We target children at this age level because Big Tobacco is also targeting them,” said USF AHEC Program Director Cynthia Selleck. “While delivering an important message, our students also serve as role models to these kids.”

At Sugg Middle School in Kristi Morgan’s third period class, a sixth grade student raised his hand, “I have this friend who used to smoke. He quit, and he’s trying not to [smoke] anymore. Is he going to get sick? Will he get lung cancer?”

Tara Kroll, a medical student from Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, responded, “It’s good that he quit. It’s important that he not start again so that he won’t increase his risk of getting sick. You should really support your friend and tell him what a good job he is doing and how important it is that he doesn’t start smoking again.”

The boy looked down sheepishly and replied, “It’s actually me. I’m the one who smoked.”

“It doesn’t matter,” said occupational therapy assistant student Sarah Lauren Ickes. “You don’t now, and now you know why you shouldn’t start again.”

More than 4,000 children in 26 middle schools throughout Hernando, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco and Pinellas counties heard PIPSA’s anti-tobacco message; many took it to heart.

“I really liked it,” commented one student. “I learned what’s in cigarettes. I can’t believe that people put battery acid and methane in their mouths!”

It looks like these kids got the PIPSA message loud and clear.

For more information please contact Anne Maynard, amaynard@health.usf.edu.
 

Arkansas AHEC Program is Model for Russian Program
By Patricia Vannatta, MSPH, CHES, Arkansas AHEC Program, Little Rock, AR

 

Roland Kherianov, acting mayor of Volgograd, with Dr. Cranford at the Russian-American Clinic where clocks keep Little Rock and Volgograd time

As you enter the Russian-American Clinic in Volgograd, Russia, you immediately see two wall clocks hanging side by side. As you would expect, one clock is set to local time. The other clock shows the time in Little Rock, Arkansas, which may seem unusual unless you know the history of this ultra-modern facility. These clocks and a duplicate set in Little Rock symbolize the productive 14-year relationship between the AHEC program at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) and Volgograd, whose leaders have adopted the UAMS AHEC system as a model for their health care reform.

The Russian-American Clinic in Volgograd was dedicated in November 2006 at a ceremony attended by AHEC faculty representatives and Charles O. Cranford, DDS, MPA, vice chancellor for UAMS Regional Programs. Dr. Cranford has directed the partnership since Volgograd first asked for help from UAMS in developing a family medicine training program. The new clinic serves as a training site for residents and offers primary care services.

A chance meeting in 1993 sparked the relationship between UAMS and the Volgograd Academy of Medical Sciences (VMU). Following a visit to UAMS to observe the AHEC program by the VMU Chancellor and a Russian Health Ministry official, Dr. Cranford and Charles Smith, MD, medical director for the UAMS Medical Center, negotiated a partnership agreement between the two institutions for UAMS to train faculty from VMU and participate in an exchange program to help increase access to and the quality of primary care in southern Russia through family medicine education.

Soon the first Russian physicians came to Arkansas for training in the AHEC system and became the core faculty for the newly-created VMU Department of Family Medicine. Subsequently, two satellite regional programs (AHEC model) were opened in rural areas where residents and students receive part of their training. Over the years, AHEC and UAMS physicians and other healthcare professionals traveled to Volgograd to lecture on a wide variety of topics, and Russian faculty continue to come to Arkansas for training. The AHEC distance education network is used to provide education programs as well as serve as a model for continuing education programs at distant clinical sites in Russia.

The name of the new clinic recognizes the contribution to healthcare reform in southern Russia that the partnership produced. In addition, on the 10th anniversary of the partnership, Russian officials recognized Dr. Cranford’s “contribution in the development of science, economic and social partnerships between the City of Volgograd and the City of Little Rock (USA), and his dedication and involvement in implementation of the tuberculosis control and family medicine programs in the City of Volgograd.”

Now that the Russian-American Clinic is open, the partnership has assumed an additional dimension. Teams of AHEC faculty will be making extended visits to mentor and train the clinic’s faculty, residents and staff. The clocks in both Volgograd and Little Rock will continue to serve as a reminder that the AHEC Program model that worked in Arkansas is also working nine time zones and nearly 6,000 miles from home.
For further information, contact Patricia Vannatta, pmvannatta@uams.edu.

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Who’s Who

National AHEC Organization Thanks Alaska Senator Murkowski

Senator Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, was thanked by NAO during Spring Policy Days for including the reauthorization and appropriation of the Area Health Education Center program (AHEC) in S.896, the Physician Shortage Elimination Act of 2007. This is a multi-focal bill addressing the shortage of physicians in health professions shortage areas.

In February, the Senator held a field hearing on health care access issues. Dr. John Coombs of the University of Washington delivered comments on the WWAMI system, including AHEC. The University of Alaska AHEC Program also had the opportunity to weigh in on their programs and perspectives. These insights prompted the Senator’s interest in AHEC, among other programs, and her willingness to include the AHEC reauthorization and appropriation in her bill. This is critical to the National AHEC Network, as authorization expired in 2002. Without authorization, the appropriations for AHEC may be continually reduced.

Senator Murkowski (L) receives NAO award from Laurie Wylie (R).

Laurie Wylie, WWAHEC Executive Director, represented the National AHEC Organization in presenting a plaque to Senator Murkowski, thanking her for her recognition of the vital role of AHEC in the health care safety-net, and thereby including reauthorization and a significant increase in appropriation in S.896. The bill has been referred to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.



 

Member Spotlight: June 2007
Angela Bowlus

Q: What is your AHEC title/position?

Minnesota Area Health Education Center Program Manager.

Angela Bowlus, Program Manager, Minnesota AHEC

Q: What influenced your organization to become an NAO member?

The MN AHEC views its NAO membership as a valuable resource. By virtue of our membership, we are tapped into a network of people with a broad range of backgrounds and experiences who are always willing to share information.

We feel supported by the membership that has invested itself in the success of the entire AHEC network.

Q: What NAO membership feature do you benefit from the most?

The NAO conferences are a fantastic way to meet with people and swap ideas.

So far I have only been to two conferences, but have left each with numerous ideas that we have applied to the Minnesota organization. Most recently at the spring leadership and policy conference, we had the opportunity to bring several board members and a student, and they were very energized after visiting with the Minnesota congressional delegation and learning more about NAO and the success and potential of AHEC.

Q: How has NAO membership impacted your program or center operations and services?

In numerous ways. We have advertised position openings; we have connected with other NAO members regarding operational questions; we have incorporated ideas we have learned from the NAO eNewsletters and Bulletins.

Most recently at the spring leadership and policy conference, we learned about several different online recruiting systems utilized by other AHECs that have been influential in our decision to initiate a similar recruiting system in our state.

Q: What is your hope for NAO?

Continued growth. Obviously the more members we have, the stronger the organization can be. Each member brings new ideas and experience, which adds to the wealth of resources that can be influential in the organization's continued success.

Q: Additional comments about/for NAO membership?

I have only been with AHEC for a year but am already very appreciative of the support and camaraderie fostered by NAO.
 

An Example of a Successful Hill Visit

Elizabeth Cote, director of the University Of Vermont College Of Medicine AHEC Program, met with Senator Patrick Leahy (VT-D) and staff on April 25, 2007 as part of NAO's Leadership Conference & Hill Visits. Liz highlighted Vermont AHEC's work and requested the Senator's support for federal Title VII programs. Senator Leahy subsequently signed onto the Reed/Roberts letter to the Subcommittee on Labor, HHS, Education and Related Agencies, Appropriations Committee, Chairman Tom Harkin and Ranking Member Arlen Specter urging them to restore funding for the Title VII health professions programs, including AHEC, to the FY 2005 appropriated level of $300 million.

Remember, Hill Visits matter!

Indiana legislature invests $3.0 million in AHEC
By Jonathan Barclay, Indiana AHEC

On April 29, the Indiana General Assembly appropriated $3 million for fiscal years 2008 and 2009 to support and expand the work of Area Health Education Centers (AHECs) in Indiana. Indiana University School of Medicine and its AHEC partners across the state will use the funding to expand educational programs designed to improve access to high-quality health care for Hoosiers, particularly the medically underserved. Better access to a high-quality primary health care workforce is an integral part of a healthcare system that improves community health, reduces health care costs, and promotes economic vitality and competitiveness for Indiana communities.

“The state legislature clearly heard a message. ‘Growing our own’ health care professionals makes economic and community development sense and is one of our best strategies for improving health care and outcomes in Indiana,” according to Indiana AHEC program director Rick Kiovsky, MD.

Indiana AHEC partners were critical to success with the legislature. A development committee of the statewide advisory board met for nearly a year to hammer out a development strategy that stresses diversification of funding. And statewide and local advisory board members were instrumental in communicating the AHEC need and opportunity with local legislators. “Throughout busy months of educating legislators, our advisory board members and regional AHEC communities made the difference. We can’t thank them enough for their wisdom, generosity, and patience,” said Angela Holloway, Indiana AHEC associate director for development.

The Indiana AHEC program, established in 2001 with ongoing grant support from the federal Department of Health and Human Services, currently includes five community-based AHECs and a statewide program office at the Indiana University School of Medicine’s Department of Family Medicine in Indianapolis. For more information about Indiana AHEC’s state budget activities, please contact Angela Holloway at (317) 278-6695 or -0310, anhollow@iupui.edu.

Camden AHEC Director Receives Advocacy Award
By Lois Teer, Camden AHEC, Camden, New Jersey

Carol Wolff, Executive Director of the Camden, NJ AHEC and former NAO President, received the Anna M. Sample Advocacy Award at the 2007 Camden Community Planning and Advocacy Council (CBAC) Awards Dinner Wednesday, June 27, 2007.

The Camden AHEC is devoted to breaking down racial, cultural, financial, and class barriers to health care for thousands of poor and uninsured South Jerseyans. AHEC provides access to free health care, medical testing, counseling, health education and preventive tools for indigent and uninsured individuals and families in Camden, Burlington and Gloucester Counties.

The CBAC Advocacy Award is named for the late Anna M. Sample, of Camden, a tireless human rights advocate in the mid- and late 1900s. In 2005, a shelter for homeless women and single-parent families was established in the activist’s memory at 410 Line Street, the old South Camden Bocce Club.
 

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