Check out GSAHEC’s 25th Anniversary Recap, July 2021 Classes & Program Highlights

Issue 43 | July 2021

GSAHEC'S 25th Anniversary Celebration Recap

On June 8, 1995, Gulfcoast South AHEC’s articles of incorporation were filed, formally establishing our organization in Charlotte, DeSoto, Manatee and Sarasota Counties. Gulfcoast South AHEC held a culminating celebration on June 8, 2021, to celebrate its first 25 years of service.

Current and former board members and staff, tobacco cessation facilitators, program participants and students, USF AHEC, local vendors, and community partners were recognized and celebrated for contributing to GSAHEC’s success.

GSAHEC’s team worked hard to celebrate our 25 years of service, and although this was our culminating event, we know the years to come will allow us to connect more students to careers, more professionals to communities, and continue our work of helping to improve access to quality care for all members of our communities.

Gulfcoast South AHEC is an organization to whom you can turn to provide education, support and inspiration for healthier communities. Our tagline, Promoting Community Health through Partnerships & Education, speaks to the importance of partnerships in the work we do. We plan to fortify our partnerships and good work for many years to come. Thanks for being a part of our journey!

Select the buttons below to view the recap of our momentous event!

View 40 Minute Video of Event Here

View 3 minute 45 second Photo Gallery Here

TOBACCO FREE FLORIDA

AHEC CESSATION PROGRAM

Gulfcoast South AHEC offers free group quit sessions

virtually and in-person!

Tools to Quit sessions provides information about the effects of tobacco use, the benefits of quitting, and assists attendees with developing their own quit plan. Tools to Quit sessions are available both virtually and in-person. A link will be emailed to join by Zoom® conference via video after registration.

Audio Tools to Quit program is the audio alternative to the virtual Tools to Quit session.

Quit Smoking Now support groups meet once a week for four weeks and cover a variety of topics including coping with withdrawal symptoms, managing addiction and preventing relapse. Participants must attend all sessions.

Pre-registration is required for all types of sessions.

Call 866-534-7909 to register.

Benefits of Quitting:

FREE - Nicotine replacement patches, gum or lozenges*
FREE - Participant workbook and materials
Covers all forms of tobacco

*if medically appropriate and 18 years of age or older

You select your quit date.

Download July Tobacco Cessation Schedule

2021 REACH Virtual Health

Careers Camp Recap

GSAHEC’s Virtual Health Careers Camp 2021 was a HUGE success! Partnering with Blake Medical Center, we welcomed 22 local high school students interested in becoming health care professionals. The participants had five jam-packed days of virtual guest speakers, a hospital tour, and discussions about financial aid, college options, and the wide variety of health careers.

GSAHEC’s Director of Student Programs, Joan Dixon, designed the program to provide local high school students interested in health careers a rare and unique opportunity to explore a variety of health care specialties in partnership with Blake Medical Center’s Outreach Coordinator, Cindy Filice. Guest speakers included: Hospital CEO, Medical Resident, Trauma Surgeon, Trauma Nurse, Rapid Response Team Nurse, Air Life Flight Nurse, Maternal Child Nurse, Respiratory Therapist, EMT & Paramedic, Physical Therapist, Occupational Therapist, Speech Language Pathologist, Wound Care Nurse, Burn Unit Nurse, Hyperbaric Oxygen Chamber Technologist, Hospital Administration Careers, and a presentation by LifeLink organ donor organization.

Here's what local high school participants had to say about the camp:

“This camp has been amazing. There are a variety of different careers that I had no idea existed. It just shows how big the medical field really is, but that creates a bigger problem for me because I wish I could do everything!”

“This camp has helped me with my goals because it has shown me how physicians and people in similar fields have reached their goals. It also showed me that it is possible to achieve my dreams of being a doctor and saving lives.”

“This camp has definitely confirmed that my goal for the future is to help people. All of the health professionals that talked to us were so passionate about what they do and that made me even more confident in myself to work hard and pursue my dream of joining the medical field.”