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FRONTIER FOOTNOTES
Summer 2020
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Dear Friends,
Boy, these are difficult and confusing times we're in aren't they? COVID19 rages on around the world and in our own Idaho paradise. It takes extra diligence and care just to stay up on the latest news and guidelines and it's certainly the time for taking extra good care of ourselves. If your mood hasn't been affected over the past several months you are indeed lucky, but if you're like me you might need a boost now and then. Empower Idaho recently released their COVID19 Awareness Campaign that included some pretty nifty graphics that can be printed and posted wherever needed, including your fridge. Here's a list of my favorites that you can find
here.
- Mental Health in the Time of COVID
- Check in with yourself
- Cute Videos to Help Us Get By - jpeg #8
- You're doing great - jpeg #7
- It's Ok if You're Not Ok - jpeg #6
- Social Distancing Doesn't Mean Social Isolation - jpeg #5
- The Strange Experience of Social Distancing - jpeg #4
- An Invitation to Do Less (Yes!) - jpeg #3
- Realistic Movement and Social Distancing - jpeg #2
Empower Idaho has also compiled a nice list of resources on its "COVID-19 and Your Mental Health" webpage. I encourage you to take a look and share broadly.
Take good care everyone,
Katrina Hoff, Director
SW ID AHEC
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Here's what you'll find in this edition:
Thank you to our many contributors! I hope you enjoy our newsletter. If you would like to submit content, please contact me at [email protected].
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SW Idaho AHEC Scholar Program - Now Accepting Applications!
The Southwest Idaho AHEC and WWAMI AHEC invites health profession students in southwest Idaho to become an AHEC Scholar. The WWAMI AHEC Scholars Program is a nationally recognized interdisciplinary educational and training program that focuses on preparing a diverse, culturally competent healthcare workforce specializing in rural and underserved areas. The application cycle will close October 2, 2020. Seats are limited to 15.
Student Benefits
- Access to curriculum developed by the University of Washington School of Medicine.
- Engage with a cohort of up to 15 peers from multiple health professions fields.
- Activities that complement your current academic program.
- Engage with rural and underserved communities.
- Participate in an employer networking event.
- Earn a nationally recognized certificate.
- Receive a stipend up to $1,000 for your two-year commitment.
- The program is FREE!
If you have questions, please contact Katrina Hoff, SW ID AHEC Director at
[email protected].
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 SE Idaho AHEC Scholars Update
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Southeast Idaho AHEC Graduates First Scholar Cohort
The Southeast Idaho Area Health Education Center is pleased to announce the graduation of the first cohort of AHEC Scholars! This fantastic group of 15 interprofessional students completed the two-year training program despite challenges from the Covid-19 pandemic. Scholars received an HRSA recognized certificate of completion and prepared students for working with rural and underserved communities.
Twelve students from nine disciplines finished their degrees and are entering the workforce. Several students opted to work in rural and underserved environments after graduation. For instance, Taylor Monk joined the team at Bear Lake Memorial as an RN. Kailey Murphy chose a pharmacy residency at Health West. Jace Briggs began working at Gateway Transitional Care Center. Emplored received top-quality new employees by choosing an AHEC Scholar.
For more information about recruiting an AHEC Scholar for your healthcare organization, contact Rylee O'Neill
[email protected].
What Did AHEC Scholars Mean to You?
Perspectives from Graduating AHEC Scholars
- "It gave me an experience I can use for the rest of my career," Taylor Monk.
- "Being an AHEC scholar meant bettering myself to provide better care for patients, especially those in rural and underserved areas. It meant learning what other healthcare professionals do so that you know your resources and can be better prepared to utilize them. It also meant having a blast while learning about something I was passionate about," Kelsey Scott, Nursing.
- "Great learning opportunities, friendships, and experiences I wouldn't have found elsewhere," James Doyle, Pharmacy.
- "Being an AHEC Scholar meant that I could have the opportunity to help people in rural areas just like the one I grew up in. It meant that I could learn from different cohorts and understand their role within the healthcare team, while also educating them on my own role," Kelby Hilliam, Pharmacy.
- "Being an AHEC Scholar gave me inspiration and hope that I was on the right path by returning to school. I also felt so proud of myself for having received the scholarship and participating in all of our adventures. It helped me to keep going and push past the difficulties I faced starting college again after almost ten years. I'm so thankful I got to be part of the AHEC Scholars," Melissa Spanton, Social Work.
- "Being an AHEC scholar meant I got to see treatment through everyone's eyes and not just my own. Whether it be people treating the physical aspect, mental health, or social and environmental health; it opened me up to the duties and diligence of each of these professions that we'll all be working with in the future, how we can all better work together, how we can better the lives of our clients and patients by understanding and appreciating one another," Emily Hauser, Social Work.
- "It meant getting the opportunity to improve myself and be the best provider I can to the rural communities I intend to treat," Jace Briggs, Physical Therapy.
- "Becoming a more well-rounded healthcare provider," Kailey Murphy, Pharmacy.
- "It meant so much to me! I will forever cherish the memories and knowledge that I have taken away from this experience. I am so excited to have made so many new friends from different fields," Kristina Bowden, Physician's Assistant.
- "I loved serving my community," Dora Johnson, Dental Hygiene.
- Learning to collaborate with new and different health professionals while better serving the rural areas," Darcey Carr, Occupational Therapy Assistant.
- "It was an interdisciplinary experience that can't be matched where we addressed the real issues of the health in our community," Dallin Farnes, Pharmacy.
- "It gave me an opportunity to connect and learn from other health professionals about rural medicine," Katie Neemeth, Physician Assistant.
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| Idaho Office of Rural Health and Primary Care |
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RHCAP and RPIP Application Cycle is Open!
Rural Health Care Access Program (RHCAP) seeks to improve access to primary medical and dental care by strengthening healthcare systems, removing barriers, and developing partnerships to better serve communities. Eligible applicants include non-profit and government entities. The area to be benefitted must be located in a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) or a medically underserved area (MUA). Applicants may request a maximum of $35,000 for one-year.
Grant categories include:
- Community development
- Telehealth projects
- Other (such as recruitment and retention activities)
Closes Sunday, August 30, 2020, 5:00 p.m. Mountain Time
Rural Physician Incentive Program (RPIP)
offers an opportunity for loan repayment for rural physicians providing primary care in a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA).
Successful applicants may receive a maximum of $25,000 per year for four years (
$100,000 total).
The physician must:
- Accept Medicare and Medicaid patients within the capacity of the practice
- Be Idaho medical board certified/board eligible
- Be eligible for an unrestricted Idaho medical license
Closes Sunday, August 30, 2020, 5:00 p.m. Mountain Time
Email: [email protected]
Phone:Tonne McCoy (208) 332-7944
Website: www.ruralhealth.dhw.idaho.gov
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Empower Idaho Updates
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Empower Idaho Webinar for Behavioral Health Providers
Health at Every Size'sⓇ Role in Healthcare Webinar
with Danielle Basye, RD, LD, RYT-200
Wednesday, July 22nd | 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM (MST) | Free | Online Webinar
Webinar Objectives:
- Understand Health at Every SizeⓇ principles
- Identify and understand weight neutral terminology
- Understand Health at Every SizeⓇ misconceptions
- Learn evidenced based interventions to combat weight stigma
- Understand the psychological and physiological effects of dieting
- Understand research outcomes from Health at Every SizeⓇ
Questions? Email [email protected]
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Idaho State University News
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ISU Counseling Clinics will keep telehealth service as permanent service after COVID-19
Through a Community Health Improvement Fund grant from St. Luke's Hospital, Idaho State's Meridian campus was able to obtain required telehealth certification and gain laptop computers for virtual counseling sessions. The grant will also cover regional travel and project evaluation. Idaho State's main campus in Pocatello will also be offering the services.
"Originally, we thought we could stay open and just work as-is while implementing protocol regarding cleaning and social distancing, and things evolved to where there was no way it was reasonable for us to stay open in that way," said Shawn Parmanand, director of the Pocatello counseling clinic.
Read more
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Concordia University-Portland and ISU providing unified transition for students
When disaster strikes, emergency managers and response teams mobilize. When threats to national security present themselves, homeland security officials go to work to protect communities from all types of danger. Training for individuals qualified to serve in both of these highly specialized areas is now available at Idaho State University.
Idaho State University has partnered with Concordia University-Portland to become the preferred teach-out institution for Concordia University Portland's online Bachelor of Science in Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM) program.
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Idaho's COVID-19 Ground Zero: ISU-Meridian
The first person to contract COVID-19 in the state of Idaho was uniquely prepared to respond. Surrounded by both medical and mental health professionals in her family life, career and academic pursuits, Beverly Hines knew what she had to do to protect those around her, minimize the spread of the disease and survive the ordeal herself.
Hines, a second-year student in Idaho State University's rigorous counseling doctoral program, attended a weeklong psychotherapy conference in early March in New York City and returned to school at ISU-Meridian the following Monday morning. By Tuesday afternoon, she knew she wasn't feeling well and made certain to sanitize her work area before heading home at the end of the day. As she struggled with fever, fatigue, body aches and cough while at home sick on Wednesday, Hines began receiving emails from other conference attendees warning she had likely been exposed to the coronavirus.
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ISU Family Medicine Department Matches All Residency Positions
Idaho State University has successfully recruited a full slate of new residents to their Family Medicine, Psychology, Pharmacotherapy and brand new Psychiatry program, beginning the first of several years serving and training in the areas surrounding East and West Idaho.
The Family Medicine Residency Program (FMR), which began in 1994, accepts the same number of residents each year to replace the graduating residents in a three-year cycle. Dozens of applications are submitted each year.
At least half of the graduating residents in this residency have stayed in Idaho, something helpful to face the shortage of doctors in the state.
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ICOM Announces New Appointments to Board of Trustees
The Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine (ICOM) is pleased to announce the appointment of four new members to its Board of Trustees, effective July 1, 2020.
The new Trustees include:
- David C. Pate, MD, JD, FACP, FACHE - retired President & CEO of St. Luke's Health System in Boise, Idaho;
- Rachel Gonzales, DM, RN, RODP - President & CEO of Madison Memorial Hospital in Rexburg, Idaho and Chair of the Idaho Hospital Association;
- Steven Nemerson, MD, MSE, MBA - Chief Clinical Officer of Saint Alphonsus Health System in Boise, Idaho; and
- Jeff Sollis, MHA - CEO of Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center (EIRMC) in Idaho Falls, Idaho.
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ICOM, ISU Partner to Offer DO and MHA Degree Option
Student Doctors at the Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine (ICOM) now have the opportunity to complete a Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) degree with their Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree.
In partnership with Idaho State University College of Business, through co-admission and co-enrollment, ICOM medical students can pursue this MHA degree option beginning this fall.
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ICOM Students Assemble Face Shields for First Responders
Members of the community enjoyed a day of free health care and education during the Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine's first-ever Community Health Fair Saturday, February 8.
Attendees received complimentary health screenings, osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT), health education and a variety of resources to support community members.
While student doctors at the Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine (ICOM) aren't yet able to fight COVID-19 on the front-line, they're finding other ways to offer support.
Partnering with Brian Wiley, an Assistant Professor of Graphic Design at Boise State University, a group of ICOM students are helping to create hundreds of face shields for local health care professionals and first responders. Using a CNC machine and some basic supplies, the group has produced 400 face masks so far - 120 in a single day alone - with an ultimate goal of 500.
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SW Idaho AHEC
is/was supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number U77HP03022, for the WWAMI Area Health Education (WWAMI AHEC) Program Office and its five regional Centers in the total amount of $639,012 for the 2018-19 fiscal year (with a 1:1 total match of $639,012 from non-federally funded governmental sources). This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.
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