Michigan AHEC Scholars Program Recruits Record Number of Students and Adds New IPE Faculty Champions

Top row: Dr. Markova and Dr. Benkert. Bottom row: Dr. Tsilimingras, Dr. Binienda, Dr. Saad and Dr. Wiers

The Michigan AHEC Scholars Program recently launched its third cohort with a record number of students since the program was launched in 2019. A total of 80 health professions students from across the state of Michigan will take part in AHEC Scholars this year. AHEC Scholars is a program that is designed for health professions students from diverse backgrounds who are interested in supplementing their education by gaining additional knowledge and experience in rural or urban underserved communities.

The Michigan AHEC Scholars Program is also pleased to announce the addition of two new IPE faculty champions: Associate Clinical Professor of Pharmacy Practice Aline Saad, PharmD, from Wayne State University's Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and Assistant Professor (Clinical) Susan Wiers, DNP, FNP-BC from Wayne State University's College of Nursing.

Dr. Saad and Dr. Wiers will join Dr. Tsilimingras, Associate Professor in the WSU School of Medicine and Director of Patient Safety in the Department of Family Medicine and Public Health Sciences, as the IPE Faculty Champion team who will help lead the program and shape its future curriculum. Michigan AHEC is grateful to Dr. Gibson-Scipio, Associate Professor (Clinical) PhD, FNP-BC, FAANP, ATSF, who recently stepped down from her position as IPE Faculty Champion in order to pursue her research and teaching interests in the WSU College of Nursing.

Dr. Juliann Binienda, PhD, Professor of Family Medicine and Public Health Sciences in the WSU School of Medicine, served as the original instructor for the AHEC Scholars Program and designed its curriculum. Dr. Binienda will continue her role with Michigan AHEC as a Program Evaluator.

"We are excited to welcome two new distinguished faculty members to the Michigan AHEC Scholars leadership," said Dr. Tsveti Markova, Co-Principal Investigator of Michigan AHEC and Professor in the Department of Family Medicine and Public Health Sciences Wayne State University School of Medicine. "Dr. Saad and Dr. Wiers bring a wealth of experience to our program and our scholars will benefit from their expertise."

"Michigan AHEC owes a debt of gratitude to Dr. Gibson-Scipio who helped shape and improve AHEC Scholars," said Dr. Ramona Benkert, Co-Principal Investigator of Michigan AHEC and Interim Dean, Wayne State University College of Nursing. "We have a truly interprofessional focus to our program and the diverse background of our faculty reflect that commitment."

AHEC Scholars includes students from across Michigan who are studying in the areas of medicine, pharmacy, dental, nursing, physician assistant, public health and social work. For more information, visit https://miahec.wayne.edu/healthcareers.