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NEPA AHEC News
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Builds on Success of Last Year
Summer Outreach Program Benefits Kids
In the summer of 2000, the NEPA AHEC piloted a successful outreach program designed to supplement existing children's summer activity programs. More than 40 programs were presented over a nine-week period from June to late-August, and over 870 children and youth participated.
This summer, three interns participated in the AHEC summer program. They were Allison Stone, a recent high school graduate and incoming College Misericordia freshman; Sarah Jayne, sophomore at Kutztown University; and Shannon Blake, a recent graduate of Keystone College and a pre-med student.
The interns have developed a varied curriculum featuring six different lessons. In addition, they created information materials, arranged publicity, ordered supplies and scheduled presentations. At the completion of the summer, they are turning the six lessons into self-contained "Activities in a Box" for the region's schools and putting the lessons on the NEPA AHEC web page.
All presentations offer hands-on activities, a parent's information sheet, plus a student packet. The programs are designed to pique the participant's interest in math, science and health and discuss their importance in their daily lives. Directed discussion and role playing also encourages the participants to expand their goals and consider health careers as a viable future. Lessons are based on the "My Health, My World" series.
NEPA AHEC interns who coordinated the 2001 summer outreach program brought health and science activities to hundreds of kids throughout AHEC's nine-county region. The six lessons will be converted into "Activities in a Box" for independent use by organizations year-round. Interns are shown above with some of the program's puppet helpers. From left: Allison Stone, Sarah Jayne and Shannon Blake.
The Wilkes-Barre Executive Leadership Series began in 1986 as a community orientation program for key executives, professionals and their spouses to the Greater Wilkes-Barre area. The series is conducted each spring and fall.
Vera Walline, health educator/planner, was a participant in the Spring 2001 class. She stated that getting to know our region better was a delightful experience. The five-session series highlighted important aspects of Wilkes-Barre and the Wyoming Valley from local history to education, and from the arts to business and commerce, including opportunities for future development. Vera felt that the bast part of the program was getting to know the other participants, who represented a variety of professional backgrounds, including news media, banking and the arts, as well as health care. The series culminated in a graduation banquet June 7 and featured a special presentation by Governor Tom Ridge.
Leadership Lackawanna is the community education/leadership development program of The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce. The course's goal is to introduce its participants to the major issues and challenges facing Lackawanna County. Using the information gained through the program, graduates volunteer their time and talents to assist established civic leaders in charting the future growth and direction of Lackawanna County and its various organizations. Kate Germershausen, health educator/planner, has been accepted into the 2001-2002 class.
Leadership Lackawanna is a ten-month program which runs from September through June. Sessions are held on one weekday each month and focus on a variety of relevant topics. In addition to the monthly sessions, participants work on group projects to enhance their leadership skills, foster teamwork and create a better understanding of the organization and/or segment they are working on.
Congratulations, NEPA AHEC leaders!
NEPA AHEC collaborated with the Northeast Intermediate Unit #19 to provide a 40-hour Artist-Residence Program to the Blue Ridge Middle School in the rural community of New Milford, PA. Pennsylvania Artist-in-Residence Linda Eisen based the interactive health career exploration curriculum on "The Great Hospital Adventure," created by the Northwest PA AHEC.
Ten pre-selected middle school students from Lisa Pedro's sixth grade class participated in the after-school program. The students started the unit by touring the local hospital, BarnesKasson, and interviewing the various health care professionals. The interviews were then translated into a script by the students and titled "Allison's Hospital Adventure." Students worked to portray the various professions they interviewed in an accurate and entertaining way. Roles were assigned, puppetry techniques developed, a stage constructed, and rehearsals began. When the roles were perfected, the students presented the play to the elementary students in their school district. The performance was followed by student-led discussions and role-playing on the various health care careers highlighted in the performance.
It was received so well that the students presented 13 performances throughout the region and have reached 634 children. The play was also presented to the skilled nursing unit* of the Community Medical Center, Scranton, through an outreach program of the Everhart Museum. In addition, the play has been videotaped, and copies are available from the NEIU #19 for other classes to utilize. It is also on the NEPA AHEC web page at www.nepaahec.org. All the students, both performers and organizers, increased their interest in health careers in a creative, fun way.
Each AHEC in Pennsylvania has a sponsoring medical school, While AHECs work with all health professional schools, the sponsoring school has made a special commitment to the support of the regional AHEC.
The NEPA AHEC's sponsoring medical school is Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia. Susan L. Rattner, M.D., M.S., associate dean of Undergraduate Medical Education, and Michael Rosenthal, M.D., clinical professor and director of the Section of Community Health in the Department of Family Medicine, are members of the NEPA AHEC board and direct the Jefferson activities related to the NEPA AHEC. This community academic partnership is viewed as the cornerstone of the AHEC model.
CLERKSHIP ESTABLISHED
Jefferson Medical College has established a family medicine clerkship for third year medical students in the Northeast. "We are delighted to announce that beginning in July, eight Jefferson students will spend six week educational blocks in the Family Practice Center at the Guthrie Clinic at Sayre," states Dr. Rosenthal. Dr. Christine Jerpbak of Jefferson has been instrumental in working with Dr. Franklyn Dornfest, the director of the Family Practice Residency Program at Guthrie, and his staff in the development of this rotation.
During the next year, Jefferson will be working,with Dr. William Dewar, NEPA AHEC clinical coordinator, and other physicians in the region to set up Jefferson Preceptorships in community practices and other educational experiences for medical students.
JEFFERSON-NEPA AHEC ALLIANCES
In November, a program entitled "Teens at Risk" was presented at Marywood University. More than 150 healthcare providers in the areas of social work, nursing, psychology, medicine and public health attended. The Marywood University School of Social Work and Office of Continuing Education were also partners in presenting this combined offering from Jefferson and Marywood faculty. Keynote speeches by Sandra Bloom, Ph.D., a psychiatrist who deals with issues of teen violence and risk behaviors, and Patrick McManus, a Jefferson family physician and medical director of a Philadelphia teen shelter program, were extremely well-received. In addition, four workshops emphasizing key issues in related areas were presented. Plans are underway for a follow-up program in October 2001 with a focus on teen substance abuse and related behavior.
"We also look to expanding educational offerings in continuing education and faculty development to healthcare providers in the region, and to further build the community-academic links"
Dr. Rosenthal
ASTHMA CARE. NEW ISSUES IN THERAPY
In collaboration with Jefferson Medical h College and Wayne Memorial Health Systems, NEPA AHEC presented two Jefferson faculty speaking on new issues in a( asthma care on May 15, 2001. Christopher Chambers, M.D., and Michael Rosenthal, M.D., spoke to 30 practicing physicians, nurses and pharmacists.
William R. Dewar, 111, M.D., clinical coordinator for NEPA AHEC, has been appointed to the faculty of Jefferson Medical College with the rank of Instructor of Medicine.
Dr. Dewar is on the staff of Wayne Memorial Hospital, Honesdale. He is a member of the American Medical Association, Pennsylvania Medical Association, Wayne-Pike Medical Society, American College of Physicians, American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation, and Affiliate Faculty of the American Heart Association.
In addition, Dr. Dewar was recently notified that he has advanced from associate professor to clinical associate professor at the Penn State College of Medicine.
He has years of experience as a preceptor for medical and health profession students. As the clinical coordinator for NEPA AHEC, Dr. Dewar works with health profession students and community preceptors throughout the region, expanding their educational opportunities.
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Tips for Preceptors
Getting Caught Up While Teaching: Other Valuable Teaching Experiences
What can a preceptor do when falling behind in the patient schedule while precepting a student? Keep in mind there may be other valuable experiences for the learner besides one-on-one clinical teaching. Consider some of the following:
While these experiences are not intended to replace clinical experiences in the office, they are often greatly appreciated by the learner as supplemental experiences. They will be more meaningful to the learner if you articulate the rationale for them and provide the learner an opportunity to review the experiences with you at a later time.
From CBT News, A quarterly source of information from the Community-Based Teaching Program, July 2001, Patrick Alguire, M.D., FACP, Director
FREE CEU's ON-LINECommunity Integrated Services Network of PA (CISNP) Clinicians (physicians, nurses and mid-level practitioners) can receive free continuing education credit through CISNP's website. Any clinician may log on to the Internet and go to www.cisnp.org and follow the links to CME. To receive one hour of credit, accredited by the American Academy of Family Physicians, read the protocols and case study, then take a brief multiple choice test. It's done online through the website. A certificate of credit will be mailed shortly. Call CISNP at 717-761-6443 for further information.
You've all heard a great deal about nurse shortages over the past several months. You may also be aware of other shortages in other health careers such as medical technologists, respiratory therapists, nurse anesthetists and pharmacists. NEPA AHEC is well aware of these shortages and is working to address them. This summer our first-ever "Exploring Careers in Health Care" - was held. This successful week-long program helps high school students learn more about the many health careers available to them.
We are working with school counselors to help them better understand the requirements for entry into various health careers. This summer we are partnering with local libraries and other organizations throughout our nine-county region to deliver educational programs that help build math and science skills.
NEPA AHEC is leading the way to bring more people into the health care field. We are working very hard to find practical experience for students with an interest in health careers or those that are studying a specific health career. Each of you can play a significant role in helping us achieve our goals. Become a health care cheerleader. Encourage the young you know to learn more about health careers. Encourage them to volunteer in health care settings such as hospitals and nursing homes to gain valuable experience and insight in the field. Help them understand the needs of the field for the long run.
In a word, participate with them to bring them into the field. Consider this a mission and yourselves missionaries. It will be well worth the effort.
Michael Stershic, NEPA AHEC Board Chair
In February 2000, the Neuroscience Program at the University of Scranton and NEPA AHEC joined together to present the first regional Brain Bee.
The Neuroscience Program at the University of Scranton, under the direction of Timothy Cannon, Ph.D., and NEPA AHEC collaborated again on the 2001 Brain Bee. The local Brain Bee was held February 24, 2001, at the University of Scranton as part of the Annual Psychology Conference. Brain Bee participants were given free admission to the entire conference.
Participants in this year's contest were:
Heather Yedinak was the overall winner.
All questions for the Brain Bee were drawn from material in the booklet "Brain-Facts." This book offers an overview of the field of neuroscience. The booklet has been distributed to all the school science departments in the nine counties of the NEPA AHEC region (Bradford, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Wayne and Wyoming).
Shown are this year's Brain Bee principals. From left: Dr. Tim Cannon, Brain Bee facilitator; Joy Oliver, Brain Bee student coordinator; Heather Yedinak, 1st place winner and senior from Moscow; Margaret Smitka, 2nd place winner and junior from Falls; and Leszek Kwiatkowski, 3rd place winner and senior from Courtdale.
NEPA AHEC held its second annual meeting at Keystone College in July, with Barbara Terry, president and CEO of the Institute for Healthy Communities, serving as keynote speaker.
Ms. Terry focused on the strengths NEPA AHEC brings to the region and challenged it to be the instrument that rekindles a sense of community, it engages in community partnerships and maximizes community resources. She urged it to continue to address access to care and the health care workforce shortage. Her concluding challenge was to encourage the audience to continually ask What is the impact of our effort? Have we made a difference?
Pictured at the annual meeting are board members in attendance. Seated, from left: Jeanne Bovard, Barbara Terry (Keynote Speaker), Mary Beth Farrell, Susan Begasse. Standing: Michael Rosenthal, M.D., Martin McMahon, D.M.D., Michael Stershic, Patricia Lawless, NEPA AHEC Executive Director.
