SCRHRC and NRHA

Congrats to SCRHRC faculty Amy Martin and Kevin Bennett on being elected to the Research and Education Group of the National Rural Health Association!  NRHA election results

Visiting rural, lots of us

The SCRHRC staff went all out for National Rural Health Day (November 15, 2012) –  all the way out to Edgefield, SC to join the South Carolina Office of Rural Health and assorted others in celebrating at Edgefield County Hospital, a Critical Access Hospital in a definitely rural community. [ http://www.edgefieldadvertiser.com/2012/11/national-rural-health-day-celebrated-at-ech/ ] Visits  to actual rural communities and actual health care providers  inspire us to keep doing what we do.

After the ceremonies, we participated in the cultural activities that Dr. Amy Martin organized for us.  First, a visit to the historic Edgefield Pottery. [http://www.sciway.net/south-carolina/edgefield-district-pottery.html]  (Thanks to Dr. Naveed Sadiq for the group photo.)

Pots and other once simply utilitarian devises produced by the slave laborers in Edgefield are now worth thousands, and occasionally hundreds of thousands, to collectors.  One slave, Dave, is individually known because he was literate and signed much of his work.  He is imagined on the mural next to the pottery.  And the docent for the Edgefield County Historical Society, himself a working pottery, gave us a demonstration at the end of the tour. The demo, complete with history lesson, was captured on film by Dr. Sadiq:  demo film

One last note:  in addition to a critical access hospital, Edgefield houses the national headquarters for the National Wild Turkey Foundation, leading to turkey art throughout the main square.

Post Conference Reflections, APHA’s Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA

This year’s meeting was one that this blogger will remember as the last of their student career. The depth with which health research was conveyed was impressive. Topics varied from the struggles of those in developing nations including Sri Lanka, Africa and other countries to the policy issues facing more developed areas including the UK, Canada and the US.

One cannot leave out the sections represented at APHA. Taking part in the business meetings and networking dinners was a valuable resource allowing one to gain insight into years of experience from a diverse gathering of researchers from varied disciplines and continents.  

I would be remise if I failed to recount the most impressive residents of San Francisco…the sea lions. The opportunity to visit Pier 39 near Fisherman’s Wharf was one not soon forgotten. The hilarity and comedy that was exuded from this unique sea life will bring most to laughter.

The South Carolina Rural Health Research Center and the Arnold School of Public Health at the University of South Carolina were represented well. Several presentations ranging from Oral Diseases &  Oral Health Disparities, Structural Barriers & Vulnerabilities in HIV/AIDS Prevention & Care, Innovation in Technology, Native American & Alaska Native home health quality and EHR use among Residential Care Facilities were presented by both Faculty and doctoral student researchers.

I would also say that the 24 hour coffee shops were helpful.

In all, the meeting was well worth attending.