The Cahaba Newsletter: August 2022
CAHABA MEDICAL CARE NEWS
〰️
CAHABA MEDICAL CARE NEWS 〰️
DR. LACY SMITH NAMED
TOP 40 UNDER 40
Cahaba Medical Care is honored to celebrate Dr. Lacy Smith, Chief Operating Officer & Chief Medical Officer for Cahaba Medical Care & Sr. Associate Residency Director Cahaba-UAB Family Medicine Residency, who has been recognized as one of Birmingham Business Journal’s Top 40 Under 40 for 2022.
Each year, the BBJ recognizes talented professionals aged 40 and younger who contribute to economic development, community advancement and the success of the institution for which they work.
As the co-founder of Cahaba Medical Care who was instrumental in taking the company from 11 employees in 2010 to over 500 in 2022, Dr. Smith's contribution to each category is undeniable.
Within a year of starting her practice in Centreville in 2011, Dr. Smith helped convert Cahaba Medical Care to 501c3 non-profit status and wrote (and won) a $650,000 competitive grant to transform Cahaba to a Federally-Qualified Health Clinic (FQHC) Community Health Center (CHC) in June 2012. Being the first alumnus of the Rural Training Track, Dr. Smith also helped to expand the program from two residents per year, to a full-fledged nationally accredited rural Family Medicine residency training program based in a Community Health Center - the first such program in the state, receiving ACGME accreditation in 2013.
Her accomplishments are without a doubt many; however, her purpose, passion for people, operational skill set and ability to execute a vision is worthy of a mention. Dr. Smith lives her passion and is an inspiration to all who know her. Without words, lessons are learned through her humble approach to fulfilling what God has called her to do. “We have worked really hard to put together a panel of services that the people we live next to need in order to be healthier, happier individuals,” says Smith. This hasn’t always happened with resounding yeses, or without disappointments or detours along the journey. These services and resources are available because she’s too stubborn to accept defeat, is willing to put in the work to create win-win situations, and is determined to play a defining role in fostering equity and equality in healthcare for all.
Thank you for your commitment to making a dent in the universe, Dr. Smith. We are blessed to learn and grow from your example, and we couldn’t be more proud of you!
CAHABA'S NURSE PRACTITIONER RESIDENCY RECEIVES NATIONAL ACCREDITATION
The Cahaba Nurse Practitioner Residency Program has been nationally accredited by the National Nurse Practitioner Residency and Fellowship Training Consortium, making it the first nurse practitioner residency in the State of Alabama to be recognized to this degree and one of the first 25 accredited programs in the Nation.
Accreditation substantiates a program's achievement and maintenance of the highest standards of rigor and quality, consistent with achieving the goal of an expert healthcare workforce prepared to meet the needs of patients and the society as a whole.
Cahaba Medical Care's Nurse Practitioner Residency Program started in 2018 with the purpose of training first year Nurse Practitioners to practice medicine in a complex primary care environment, more specifically in underserved patient populations.
Cahaba's NP Residency is hosted in partnership with the University of Alabama at Birmingham's (UAB) School of Nursing, and is supported by the Advanced Nursing Education Nurse Practitioner Residency (ANE-NPR) Program grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).
To learn more about our NP Residency Program, please visit www.cahabanpresidency.com.
FERIA HISPANA
Last month Cahaba Medical Care celebrated the return to school with Iglesia La Conexión and many of our community partners with the Hispanic community in Hoover, AL! Our team provided blood sugar and blood pressure checks to countless participants, even during the brief downpour of rain, and 100 children received new backpacks and school supplies for the upcoming school year.
We are beyond grateful to the many participants, donors, sponsors and volunteers for coming together in support of Cahaba's mission. Because of your generosity, we will impact the lives of many families in need throughout the communities we serve!
BACK TO SCHOOL @ BES & WBES
Staff members at Cahaba's Rural School-Based Health Centers enjoyed volunteering to help Brent Elementary and West Blocton Elementary with the morning rush of the first day of school on Tuesday, August 9th!
Our BES staff was honored to welcome students along side some of Bibb County's finest from the Brent Police Department. The kids were so amazed to see them and loved having the special escort to class! Thank you, Brent PD, for all you do for our community!
We are so excited to be back for our 4th year offering health care to the Bibb County School System, and we look forward to another great year!
FAIRFIELD BACK TO SCHOOL JAMBOREE
On Saturday , July 31st Fairfield District 5 held a Back to School Jamboree for residents of the City of Fairfield. At this event, families were able to receive school supplies, fresh fruit and vegetables, social service information, and much more. Cahaba Medical Care was able to donate clear book bags for this event. As always, we are grateful for the support from Mayor Penny, Superintendent Dr. Regina Thompson, and Council President Herman Carnes, Jr. What a great start to the 2022-2023 school year!
INAUGURAL WILCOX COUNTY COMMUNITY FUN DAY & BACK TO SCHOOL BASH
“I’m having so much fun, and now Mom is ready to go. I’m not ready to go!” sighed one of the many children present on Saturday, August 13th at the inaugural Wilcox County Community Fun Day & Back to School Bash sponsored by Cahaba Medical Care - Camden. The event, held at Camden Airport Park, was a huge success with over 100 people in attendance including staff and vendors.
We are incredibly grateful to the 28 local business owners who donated 52 door prizes, which were distributed every 15 minutes during the event. People gathered around in sheer excitement to see who would be the next door prize winner. Camden--you showed up and showed out!
Activities included health screenings from Cahaba Medical Care - Camden staff, face painting provided by Hanna Harris and her mother, HIV testing provided by Selma Air, bouncy house from River City Inflatables, snow cones from Soul Cool Shaved Ice from Tuscaloosa, tunes for all ages and genres supplied by DJ Capone, and some of the best Caribbean fusion deep-fried veggie, chicken and cheeseburger wraps from Wrap It Up Catering in Tuscaloosa. We also had corn hole, tug-of-war, and other fun activities for kids of all ages.
We are also grateful for our local community partners who participated at the event: Wilcox Area Chamber of Commerce, BAMA (Better Activities Make Around) Kids, Inc., C.H.O.I.C.E. (Choosing to Help Others in Our Community Excel) - Uniontown, and Selma Air. The support we received from our local businesses and community partners shows that Wilcox County is ready for change!
RESIDENCY NEWS
AAFP NATIONAL CONFERENCE
The AAFP National Conference is designed for Family Medicine residents and medical students to learn about Family Medicine, develop leadership and procedural skills, explore residency and fellowship opportunities, and connect with potential employers. There are a number of workshops, procedural courses, and mainstage sessions for attendees. This year was the first in-person national conference since 2019.
Cahaba-UAB Family Medicine Residency took 11 current residents, four faculty members and two administrative staff members to the conference this year, and we personally connected with around 65 medical students and residents. Dr. Jonathan Peters (Rural Track Director) and some of our current residents were given the opportunity to help lead a few ultrasound workshops for medical students, where they were able to give hands-on training while also connecting with students and inviting them to check out our booth to learn more about our program.
WELCOME FELLOWS
UAB SPECIAL TOPICS COURSE
Two of our faculty members, Dr. Jenny Kendall and Dr. Austin Klint, co-led a Special Topics course in wilderness medicine for UAB medical students. The students received hands-on training on how to handle medical emergencies in various outside environments.
RECENT PUBLICATIONS
Recent publications from our interns and their faculty advisors, through Family Physicians Inquiry Network (FPIN):
NRP / STABLE
Sherri Killiam recently led several of our residents and faculty in a STABLE (Sugar, Temperature, Airway, Blood pressure, Lab work, and Emotional support) and NRP (Neonatal Resuscitation Program) course.
We are a community-based non-profit healthcare organization that aims to follow Christ in becoming an incarnation of love, peace, and justice for our patients on their journey towards physical, mental, social, and spiritual well-being