Connecting Students to Careers, Professionals to Communities, and Communities to Better Health!
Medical Providers, You Won't Want to Miss This!

The Idaho Oral Health Alliance, in collaboration with SW ID AHEC, will deliver "Healthy Me is Cavity-Free" education to family physicians, pediatricians, obstetricians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, and medical assistants. The 8-part series, titled Putting the Mouth Back in the Body: How Oral Health Affects Whole Patient Care, is designed for medical professionals who desire to learn more about the symbiotic relationship between oral health and whole health; screening/assessment and prevention; comorbidities and systemic associations; interventions through the lifespan, and oral health integration into primary care settings. Register for session one now: Why Oral Health is Important to the Medical Team, presented by Dr. Patricia Braun, and earn 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 credit™ PER SESSION.
Greetings from SW ID Medical Education (SWIDME)!

As many of you know, SW ID AHEC was approved as an accrediting body by the Utah Medical Association on 12/1/21 as the result of the absorption of the former Ada/Canyon Medical Education Consortium (ACMEC). This accreditation and absorption created a new program for us that will be known as SW ID Medical Education (SWIDME). You may now find upcoming SWIDME offerings included in our monthly release of Frontier Footnotes.

We have exciting news! The new SWIDME CloudCME portal is live! Click here to check it out now. Returning Medical Providers may log in as you did the previous ACMEC site. New to CloudCME? No problem, create an account to get started! CloudCME will be the go-to place for all things SWIDME. Log in to view your credits, and previous classes, and register for upcoming opportunities including Putting the Mouth Back in the Body! Interesting in joint providership opportunities? All joint providership applications may be submitted through CloudCME.

Have questions? Please don't hesitate to reach out. We look forward to bringing your unique and meaningful continuing education opportunities!
Idaho State University
News & Updates
Institute of Rural Health at Idaho State University awarded $860,000 to provide health education and health screenings for Idahoans

The Institute of Rural Health hosted by Idaho State University’s Kasiska Division of Health Sciences has received $860,000 from AmeriCorps for its Idaho HealthCorps AmeriCorps program.

The grant will expand the Institute's presence throughout Idaho, where it has provided services to improve the health of communities through research, education, and service since 1989. AmeriCorps is the federal agency for national service and volunteerism. Read More.
Dr. Gabriel Bargen selected as Executive Director for Meridian Health Science Center

After an extensive national search, the Kasiska Division of Health Sciences welcomes Dr. Gabriel Anne (Gabe) Bargen as the Executive Director of the Meridian Health Sciences Center.
 
Dr. Bargen has worked at ISU for 12 years as an associate professor in Audiology and as the director for the Rehabilitation & Communication Sciences PhD program. More recently, she provided transitional leadership as the interim executive director at ISU-Meridian. Read More.
Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine News & Updates
ICOM Students Return from Medical Brigade in Guatemala

A group of medical students from the Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine (ICOM) recently returned from a medical brigade in Guatemala, where the future physicians ran a free clinic over the course of a week. 

Organized by Global Brigades, an international non-profit organization and the largest student-led movement for global health, 16 ICOM students had the opportunity to provide free medical care and hygiene education in a rural Mayan community. Dental and pharmaceutical services were also offered at the clinic by other volunteers. Read More.
ICOM Announces Interim Dean, National Search Underway for New Dean/CAO

The Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine (ICOM) has named Dr. Kevin Wilson as Interim Dean, beginning July 23, 2022, following the announcement of the departure of its current Dean and Chief Academic Officer, Dr. Thomas J. Mohr.

“Dr. Wilson is well known and highly respected across our many stakeholder communities and I deeply appreciate his willingness to accept this important appointment,” said Dr. Tracy J. Farnsworth, President of ICOM.

For the past five years, Kevin Wilson, DO, FACOI, FACP, has served as Associate Dean of Clinical Affairs for ICOM, playing an integral role in securing the College’s 50+ clinical affiliation sites. Read More.
Boise State University News & Updates
The Department of Public Health and Population Science Gets New Name

The Department of Public Health and Population Science will now operate as the School of Public and Population Health within the College of Health Sciences. 

The shift and new name signify the school’s goal of making a broader impact on its students, partners and the community, with the aim to “strengthen and improve the health of all Idahoans and the communities where they live, work and play through excellence in teaching, scholarship and service.” Read More.
Nursing Faculty Fill YMCA Volunteer Need

Perhaps nurses aren’t the first thing to come to mind when thinking about summer camp, but they are a crucial part of Y Camp for kids in the Treasure Valley. Every year, the YMCA finds two nurses to work each week of their eight-week camp term at Horsethief Reservoir.

When School of Nursing Associate Professor Max Veltman first heard about the gig in 2008, he was quick to fill one of the 16 slots. He’s been working with the camp ever since and has recruited many other faculty along the way. Read More.
Nursing Students Serve Campus, Gain Real-World Experience

The pandemic has made it hard for Boise State nursing students to get the patient care experience and clinical hours they need for licensure. The local hospitals and health systems that normally welcome students have faced their own challenges from COVID-19, including high patient counts and reduced staff.

Stacey Hanrahan, a School of Nursing clinical assistant professor and nurse practitioner in University Health Services, got creative and found alternative clinical opportunities for students on campus. Since February 2022, students – under supervision from their instructors and others – have served patients at University Health Services.

Students seized the opportunity, said Julia Beard, University Health Services executive director. Read More.
Rural Health Care Access and Physician Incentive Program Grant Guidance and Applications Now Available

Rural Health Care Access Program (RHCAP) seeks to improve access to primary medical and dental care by strengthening healthcare systems, removing barriers, and developing partnerships to better serve communities. Eligible applicants include non-profit and government entities. The area to be benefitted must be located in a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) or a Medically Underserved Area (MUA). Applicants may request a maximum of $35,000 for one-year.

Grant categories include:
  • Community development
  • Telehealth projects
  • Other (such as recruitment and retention activities)

Rural Physician Incentive Program (RPIP) offers an opportunity for loan repayment for rural physicians providing primary care in a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA). Successful applicants may receive a maximum of $25,000 per year for four years ($100,000 total).

The physician must:
  • Accept Medicare and Medicaid patients within the capacity of the practice
  • Be Idaho medical board certified/board eligible
  • Be eligible for an unrestricted Idaho medical license

Applications Due: August 30, 2022, 5:00 p.m. Mountain Time

For more information:
Phone: Amy Hirtle (208) 332-7944

Grant guidance and applications are now available here.
HRSA Launches National Maternal Mental Health Hotline

HRSA launched the National Maternal Mental
Health Hotline on Mother's Day, May 8, 2022. Available 24/7, the hotline provides free, confidential support, resources, and referrals for pregnant and postpartum individuals facing mental health challenges.

Counselors offer support in English and Spanish and interpreter services are available in 60 additional languages. For help, call or text the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline 1-833-9-HELP4MOMS (1.833-943-5746).
ECHO Idaho Announces July Lunch Hour Series Schedule

Scheduled weekly over lunch breaks, ECHO Idaho provides virtual, hour-long sessions with a panel of subject matter experts to deliver a brief, high-yield presentation on a topic of interest, specific to Idaho healthcare practitioners. Each session includes a real-life case presentation from an ECHO Idaho participant.
 
ECHO Idaho is always free and participants can earn CE/CME/CEUs for attending.
 
Please visit ECHO Idaho online to view the series and topics on deck for July 2022. If you know of anyone in your network interested in attending one of our sessions, please have them register on the website.

Note that the COVID-19 series is taking a break for the summer. ECHO Idaho has made 4 session recordings from this series available for CE credit. Instructions for how to claim CE/CME/CEUs for reviewing these session videos are available here.
Free Webinar "Brotes y Epidemias: Terminology on Recent Outbreaks for Spanish Medical Interpreters"

The Division of Public Health, Idaho Department of Health and Welfare is sponsoring a free webinar, “Brotes y epidemias: terminology on recent outbreaks for Spanish Medical Interpreters” facilitated by MD Translation on July 11, 2022, 12:00-1:00 Mountain Time. 

Pre-registration is required and space is limited, register now here.

Funding for this webinar is made possible by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Idaho Initiative to Address COVID-19 Health Disparities, OT21-2103.
Idaho Oral Health Program Now Hiring for Program Manager

We are currently seeking a full-time Health Program Manager (de facto State Dental Director) for the Idaho Oral Health Program (IOHP). This position is located in the Division of Public Health in the Bureau of Community and Environmental Health in Boise, ID, and is eligible for telecommuting. This position is based out of the Central Office in downtown Boise, Idaho. Applicants may choose to work from the office in Boise or apply to telework from within Idaho. If telecommuting is requested and approved, travel to Boise will be required on occasion when needed to work in the office or attend in-person meetings and training.
The IOHP is a federally funded program that works with partners throughout the state to ensure all Idahoans are free from oral disease, enjoy optimal oral health, and have access to oral healthcare. Applicants should have strong oral and written communication skills, strong attention to detail, proven project and time management skills, experience as a manager, and strong public health evaluation experience. For more information and to apply please visit https://bit.ly/3OH5jBg.
This project is/was supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number U77HP03022, for the WWAMI Area Health Education (WWAMI AHEC) Program Office and its five regional Centers in the total amount of $840,630 for the 2020-2021 fiscal year (with a 1:1 total match of $840,630 from non-federally funded governmental sources). This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.