JULY 2024 ISSUE

FEATURE

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Faith in Rural Health's Clinical Pastoral Orientation Program Graduates First Class

by Paul Byrd, Faith in Rural Health Program Director

Pastors Craig Williamson, Katherine Ware, Brandon Walton and Dylan Bowden with Faith in Rural Health Program Director Paul Byrd (second from left); Scotty Mathis and Pete Mattix not pictured

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The Georgia Rural Health Innovation Center’s Faith in Rural Health (FIRH) program celebrated the first class of Clinical Pastoral Orientation (CPO) graduates. This innovative program is designed specifically for rural faith leaders who volunteer to serve as chaplains in their community hospitals. The course helps to equip them with the skills and knowledge to provide spiritual care in a clinical setting.

Pastors Dylan Bowden, Scotty Mathis, Pete Mattix, Brandon Walton, Katherine Ware, and Craig Williamson all completed this intensive 12-week training and were awarded certificates by the clinical chaplaincy supervisors and the deans from Mercer University School of Medicine and McAfee School of Theology. 

The program was developed in response to concerns of rural ministers who needed additional training in clinical care. Through the work of the Faith in Rural Health program — a ground-breaking program between the School of Theology and the School of Medicine, led by the School of Medicine’s Georgia Rural Health Innovation Center — in rural communities, it was revealed that hospital staff and administration also needed support during the COVID crisis.  

The CPO program dives deep into topics, such as:

• Empathy and Active Listening: Ministers learn to create a place of safety for patients and families to express their emotions and concerns.
• Family Systems: Understanding family dynamics allows ministers to offer more holistic support.
• Personal Growth: Self-reflection is crucial for ministers serving as chaplains. This training helps them to maintain their own well-being and offer their best selves to others.

Join the Next Clinical Pastoral Orientation Cohort

Are you a chaplain serving in rural Georgia?

Are you passionate about providing spiritual care and making a difference in people's lives?

We invite you to apply for the second cohort of the CPO program.

Together, let's ensure that all communities, regardless of location, have access to exceptional spiritual care.

Questions: Paul Byrd at byrd_pd@mercer.edu

Apply Today

For the Love of Peaches: A Century's Worth of Health and Triumph for Musella’s Dickey Farms

by Kayla Stroud, Communications and Events Specialist

Robert Lee Dickey III ("Robert") and Robert Lee Dickey IV ("Lee"), multi-generational farmers and operators of Dickey Farms | Photo courtesy of Dickey Farms

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The Georgia Agricultural Wellness Alliance was established in response to the prevalence of mental health challenges experienced by farm families and communities, which was revealed, in large part, through a joint study conducted by Mercer University School of Medicine's Georgia Rural Health Innovation Center, the Georgia Foundation for Agriculture and students in the School of Medicine’s Rural Health Sciences Ph.D. program. GAWA's focus is all of Georgia's farming communities. In this issue of For Rural, we spotlight Dickey Farms in Musella.

Dickey Farms has been a long-standing fixture in Musella for more than a century. Best known

for its peaches, the farm contributes to the growth of a healthy, nutritious lifestyle in

rural Georgia by growing and selling farm-fresh produce.

As the oldest peach packinghouse in Georgia, Dickey Farms has been a constant presence

since 1897. Lee Dickey, the current vice president and a fourth-generation farmer, is

intimately aware of the positive impact his family's business has on the local community.

Dickey Farms grows fruits and vegetables, and any not grown locally are sourced from within Georgia, mostly close to Musella. "Especially in our market, everything you see is fresh and 95% local. Customers are getting the chance to eat healthier while also supporting small farmers," said Dickey.

The only grocery store in Crawford County closed seven years ago. Dickey Farms helps fill the void for residents. "As soon as the season kicks off in March, we have fresh foods every day — in a wide variety — all the way to October, and even in the winter, we have jarred products. So, people know they can get a good assortment of fresh produce seven days a week."

What may be favorable for customers can also be a strain on workers. As a family-owned and

operated business that has been passed on for generations, Dickey has seen his fair share of

challenges. He said, "It's challenging because, for a good portion of the year, it's seven days a week. It doesn't wait for anyone. If you don't harvest produce the day it needs to be harvested, it'll go bad, spoil, get soft, and become unmarketable. You have to focus on what matters."

"At times, it can feel like the odds are stacked against you, whether it's weather, crops, or

disease. Many things can go wrong. There's been some really, really tough times — droughts

and freezes — sometimes where it really didn't make sense to keep farming. But my family chose

to do it, so I'm grateful," said Dickey.

Even through the challenges, Dickey finds encouragement in the unique connections made with the community.

"I love growing something that people get excited about. That's a reason I enjoy doing what I do, because people will travel out of their way to get quality peaches," Dickey said. "And the nice thing is that people can come to the farm; it's not just a market. Customers can physically see us packing peaches, and during the strawberry season, they can even pick their own. Seeing people build lasting memories here is the best part; so many memories and connections have been made that we're fortunate to be part of. Those are the things I'm most grateful for."

Health and Resource Fair Helps Hundreds in Harris County

by Kayla Stroud, Communications and Events Specialist

On July 13, the Harris County School District (HCSD) and the Georgia Rural Health Innovation Center (GRHIC) hosted a free "One-Stop Shop" community resource fair in Hamilton. More than 300 visitors and 50 vendors and volunteers attended the educational, fun-filled day.

With the start of the new academic year right around the corner and back-to-school shopping

gearing up, HCSD organized the event, with GRHIC's support, to help students and families take advantage of the resources that the school district offers. Shelia Baker, Harris County School District assistant superintendent of support services, said, "One thing that I hope comes from this fair is that it shows the community that we [the school district] care, that we are not just in the business of educating students academically but are also here to help them socially and physically."

HCSD gave away 300 sets of school supplies, and visitors took advantage of free health resources, education and screenings. Baker believes that combining the school supply giveaway and health care education resources is a win-win for the local community. "For a while, we did not have a primary care physician in the county, so families would have to travel, and many still go 30 to 40 minutes away to see their physician. It also occurred to me that we had many families that may not have the medical coverage required, so I wanted to open up a window by having an event like this so that we could bring in providers throughout this area that could give a minimal, free assisted method of health care to cover their family needs," said Baker.

Mercer Medicine Harris County provided blood pressure checks, blood sugar screenings, and oxygen saturation screenings to the community. Mercer University School of Medicine (MUSM) medical students Nicole Humphries ('25), Hannah Lachmayr ('27), Mackenzie Morgan ('27), and Julia Stager ('27) also conducted blood pressure checks, talked to families about nutrition and healthy eating habits, and helped children diagnose and treat stuffed animals at the Teddy Bear Clinic.

Baker wants her community to know that the school system supports them. "We value our partnerships with GRHIC, MUSM, and all of our other partners who participated in this with us. We want our community to know that we're here to assist them if there's a need. We are approachable and accessible and are here to fill the gap and close barriers as best we can so our community feels valued, appreciated, and served."

Summer Sun Safety for Families

by Harvey Moody, Community Resource and Assessment Specialist

The summer season is in full swing in Georgia. High temperatures and increased UV exposure come with risks. Protecting yourself and children against the sun’s harmful rays is essential as families enjoy outdoor activities in the summer weather. Jonathan Poon, MD, a family medicine physician with The Medical Center of Elberton and KidsABC participant, emphasizes that sun protection requires a multi-faceted approach.

Many people understand the importance of sun protection for prolonged activities like going to the beach or to the pool, but it is the everyday activities that need it as well. “It's not just when you're vacationing; it's everything in between,” said Dr. Poon. “Just going to the yard to play or going to do a little bit of stuff outside, there’s a bit of consideration that needs to be made.”

Sun protection is crucial for all ages, especially for children, whose skin is younger, thinner and more sensitive to sunlight. He advises limiting outdoor play during the hottest parts of the day to protect children’s skin.

Dr. Poon recommends a top-down approach for sun preparedness. “A wide-brim hat is a good place to start to cover the head and neck,” he said. Baseball caps are not enough as they do not protect the ears and the back of the neck.

Eye protection is equally important, particularly for young children, as sun damage can happen quickly. “Sunglasses are important to protect against future eye damage that can lead to things like cataracts and glaucoma,” he said.

Clothing also plays a significant role in sun protection. Darker clothing helps absorb UV radiation before it reaches the skin. Dr. Poon suggests avoiding loose-fitting clothing, and wearing fabric materials that are more tightly woven. Fabrics such as polyester, nylon and canvas do a great job at protecting skin from UV rays.

Sunscreen is another critical component of sun protection but can be tricky to use effectively. It is best to use a sunscreen of at least 30 SPF. “Most people don't apply enough to the whole entire body,” said Dr. Poon. He recommends using about an ounce per exposed body part. Reapplication is often forgotten. It is necessary to reapply sunscreen about every two hours or when getting out of the water after swimming.

For infants, using a combination of hats and sun protective clothing is best. “We don’t regularly advise sunscreen for infants less than six months, just because their skin may absorb some of the chemicals in there,” Dr. Poon warned. “We rely mostly on shade and clothing to protect infants.”

Children’s VP of Child Advocacy and Chief Diversity Officer Marc Welsh; Clinch Hospital Authority Board Chairman Louis Cassotta; Clinch Memorial CEO Angela Handley, RN; School of Medicine Dean Jean Sumner, M.D., FACP; Clinch Memorial CNO Kellie Register, RN; Clinch Memorial CFO Madison Pope; Clinch Memorial Pediatric Nurse Champion Cheryl Lee, RN; Clinch County Chamber Executive Director Debbie Barber; School of Medicine student and Children’s Rural Pediatric Scholar Tre Steele; Clinch Memorial Respiratory Manager Nicole Raffield, RRT; Children’s Affiliations Operations Director Pam Mason; and School of Medicine student Amari Evans

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KidsABC Celebrates Clinch Memorial Hospital’s Emergency Department as Part of the Pediatric Emergency Care Project

The Clinch Memorial Hospital Emergency Department was recognized for its commitment to strengthening pediatric emergency care in Clinch County during a July 20 ribbon-cutting ceremony. Clinch Memorial was celebrated for reaching key milestones as a participating hospital in the Kids Alliance for Better Care (KidsABC).

KidsABC helps participating hospitals, like Clinch Memorial, acquire child-friendly equipment, complete pediatric-specific emergency care staff training and implement the latest protocols and policies for treating children with critical conditions, such as asthma and diabetic ketoacidosis. 

Clinch Memorial commemorated its KidsABC participation and completion of milestones with a ribbon cutting hosted by the Clinch County Chamber of Commerce and attended by hospital, Children’s, MUSM and GRHIC representatives. As part of the celebration, community members were invited to a free Back-to-School Bash with a school supply giveaway and health fair.

Rural Hospital Emergency Department Collaborative

Cohort 1 hospital emergency departments will wrap up educational training days at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta in November, when Cohort 2 will begin training days and continue through next spring. Cohort 2 emergency departments are being assessed for pediatric-specific equipment. Hospital celebrations are underway, with Clinch Memorial Hospital being the first KidsABC participant to meet key milestones. Mountain Lakes Medical Center's ribbon cutting and celebration event is set for Saturday, August 3 at 9:45 a.m. and Upson Regional Medical Center will follow on Thursday evening, September 26.

Rural Pediatrician Support Collaborative

Cohort 2 of pediatric and family medicine physicians have been publicly announced. Telehealth carts will soon be delivered to their practices, and Telehealth Champions at each site will be trained on setting up interactions between patients and subspecialists. As part of the Children's Scholars Summer Program, the Second Annual Children’s Scholars Day was held on Wednesday, July 10 at Children's Egleston Hospital and the Center for Advanced Pediatrics. Children’s scholars, Maternal Health Observership scholars, and GRHIC staff participated in a full day of activities including Grand Rounds Pediatric Emergency Room Trauma lecture led by Dr. Brad Weselman, pediatrician and executive director of The Children's Care Network; fireside chat and hospital tour with pediatric chief residents; a lunch-and-learn with Children’s Chief Diversity Officer and Vice President of Child Advocacy Marc Welsh; Building Resilience lecture by Children's Strong4Life Behavioral Mental Health Wellness Program Coordinator Rachel Whaley; and visual tour of the Arthur M. Blank Hospital by foundation member Cindy Wesley. Students also shadowed physicians in neurology, pulmonology, nephrology, rheumatology, gastroenterology, and behavioral and mental health.

Rural Pediatric Mental Health Collaborative

Washington County Schools, Jefferson County Schools and Ben Hill County Schools have agreed to be involved with the universal mental health and wellness screenings. A standardized screening tool has been identified for use in grades K-2. The KidsABC Behavioral Mental Health team will facilitate the screening and GRHIC will offer services as appropriate. A screening for grades 3-12 is currently in the developmental phase. The KidsABC Behavioral Mental Health team is currently working with Emory University on the development of this screening. Emory was awarded a Sparks Foundation grant to screen in several rural Georgia counties and plans to offer specific models of therapy to grades 3-12 as indicated.

Anyone considering joining or starting a new or existing project, can reach out to Anne Montgomery, PhD, at Montgomery_a@mercer.edu for more information.

Training and News for Rural Pediatric Health Care Providers

Rural Pediatric News is published bimonthly and highlights training and continuing medical education options, recommended reading, physician spotlights, seasonal health and wellness information to share with patients, and more.

The Pediatric Alliance Speakers Series is a free monthly training series for providers to earn CME credits, offered by Mercer University School of Medicine, through one-hour virtual training sessions with subject matter experts in a variety of topics. PASS includes peer-led rural pediatric patient case studies and an in-person continuing education conference.

If you are a rural pediatric provider, please click to register for trainings and subscribe to Rural Pediatric News.

2024 Ongoing Center Initiatives

Maternal Health Improvement

All Rural Counties

Kedrick Williams

Maternal Health Observership

All Rural Counties

Kedrick Williams

Maternal Health Symposium

All Rural Counties

Joan Anderson



Community Health Reporter

All Rural Counties

Kedrick Williams, Harvey Moody

Clinical Ethics ECHO

All Rural Counties

Chris Scoggins, Samantha Johnson

Opioid Misuse Prevention Project

Rural Hospitals

Glenda Grant

Community Resiliency

Model (CRM)

All Rural Counties

Joan Anderson

Mental Health First Aid

All Rural Counties

Kedrick Williams,

Glenda Grant

Pediatric Mental Health Initiative

Ben Hill, Jefferson, Washington

Joan Anderson

Barber/Beauty Shop Project

Randolph County

Harvey Moody

Rural Medicine Pathways Events

All Rural Counties

Glenda Grant

QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) Gatekeeper Training for Suicide Prevention

All Rural Counties

Joan Anderson

Faith in Rural Health

Berrien, Putnam, Toombs/Montgomery

Paul Byrd

Health Fairs

Rural Partners

Amanda Livingston

Georgia Agricultural Wellness Alliance

All Counties

John McElveen

Continuing Medical Education and Continuing Nursing Education Training

Harvey Moody

The Georgia Rural Health Innovation Center works with rural partners to enhance health education through health fairs. 

We encourage these community members to join us:

Rabun County | August 3 | 10 a.m.

Co-Host: Mountain Lakes Medical Center

Randolph County | September 16 | 4 p.m.

Co-Host: Randolph County Family Connection

Putnam County | November 2 | TBD

Are you a vendor wanting to participate in a health fair?

Submit the application below.

BECOME A VENDOR

Are you a physician, health care professional, faith leader, or a student in health care, theology, or public health?  

Join us for the Faith in Rural Health Summit on October 4 at 9 .am., as we explore how health care providers and faith leaders can collaborate to tackle their communities’ health challenges. The summit aims to encourage and facilitate deeper connections between these two vital sectors, leading to enhanced health care outcomes in rural Georgia counties. 

Topics & Discussions

– One Physician’s Reflection on Medical/Faith Lessons Learned from COVID

– The Church’s Role in Rural Public Health Collaborations

– Successful Faith-Health Partnership in Rural Georgia

– Best Practices for Addressing the Spiritual Needs that Patients Bring to Medical Settings

Six CME credits will be offered.

LEARN MORE

ABOUT THE CENTER

In 2018, Georgia lawmakers dedicated special funds to establish a new Rural Health Innovation Center tasked with confronting the complex health care challenges and wellness disparities facing rural communities. Mercer University School of Medicine (MUSM) was awarded the grant funds in 2019 and formally established the Georgia Rural Health Innovation Center on its Macon campus. MUSM boasts a longstanding commitment to serving rural Georgia’s health needs, with a mission to educate physicians dedicated to tackling the health challenges in rural Georgia. The Rural Health Innovation Center serves as a critical resource to rural communities to improve access and effectiveness of health care by offering research, collaboration, and training opportunities.

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