Pharmacy AHEC scholars for 2022
JOHNSON CITY (Sept. 13, 2022) – Two student pharmacists from East Tennessee State University Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy have been accepted into the prestigious Tennessee Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) Scholars Program, an interprofessional training opportunity designed to develop a diverse, culturally sensitive health care workforce that is well equipped to offer quality care, particularly to rural and underserved populations.
The honorees, both in the Class of 2024, are Autumn Locke (pictured above, left) Bluff City, and Sam Morris, Fairfield, Pennsylvania. They were selected out of 50 students across the state and 15 in East Tennessee.
"The AHEC Scholar's program is an amazing opportunity for me to grow both personally and professionally while further exploring the impact pharmacists can have on the world,” said Morris. “By gaining more knowledge on topics like health disparities, interprofessional communication, cultural competence and behavioral health integration, I will be better suited to provide my future patients with the help that they not only need, but that they deserve."
After graduation, Morris plans to work in a rural outpatient or community setting that will allow her to serve as a member of an interprofessional team.
“During my time at Gatton, my experiences of serving the underserved have been nothing short of rewarding,” said Locke. “Being named a Tennessee AHEC Scholar means I can continue what led me to beginning pharmacy school in the first place, especially here at Gatton where they make it a part of their mission to devote community practice into our surrounding rural areas. I grew up in Northeast Tennessee, so providing care in the same community I grew up in is very near and dear to my heart. This program will have a deeper impact than simply fulfilling hours, but rather build on the leadership and clinical skills needed to work in interprofessional settings.”
After graduation, she plans to pursue a PGY1 residency in the inpatient setting where she hopes to continue serving the underserved.
“We are so proud of these students for earning this honor,” said Dr. Debbie Byrd, dean of Gatton College of Pharmacy. “The AHEC Scholars Program is directly in line with our values and mission at the college to prepare progressive, team-oriented pharmacists who improve health care, focusing on rural and underserved communities. I look forward to seeing the impact these students make in their pharmacy careers in the Appalachian Highlands and beyond.”
The program is part of a national initiative that includes 40 hours of team-based, interprofessional clinical experience and 40 hours of didactic learning focused on six core topics: patient-centered clinical practice transformation, interprofessional education, cultural competence, social determinants of health, behavioral health integration and current/emerging health issues. After two years of formal involvement, scholars are asked to remain connected to the program as their professional journeys continue.
Learn more about the program at www.tnahec.org.