South Piedmont AHEC Scholars Program

About AHEC Scholars

AHEC Scholars Group PhotoAs part of the NC AHEC Scholars program, the South Piedmont AHEC Scholars Program recruits, trains, and supports a diverse group of students enrolled in health professions programs across an 8 county region (Anson, Cabarrus, Cleveland, Gaston, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Stanly, Union) in North Carolina. Together these students create an interdisciplinary team of health professionals devoted to the transformation of health care in North Carolina. We seek individuals who are committed to improving health and health care, devoted to community service, and interested in improving their own skills and in working with other professionals in team-based care.

With an emphasis on underrepresented minorities, rural, and first-generation college students, the South Piedmont AHEC Scholars Program aims to improve the diversity and distribution of all health professions and support health systems transformation across the state. Each class of South Piedmont AHEC Scholars represents a variety of health professions and institutions across the South Piedmont AHEC Region.

Selected applicants participate in a 2-year educational program and may receive an $2,000 travel expense subsidy ($1,000 per year, subject to academic or institutional approval). Each AHEC Scholar will receive a NC AHEC Scholars Certificate, setting them apart from other students in an increasingly competitive environment. Selected scholars will meet students and faculty from academic institutions throughout the region and state. Scholars will be a part of a network of healthcare leaders and students, creating an invaluable opportunity to expand their network and support future career goals.

Scholars will participate in both experiential and didactic learning opportunities that will explore topics such as:

  • Interprofessional Education
  • Behavioral Health Integration
  • Connecting Communities and Supporting Health Professionals
  • Virtual Learning and Telehealth
  • Social Determinants of Health
  • Cultural Competency
  • Practice Transformation
  • Current and Emerging Health Issues

Program Eligibility

  • Must be currently enrolled in a college-level health professions education training program in South Piedmont AHEC Region by August 31
  • Reliable access to Wi-Fi
  • Must have access to reliable transportation
  • Eligible to work inside the United States

Scholar Responsibilities

  • Must be committed to the AHEC Scholars Program for a total of 2 years.
  • Complete 40 hours of didactic training each year of the program.
  • Complete 40 hours of experiential training each year of the program.
  • Must complete all required assignments.
  • Scholars are expected to attend the following dates for didactic instruction:
    2024–2025 Didactic Instruction Schedule In Person
    • September 14, 2024
    • October 19, 2024
    • November 16, 2024
    • January 18, 2025
    • February 2025 (NC AHEC Scholars Symposium)
    • March 15, 2025
  • Experiential learning will occur in spring of each year

Benefits

  • Scholars will receive $2,000 allowance ($1,000 per year) to offset expenses.
  • Scholars will have opportunities to engage and network with thought leaders in health administration, public health, medicine, academia, etc.
  • Scholars will be better positioned to work with diverse patients in rural and/or underserved communities.
  • Network with like-minded students that want to make a difference in healthcare.

Must be currently enrolled in a college-level health professions education training program in South Piedmont AHEC Region by August 31

Click Here for a List of Accepted Programs for the NC AHEC Scholars Program

  1. 2024 AHEC Scholars Application
  2. A completed application will include the following materials:
    • AHEC Scholars Application
    • 2 Letters of Recommendation
    • Copy of Official Transcript
    • Additional information may be required upon selection such as:
      • Background Check to be completed by South Piedmont AHEC
      • Immunization Records Upon Selection (Mandatory for clinical learning)
  3. Application Deadline: June 1, 2024
Important Dates for Applicants
  • Deadline: June 1, 2024
  • Notification of Acceptance: August 1, 2024
  • Orientation: September 2024
Alyssa Adair
University of North Carolina Charlotte
Health Systems Management
 
Alyssa Baglivi
Wingate University School of Pharmacy
Pharmacy
 
Rosalba Barojas Chavarria
University of North Carolina Charlotte
Epidemiology / Public Health
 
Phillip Bell
Wingate University School of Pharmacy
Pharmacy
 
Alyssa Bland
Wingate University School of Pharmacy
Pharmacy
 
Briana Blount
University of North Carolina Charlotte
Master of Health Administration
 
Matthew Brown
Queens University of Charlotte
Nursing
 
Princess Cammue
Winston Salem State University
Public Health
 
Emily Dickinson
Pfeiffer University
Physician Assistant
 
Claire Dundon
University of North Carolina Charlotte
Master of Health Administration
 
Suvanna George
Cleveland Community College
Nursing
 
Bambi Kialanda
University of North Carolina Charlotte
Epidemiology
 
Makshwar (Unique) Kumtap
University of North Carolina Charlotte
Bio Statistics / Public Health
 
Sydney Lash
Queens University of Charlotte
Health Education / Data Analysis
 
Juan Sebastian Marin
University of North Carolina Charlotte
Public Health
 
Kira Martin
Wingate University School of Pharmacy
Pharmacy
 
Farrah Newton
University of North Carolina Charlotte
Health Systems Management
 
Madison Pavlovsky
Queens University
Health Science - Bioscience
 
Catherine Perez
Queens University of Charlotte
Public Health
 
Savanah Perrini
Wingate University
Doctor of Occupational Therapy
 
Stefanie Ramsey
Winston Salem State University
Nurse Practitioner / Public Health
 
Rebecca Sarpong
Wingate University School of Pharmacy
Pharmacy
 
Amber Turk
Central Piedmont Community College
Public Health
 
Kayla Walker
University of North Carolina Charlotte
Public Health
 
Michelle Boyd, MS, CDP, EQ 1 2.0 Certified
Director, Health Careers, Diversity and Workforce Development
South Piedmont AHEC
michelle.boyd@AtriumHealth.org
Paulina Crass, BS, CSSGB, EQ 1 2.0 Certified
CPD: Education Specialist
South Piedmont AHEC
Paulina.Crass@AtriumHealth.org
Joann Spaleta, FACHE, CDP, MBA, MHA
Executive Director, South Piedmont AHEC
Assistant Vice President, Atrium Health
Joann.Spaleta@AtriumHealth.org
Apryl A. Alexander, Psy.D.
Metrolina Distinguished Scholar of Health & Public Policy
Associate Professor
Department of Public Health Sciences | UNC Charlotte
 
Erica Allen
Nursing Excellence Program Coordinator
Atrium Health
 
Zahra Bahrani-Mostafavi, PhD
Biology Department
Queens University of Charlotte
 
Jasmine Ballard
Director – Administrative, Levine Cancer Institute
Atrium Health
 
Shawana Burnette
Nurse Manager
Atrium Health
 
Julie Cooper, MA, FACHE
Vice President, Value-Based Leader, Enterprise Laboratory
Atrium Health
 
Lisa Dinkins, PharmD, BCACP
Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
Associate Professor of Pharmacy
Wingate University School of Pharmacy
 
Lienne Edwards, PhD, RN
Associate Professor Emeritus
UNCC School of Nursing
 
Andrea Ellis, MHA
Senior Project Manager, Integration Management Office
Atrium Health
 
Vicki W. Gardin, PharmD, BCGP
Internal Medicine Field Medical, Outcomes & Analytics Director
Internal Medicine & Hospital
Pfizer Biopharmaceuticals Group
 
Laci Garner
Project Manager Ops Performance Improvement
Atrium Health
 
Karen Linyard, DBA, MBA, LPN
Project Manager, Operations Performance Improvement
Atrium Health Medical Group
 
Vondra Love
Senior HR Consultant
Atrium Health
 
Layla McCall Stafford, PT, DPT, M.Ed, ATC, LAT
Physical Therapist
Atrium Health at Home University City
 
Lynn Sanders MSN, RN, OCN, NE-BC
Administrative Director, Department of Hematology, LCI Bone Marrow Transplant Administration
Atrium Health
 
Michael Thompson, MS, DrPH
Associate Professor, Public Health Sciences
Director, MHA Program
Acting Director, Academy for Population Health Innovation
UNC Charlotte
Naomi West, PharmD, MBA
Assistant Vice President
Atrium Health
 
Sheila Wright, MSN, RN
Coordinator Mecklenburg/York Counties Faith Community Health Ministry
Atrium Health
 
Tiffany Victor
Vice President, Population Health & Care Management
Atrium Health
 

South Piedmont AHEC Scholars Regional Advisory Committee meets bi-monthly to provide support for our South Piedmont AHEC Scholars Program.

Paulina Crass, BS, CSSGB, EQ 1 2.0 Certified
CPD: Education Specialist
South Piedmont AHEC
Paulina.Crass@AtriumHealth.org