SC Center for Rural and Primary Healthcare

Our Summer Fellows have been on some exciting learning adventures! They've connected with various organizations and immersed themselves in service opportunities, showcasing their curiosity and enthusiasm. Take a look at these moments captured with the team at Self Regional Healthcare and their impactful work at FoodShare in Columbia earlier this week. 📸✨

📊 Dr. Songyuan Deng was recently highlighted in the Research News on the University of South Carolina School of Medicine's website! Click the link to discover more about his research on utilizing claims data to identify prenatal care providers: https://bit.ly/3LeSdLZ

Join our team! The SC Center for Rural and Primary Healthcare is now hiring for a Health Delivery Coordinator. Click here to apply: https://bit.ly/3RP18Yc

Introducing Parth Dave, our final CRPH Summer Fellow spotlight! 🌟 Parth is a rising sophomore at the University of South Carolina, majoring in biological sciences. He's excited to network with his peers to tackle healthcare challenges.      "I am looking forward to the CRPH Summer Fellows program as it offers a unique opportunity to engage with and address pressing healthcare challenges faced by rural communities. I aim to contribute meaningfully to improving access and outcomes in underserved areas while networking with like-minded professionals."   

Dr. Melinda A. Merrell from the Arnold School of Public Health at the University of South Carolina visited our office earlier this week for a lunch-and-learn session with our Summer Fellows. During the session, she shared her extensive knowledge of healthcare delivery in rural areas. Our Center enjoyed hosting her, and we can't wait to share more of what our Fellows have been up to!

It's time for another CRPH Summer Fellow spotlight! 🌟 Meet Gianna Cespedes, a rising junior at the College of Charleston majoring in public health and international studies. Gianna is excited about gaining new perspectives during the program.  "I am most looking forward to gaining a new perspective on the unique health challenges faced by rural communities and learning from experienced professionals in the field."  

Our CRPH Summer Fellows have had a busy two weeks! Here's what they have been up to:   📚 Last week, our Fellows enjoyed a lunch and learn session with CRPH Director Dr. Kevin Bennett, who presented on the topic "What is Rural?"   🗣️ On Tuesday, Lindsay Williams from the South Carolina Office of Rural Health visited our office for another lunch and learn, discussing "Leading Change for Quality Healthcare Delivery in Rural Areas."   🌟 On Thursday, the Fellows embarked on a learning excursion to Lowcountry Family Solutions, where they met with Senior Program Manager Tracy Golden to learn about the organization's impact.   👩🏫 To conclude their day on Thursday, the Fellows participated in a lunch and learn with Dr. Elizabeth Crouch, PhD of the Rural and Minority Health Research Center, who presented on "Rural-Urban Differences in Adverse and Positive Childhood Experiences."   Stay tuned for more highlights and stories from their journey! #CRPH #RuralHealth #SummerFellows  

Check out this article by the Post and Courier about the rural health crisis in South Carolina. Our partners at the Edisto Indian Free Clinic are featured, highlighting their efforts to improve healthcare access. Read the article here: https://bit.ly/4c3FOWP

Last night, CRPH Director of Connecting Communities, Dr. Megan Weis, DrPH, MPH, MCHES Weis, attended the "Clearly Furman: The Campaign for Our Third Century" event at the Columbia Museum of Art. Invited as an alumna and because of our organization's partnerships with Furman, she joined area alums and supporters to learn about Furman's four institutes, where students gain real-world experience in community initiatives, research, outreach, and more. Seeing Furman's ongoing contributions and the exciting future they're building was inspiring! #CommunityImpact #CRPH 

Meet Helena Volynets, our first 2024 CRPH Summer Fellow spotlight! 🌟 Helena is a rising junior at the University of South Carolina, majoring in biological sciences. She's excited to dive into the Summer Fellows Program and shared what she's most looking forward to.       "What I am most looking forward to from the program is putting myself in a perspective that I have not been put in before to learn the best way to spread resources and knowledge for people to live healthy lives in rural areas!"