WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA AHEC 2023 SCHOLAR OF THE YEAR
Dajon Stoudemire, BS
Stillman College
As a 2021-2023 West Central Alabama AHEC Scholar, the program has had a tremendous impact on my educational career. Early in my undergraduate journey, I aspired to be either a school psychologist or a clinical psychologist. Ultimately, after being exposed to AHEC’s program curriculum, I started to understand that I wanted to serve communities, not just individuals. After having this life-changing decision to do just that, I aligned myself with various opportunities that sought to explain public health challenges. Eager to learn more, I was able to land opportunities such as clinical research experience and urban agriculture. The AHEC program has taught me vital information such as cultural competence and health disparities, to name a few. Learning these skills improved my ability to understand an individual and not just the condition that they’re in. One heavily talked about topic by public health practitioners is Social Determinants of Health. This concept was first introduced to me by the AHEC Scholars program and has added to my passion to serve disadvantaged communities Ultimately, the AHEC Scholars program has provided me with the tutelage needed and I’m more than excited to continue my education in Public Health at Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine.
WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA AHEC 2022 SCHOLAR OF THE YEAR
Gillian Shapiro, MBA, MSW
University of Alabama School of Social Work
Gillian Shapiro (she/her/hers) lives in Tuscaloosa, AL and is a recent graduate of the University of Alabama graduate School of Social Work, where she earned her Master of Social Work degree, with a concentration in Adults and Their Families. She also has earned her Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from Rutgers University. She found the West Central AL AHEC program to be enriching and richly informative, with its healthcare focus utilizing a health equity lens, which she plans to integrate into her work. Gillian is employed in a Public Health position at the Vermont Department of Health and will focus on implementing programs and facilitating policy to remove barriers for underserved and rural communities in accessing care and treatment, and promoting health equity in chronic disease prevention, early detection/intervention, treatment and survivorship for vulnerable and diverse populations. She is currently a member of the AOSW Policy and Advocacy Committee. The knowledge and skills she has gained as an AHEC Scholar will certainly inform her work going forward.
WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA AHEC 2021 SCHOLAR OF THE YEAR
Keema Boland, MSN, FNP-C
University of Alabama Capstone College of Nursing
“The AHEC Scholars program has been such a wonderful learning experience. As a healthcare provider, many significant health care issues were highlighted in the modules and discussions. The program has positively impacted the way I communicate and provide patient care. During this program, I was allowed the opportunity to volunteer and be a student in rural clinics. I am so grateful for those opportunities as I was able to learn so much and today I am now able to use all that I’ve learned as a family nurse practitioner. The program coordinator, Ms. Collier was always so responsive and willing to help in any situation. Overall it was an awesome experience and I’d highly recommend the AHEC Scholars Program to anyone who wants to work in health care.”
-Keema-