Institute for the Advancement of Community Health at Furman University

Caroline Rowe recently joined the IACH team as a project coordinator! She earned her bachelor's degree in data analytics and computer information systems from Florida Gulf Coast University. Caroline is supporting the creation and implementation of a new Community Health Certificate program, thanks to a grant from the South Carolina Center for Rural & Primary Healthcare. She also supports the IACH Education team in programming and other tasks. Prior to joining Furman, she coordinated and executed leadership development programs for individuals and organizations across numerous industries. When she’s not at home or at work, you will probably find her indoor bouldering at BlocHaven or spending time on the Swamp Rabbit Trail. She also enjoys experimenting with flavors in the kitchen, especially with plant-based meals.  Welcome, Caroline!

🗓️ Mark Your Calendar! 🗓️  Join us on Tuesday, November 12th for Building Social Emotional Wellness: A Community Health Conversation. This is the first session in our new series, where each conversation will tackle important topics impacting our community. In this conversation we’ll explore social emotional wellness, its significance, and strategies for fostering it. 📍 Location: Crescent Innovation District, 25 Goldsmith Street  🕔 Networking Social: 5 PM  🕕 Panel Discussion: 6 PM  🔗 Register: https://lnkd.in/eMhz4nen Health and well-being in our community begins with our youngest members. The foundations of social emotional wellness are built in childhood, influencing both the child and those around them. Ensuring safe environments for children leads to a thriving society. This is why it’s essential for us to come together as a community to establish the support systems our children need. Here are 8 Things to Remember About Childhood Development from the Harvard Center for the Developing Child: https://lnkd.in/gZpTQYX We are excited to feature an exceptional panel of experts promoting the building blocks of social emotional wellness, including:  Blakely Amati (Bradshaw Institute for Community Child Health and Advocacy) Grace Binion (Furman University Psychology and Neuroscience) Callee Boulware (Reach Out and Read) Meredith Burton (Furman University Child Development Center) Derek Lewis, CFRE  (Greenville First Steps) We can't wait to see you there and engage in meaningful discussions that drive positive change! For more information and to register, please click here: https://lnkd.in/eHAspE76 #CommunityHealthConversations #IACH #SocialEmotionalWellness  

We're excited about the launch of a new postdoctoral fellowship in collaboration with Clemson University and LiveWell Greenville aimed at developing scholars and practitioners with expertise in community-based participatory research (CBPR) to reduce health disparities and improve community health outcomes. Apply today for our new role as Training Coordinator for the Postdoctoral Fellowship Program: https://lnkd.in/ghAasGnh.

IACH hosted an insightful Cultural Life Program (CLP) event for Furman students yesterday, "The Social Drivers of Health," moderated by Executive Director Dr. Kerry Sease. We were privileged to hear from an exceptional panel of community leaders, including Dr. Edward Anderson of OnTrack Greenville, Rut E. Rivera of LiveWell Greenville, Kirby Mitchell '90 of the Upstate Medical Legal Partnership, and Dr. Sarah Hinton of Prisma Health. They explored how the environments where we live, learn, work, play, worship and age impact health outcomes. 🌟 Key Takeaways:  ·  Social drivers of health account for 50% of health outcomes, addressing these upstream allows for better downstream outcomes.  ·  Effective collaboration across sectors is essential to address these issues from every angle.  ·  Everyone has a role to play in enhancing health outcomes in our community.  📣 Call to Action:  ·  Stay curious and engage with diverse perspectives.  ·  Leverage your sphere of influence to effect change.  ·  Understand that progress is a journey; take meaningful small steps. To learn more about the social drivers of health (formerly known as social determinants of health): https://lnkd.in/evZ_2UXA A heartfelt thank you to our outstanding panelists and all who joined us for this important discussion! #furman #furmanuniversity #furmanalumni #communityhealth #cdc #sc #healthyliving #healthoutcomes #community #greenvillesc

We’re thrilled to share that Master of Science in Community Engaged Medicine Program at Furman University alumna Nicole Smolens and our very own Dr. Kerry Sease have been published in JPHMP Direct!  This study evaluated a pediatric food navigation program using the RE-AIM framework. The pilot program addresses barriers to food assistance program access and enrollment for populations that experience health disparities. Navigator support, social drivers of health (SDOH) screening and community-based services provide a dynamic resolution to food insecurity. 📖 Read the article here: https://lnkd.in/epYtAKN8   Food insecurity is one of many social drivers of health, and this research underscores the critical role these factors play in health outcomes. If you'd like to learn more about the social drivers of health, join us for a panel discussion tomorrow at 6:30 p.m. (Oct. 17) at Furman's Burgiss Theater. This event is free and open to the community. We hope to see you there!

Last week, IACH Executive Director Dr. Kerry Sease had the privilege of joining an incredible panel of healthcare professionals, including Dr. Kacey Eichelberger, Dr. Asa Briggs and Dr. Michael Seemuller, to discuss the critical issue of racial disparities in health outcomes in our community. The panel explored root causes and strategies to address these inequities to ensure every individual has a fair opportunity to achieve their best health. 🌟 Key Takeaways: The importance of addressing social determinants of health 🌍 Collaborating across sectors for meaningful change 🤝 Community-driven solutions to close the gap 💡 A huge thank you to the Urban League of the Upstate and Ten at the Top for hosting this important dialogue! IACH is grateful to contribute to this important conversation and for all the incredible work happening in our community. #HealthEquity #CommunityHealth

We’re excited to announce our 2024-2025 Student Community Health Champions! Our Champions are part of a student leadership organization that promotes IACH’s mission and values on the Furman University campus and in the community. Welcome to Roger Abim-Karmon, Talbot Arnold, Scottie Bing, Ethan Carroll, Ava Cresto, George Crumpler, Myles Gilead, Martha Paige Greene, Will Henderson, Rachel Housworth, Will Hutson, Cait McGuiness, Chioma Obidigbo, Rathna Reddy, Catherine Sikes, Abbey Vincent and Jennifer Woollery. We're looking forward to working with all of you! #furman #furmanuniversity #communityhealth #studentleaders

Open House Celebration at Hipp Hall!   We had a great time yesterday afternoon welcoming community partners, faculty, and campus staff to tour our new office space at Furman University's Hipp Hall. With more than 70 attendees, it was wonderful to connect, share ideas, and envision exciting future collaborations. Thank you to all who came out to celebrate with us. A special thank you to our incredible Community Health Champions who greeted our guests and helped make the event a huge success! 

Come join our amazing team at IACH! We’re looking for a Grants and Special Projects Manager and a Senior Research Associate. Learn more and apply here! https://lnkd.in/gYvt9n9f

The IACH team was proud to participate in this week’s 2024 Maximizing Our Future Upstate Summit, hosted by Ten at the Top at the Greenville Convention Center. The mission of Ten at the Top is to encourage collaboration and partnerships on issues that impact economic vitality and quality of life in the Upstate. This year’s event included sessions themed around "Maximizing Workforce & Entrepreneur Opportunities" and "Maximizing Sustainability Amid Continued Growth." Pictured are IACH Director of Operations Denise Wiklacz and Marketing and Communications Coordinator Erikah Haavie. #tattsummit #furman #furmanalumni #communityhealth #growth #sc #communityengagement #upstatesc #greenvillesc #leadership