Awards and Recognition
RiteCare Center, communication disorders students receive financial awards from Scottish Rite Masons
Georgia Southern University’s RiteCare Center for Communication Disorders recently received a boost from the Scottish Rite Masons when the organization made an $11,500 donation to the center. The group also awarded two scholarships to graduate students in the Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSDS) program.
Madison Morgan and Jessica Grim each received a $1,000 scholarship based on their outstanding academic and clinical abilities to put toward their tuition expenses.
“Receiving this scholarship meant so much to me,” Morgan said. “The Scottish Rite Masons do so much for the Rite Care Center, so to receive a scholarship from them was such an honor. It also showed me that my hard work has paid off and it encouraged me to keep working hard throughout this program.”
Morgan, who is from Brooklet, Georgia, received her undergraduate degree in special education from Georgia Southern while Tybee Island resident Grim earned an undergraduate degree in communication sciences and disorders.
Grim was also grateful to be selected as a scholarship recipient.
“Receiving this scholarship from the Scottish Rite meant the world to me,” she said. “I was incredibly grateful to be nominated for the scholarship by our clinical coordinator at the RiteCare Center (RCC). I am genuinely thankful to the RCC and the Scottish Rite Savannah chapter for what they do for our campus clinic and the ability to get hands-on experience immediately during my first semester of graduate school.”
The RiteCare Center for Communication Disorders at Georgia Southern is the primary RiteCare facility in the Savannah area and is supported by an annual contribution from the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite Savannah Valley in keeping with the national philanthropic program of the Scottish Rite Masons to support speech and hearing clinics.
The support of the Scottish Rite allows the Center to offer speech therapy services to the Savannah community. Additionally, services offered by the RiteCare Center for Communication Disorders are provided by graduate students in the CSDS program who are supervised by experienced licensed and certified speech-language pathologists.
Samantha McDaniel receives Professional Achievement Award from GSHA
Samantha McDaniel, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Clinical Sciences in the Waters College of Health Professions, recently received the Professional Achievement Award by the Georgia Speech-Language-Hearing Association (GSHA).
“Earning the Professional Achievement Award from GSHA means a great deal, especially as a junior faculty member at Georgia Southern University,” stated McDaniel. “I have felt so welcomed and supported as I transitioned into the role of communication sciences and disorders graduate program director and continue my scholarship in acquired neurogenic communication disorders.”
The Professional Achievement Award award recognizes outstanding professional achievements by a speech-language pathologist or audiologist. To be nominated, individuals must have three or more years of experience in the profession and have demonstrated service to at least one of the following: assessment, management and professional contributions in the areas of speech, language and/or hearing disorders; service to local, state or national professional organizations; or innovative program design or therapeutic methods for individuals with speech, language or hearing disorders.
“The ultimate reward is seeing our students succeed in helping individuals with communication disorders from our Savannah community,” McDaniel said. “Knowing that I am making a difference in the students’ lives as well as the lives of those they touch is really motivating. I’m very lucky to have found a profession that I love and I hope the students feel the same for many years to come.”
McDaniel was nominated by her colleague, Tory Candea, SLPD, CCC-SLP, clinical coordinator of Georgia Southern University’s RiteCare Center for Communication Disorders.
Peach State Health Plan and the Centene Foundation Announce $2.2 Million Commitment to Georgia Southern University for Rural Healthcare Workforce Development Program
Peach State Health Plan (PSHP) a care management organization that serves the needs of Georgians through a range of health insurance solutions and a wholly owned subsidiary of Centene Corporation Centene Corporation (NYSE: CNC), announced a new partnership with Georgia Southern University (GS) to provide education and training for healthcare professionals needed in underserved areas of rural Georgia.
Centene Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Centene Corporation, and PSHP will invest $2.2 million to fund the expansion of a workforce development program designed to support rural healthcare through enhancement to GS’ existing nursing, physicians’ assistants and addiction recovery specialists programs.
“PSHP is committed to increasing access to high quality health professionals for all Georgians. We have a history of developing public-private partnerships that bridge the gaps in healthcare access and coverage throughout Georgia,” said Centene’s Chief Growth Officer and Plan President and Chief Executive Officer of PSHP, Wade Rakes. “GS has the experience and capacity to provide residents in rural and underserved areas of the state with the trained medical professionals that help keep Georgia healthy. With this funding, Georgians will soon see increased access to maternal, behavioral and chronic care professionals. We are excited for the potential of this partnership and believe that, together, we can have a meaningful impact in our rural communities.”
According to the Georgia Department of Community Health, 88% of Georgia counties qualify as Medically Underserved Areas (MUA) and 94% qualify as Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas (MHPSA). These communities disproportionately face barriers that include poverty, education, transportation and access to affordable, quality healthcare. In MUAs and MHPSAs, shortages of trained medical and mental health professionals prevent many Georgians from getting the care they need. Through this new public-private partnership, PSHP will work with GS’s Institute for Health Logistics & Analytics (IHLA) to support data-driven, targeted programs at the university to address these critical shortages and improve the health and well-being of the community.
“GS is delighted to partner with PSHP on a project aimed at enhancing our capacity to bring a greater number of high-quality healthcare professionals to the rural regions of Georgia,” stated Kyle Marrero, President of GS. “Rural Georgia is facing a significant shortage of nurses, mental health specialists, and addiction counselors. To address this critical need, it is imperative that we streamline the educational pathways for students pursuing these fields. This strategic partnership is poised to set us on a trajectory to make a meaningful impact on the healthcare landscape across rural Georgia.”
In the Waters College of Health Professions, GS will expand recruitment, enrollment, retention and graduation of Bachelors in Science Nursing (BSN) students, with a focus on students in rural Georgia. Funding will be used to develop and implement a Certified Nursing Assistant Program (CNA) that will serve as an early pipeline for the BSN program that will primarily focus on nursing student recruitment and retention.
In the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences, funding will be used to expand the addiction recovery program. This expanded program will allow GS to provide more staff and supervised post-graduate training opportunities in rural Georgia to increase the overall number of Certified Level II Addiction Counselors in Georgia.
“This new partnership with PSHP marks a significant step forward in the capabilities of Waters College of Health Professions to build a robust health care workforce in rural Georgia,” said Dean of the Waters College of Health Professions, Whitney Nash, Ph.D. “The imperative to deploy dedicated healthcare professionals in our underserved areas that specialize in nursing, counseling and abuse intervention cannot be overstated. This partnership will be a critical inflection point for growing the number of these health specialists.”
“As a student hoping to enter the healthcare workforce, I am thrilled to see Georgia Southern partnering with PSHP to create more and better opportunities to advance my education,” said Suzanna Forehand, a junior pre-med student at GS. “These expanded programs and student support networks will equip us with the skills, knowledge and support needed to finish school and make a positive impact in rural healthcare.”
About Georgia Southern University
Georgia Southern University, a public Carnegie Doctoral/R2 institution founded in 1906, offers approximately 140 different degree programs serving more than 25,500 students through 10 colleges on three campuses in Statesboro, Savannah, Hinesville and online instruction. A leader in higher education in southeast Georgia with expert faculty, the University is focused on public impact research and engaging learning opportunities through knowledge and know-how that prepare our students to take ownership of their lives, careers and communities. Visit GeorgiaSouthern.edu.
About Peach State Health Plan
Peach State Health Plan is a Care Management Organization that serves the needs of Georgians through a range of health insurance solutions. Peach State Health Plan serves the Medicaid and PeachCare for Kids® population in partnership with Georgia Families. The organization also focuses on under-insured and uninsured individuals through its federal insurance marketplace plan, Ambetter, and its Medicare Advantage Special Needs Plan. Peach State Health Plan is a wholly owned subsidiary of Centene Corporation, a leading healthcare enterprise committed to helping people live healthier lives. For more information visit www.pshpgeorgia.com.
WCHP Faculty Awards
Annually, the Waters College of Health Professions recognizes faculty for their contributions to Georgia Southern University, the college and the community. During the College’s convocation on August 7, 2023, seven faculty were recognized for their accomplishments. The following individuals were recognized:
- Gregg Rich, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Health Sciences and Kinesiology, was awarded the WCHP Senior Teaching Award
- Bridget Melton, Ed.D., professor in the Department of Health Sciences and Kinesiology, was awarded the WCHP Senior Service Award
- Greg Grosicki, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Health Sciences and Kinesiology, was awarded the WCHP Senior Scholarship Award
- Jacquelyn Mesenbrink, associate professor in the Department of Health Sciences and Kinesiology, was awarded the WCHP Junior Teaching Award
- Jacqueline Charlier, MPH, part-time faculty in the Department of Health Sciences and Kinesiology, was awarded the WCHP Part-time Teaching Award
- Christina Gipson, Ph.D., and Jessica Mutchler, Ph.D., associate professors in the Department of Health Sciences and Kinesiology, were awarded the Johnson/Bradley Award
School of Nursing Awarded $2.57 Million Grant
Marian Tabi, Ph.D., Tiffany Keshwah, DNP, and Alan Skipper, DNP, faculty in the School of Nursing at Georgia Southern University, are the recipients of the 2023-2027 U.S. Department of Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) grant valued at $2.57 million. The grant will provide funds to assist in enhancing and sustaining academic partnerships between Georgia Southern’s graduate nursing program and federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) partners. This partnership will allow for additional primary care services to be provided to rural and underserved populations in Southeast Georgia by increasing the nurse practitioner provider workforce.
At a time when nearly every county in Georgia is facing a shortage in primary care providers, having the resources to provide health care services to more Georgia patients would ease provider shortages.
“This grant is a big win for the School of Nursing and most importantly, our nurse practitioner students who are often challenged finding clinical sites and preceptors for clinical training,” stated Tabi.
“Additionally, many of our nurse practitioner students face financial challenges when pursuing advanced education to impact provider shortage areas particularly in rural and underserved communities. Through this funding, some of these challenges will be eliminated to allow nurse practitioner students to complete their clinical training, which is a huge part of their academic preparation and certification.”
Tabi, Keshwah and Skipper designed this grant to specifically enhance academic-practice
partnerships with FQHCs in Southeast Georgia to allow for an increase in the number of clinical preceptors available to accommodate the Georgia Southern matriculated family nurse practitioners, adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioners and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner students which will help to prepare them to work in rural and underserved settings.