ETSU student pharmacist from Smithville named AHEC Scholar

October 19, 2020
By:

Seven student pharmacists at the East Tennessee State University Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy including one from Smithville 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.

Martha Leigh Martin-Gibbs of Smithville is among the ETSU student pharmacists, all members of the Class of 2022. The others are Jacquelyn Crawford, from Church Hill; Kristen Friend, Morristown; Savannah Mackie, Russell, Kentucky; Kaitlyn Phillips, Erwin; Kaitlyn Price, Church Hill; and Sydney Tabor, Pikeville, Kentucky.

“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.

“My life mission has always been to ‘be the change I wanted to see in the world,’ and I have always enjoyed serving the underserved,” said Crawford. “This is what led me to pharmacy school and now to the AHEC Scholar program. I am so excited to have been selected for this honor, and I can’t wait to use what I am learning in our interprofessional teams to provide individualized patient care to the underserved of our region.”

“I am excited to be selected as a participant and believe this will be a great addition to my training here at Gatton on my path to become a pharmacist who effectively delivers patient-centered care within an interprofessional team,” said Price.

Learn more about the program at www.tnahec.org and Gatton College of Pharmacy at www.etsu.edu/pharmacy.

October 19, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

For more than 20 years the Snow Hill Baptist Church has been feeding the community with boxes of food every other Sunday in conjunction with Second Harvest.

Due to COVID-19, the church currently conducts the food ministry in drive thru fashion rather than in-house. Persons needing a box of food simply line up in their automobiles on Snow Hill Road and into the church driveway and begin filing through once the distribution begins.

“We have a drive up every other Sunday and it starts at 1:30 p.m.,” said Pastor Todd Pack. “We get the food through Second Harvest. We pick it up on Thursday at the Farmers Market location and then we bring it in and pack the boxes right before we give them away. Starting at 1:30 p.m. they begin filtering through and we give out food boxes until the last one is gone,” said Pack.

Each box contains whatever the church can get through Second Harvest including breads, vegetables, fruits, desserts, and sometimes milk and frozen meats.

No income limits are required but those being served are asked to sign up as per Second Harvest guidelines.

Patty Hale, member of the church, said the food ministry has been a labor of love for the congregation for more than two decades.

“This is a ministry our former pastor Steve Puckett started. He had brought this from the church where he previously attended before becoming our pastor. We were one of the first food ministries we know of in DeKalb County and we’ve been doing it now for over 20 years,” said Hale.

After the COVID pandemic, the church plans to return to distributing the food from inside the church where those being served come in and attend a brief church service before leaving with their food boxes.

Because of the popularity of the food ministry, the church has seen people from throughout the community come through at one time or another and even from outside the county. “ The last one two weeks ago we probably had about 60 cars come through,” said Pack.

“We have had some from Warren County and even from Watertown come in before,” added Hale.

If you would like to support the Snow Hill Baptist Church food ministry or volunteer call Patty Hale at 615-464-7492 and leave a message or call Ronnie and Judy Redmon at 615-597-6240.

The next drive thru distribution is set for Sunday, November 1 at 1:30 p.m.

“Our mission through this food ministry is to be the hands and feet of Christ,” said Pastor Pack

October 19, 2020
By: Bill Conger

Some people say their golf game is downright scary. So, they would fit right in this Halloween at the Haven of Hope Golf Tournament. Cost to enter is $60 per person or $240 per team.

“All that money is helping to pay for what we do here,” said former Haven of Hope Executive Director John Quintero. “Even if somebody does not have money, we try our best to at least get emergency help to them. We feel good about the ministry we’re doing, and we think it will be money well spent.”

Lunch begins at 11 o’clock Saturday, October 31 followed by the Scramble at 12:00 noon at River Watch Country Club. You may register for the tournament online at www.havenofhopetn.org/golf-tournament or call (615) 597-4673. There will be tier winners, hole prizes, door prizes, and a $1,000 Hole in One prize. Spots are still available for hole sponsors at a cost of $125. For those who don’t golf, The Haven will also be pleased to accept donations.

Haven of Hope is a non-profit community mental health agency. Its mission is to provide individual, family and/or group counseling, classes and programs that have the potential to enhance the clients’ lives, their family and the community.