CityView Magazine

health Healthy Teachers New teachers and new doctors create unique partnership T BY Karen Mantzouris he Southern Regional AHEC Family Medicine Residency Program, located at 1601 Owen Drive, honors education personnel because their influence is the promise that we will continue our mission to be a leader in health care education and services. We are proud to be partners in education and good health with the Cumberland County Schools. Each year, Cumberland County Schools hires approximately 300 teachers who must have a physical exam and a TB skin test to meet their employment requirements. This is often difficult, because these new teachers are not yet covered by the school system's health insurance. Also, because many are new to the area, they don't know who to call. To help these local educators get ready for the new school year, The Family Medicine Center at Southern Regional AHEC provides physicals for new Cumberland County School teachers at no cost on two set evenings during the summer, and is scheduled do so again August 19 and 20. This unique partnership between the Cumberland County Schools and The Family Medicine Center at Southern Regional AHEC has been a perfect union for both the new teachers and the new physicians who come to Fayetteville each year to launch their careers in education and medicine. The partnership began in 2004 as part of the school system's G.I.F.T. Program, allowing local businesses to offer incentives that welcome new teachers to the community. Tina Chapman, Beginning Teacher Support Coordinator for the Cumberland County Schools, believes this type of incentive has a positive impact on the new teacher's experience of Fayetteville as a welcoming community. "What a great way to show new teachers how the community cares about their well-being and that we are glad they are here," Chapman said of the school system's partnership with SR-AHEC. "Many new teachers are relocating to the area and are recent college graduates; most live on a very tight budget and moving is expensive. This also gives them access to a health care provider during the year in the event they need medical attention." As a training facility for doctors to earn board certificaCityViewNC.com | 33

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