Institute for the Advancement of Community Health - Furman University

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The IACH connects the Furman campus and the greater community to advance education and research devo

09/23/2026

📌Join us on Tuesday for the next event in our Community Health Conversations series! We'll explore the power of belonging with a dynamic panel of community and academic leaders:
🟣 Dr. Peter Gyarmati, University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville
🟣 Nancy Kennedy, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Furman University
🟣 Rut Rivera, LiveWell Greenville
🟣 Dr. Yajing Song, University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville

Moderated by Dr. Kerry Sease from the Institute for the Advancement of Community Health.

Come join the conversation, connect with others, and explore how social connections shape health in our community.

📍 Crescent Innovation District ( 25 Goldsmith St. Greenville)
🕠 5:30–6:30 p.m. (Networking reception from 5:00–6:00 p.m.)

This event is free and open to the public. Light refreshments provided.

08/18/2026

🎙️ New episode of The Community Health Exchange is available now!

What does it really take to create lasting change in community health?

In this episode, IACH Director of Community Action, Melissa Fair talks with Monty Robertson, Executive Director of the Alliance for a Healthier South Carolina, about the opportunities and challenges of building cross-sector partnerships to improve health.

Drawing on their own journeys from clinical care into public health leadership, Melissa and Monty discuss why health outcomes are shaped by factors like housing, transportation, and economic stability, and why improving those outcomes requires collaboration well beyond the traditional healthcare sector.

Monty also shares an inside look at the Alliance’s work on South Carolina’s State Health Improvement Plan and its Collective Impact in Action initiative, along with lessons learned about building trust, navigating different organizational priorities, and keeping communities at the center of the work.

As Monty puts it, this work is “a marathon, not a sprint.”

🎧 Listen to the full conversation here:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0FP39xJEJAZH5vbRB6TRLM
Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-marathon-not-a-sprint-advancing-health/id1884391046?i=1000783361334

07/29/2026

ACH Summer Fellow Spotlight: Bella Faulkenberry
Senior | Health Sciences | Medical Legal Partnership
This summer, Bella is interning with the Medical Legal Partnership, where she is learning how civil health-harming legal needs and the social drivers of health impact patient outcomes and overall well-being. She is working alongside an interdisciplinary team of physicians, lawyers, paralegals, social workers, and research partners to better understand how legal advocacy can serve as a medical remedy for patients. She has also had the chance to work with Landon Sutton, current UMLP Post-Baccalaureate Fellow and former MLP IACH Summer Fellow. Through team meetings, case workflow, and collaboration with professionals across disciplines, Bella has gained valuable insight into integrated, patient-centered care. She has especially enjoyed being surrounded by colleagues who are deeply committed to serving South Carolinians and supporting those in need. This experience has strengthened her understanding of the connection between social work, legal advocacy, and health while reinforcing her passion for pursuing a career in social work.

07/23/2026

🎙️ New episode of The Community Health Exchange is now available!

What shapes our health beyond the doctor's office?

In this episode, IACH Director of Education Loretta Crowley is joined by Carey Rothschild, Director of Community Health Policy and Strategy at Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System, and Dr. Lillie Hall, Community Engagement Director for the South Carolina Department of Public Health Upstate.

Together, they discuss the new Foundations in Community Health online courses and Digital Badge, funded by the South Carolina Center for Rural and Primary Healthcare.

As faculty for the course Social and Environmental Factors that Affect Health, Carey and Dr. Hall share why understanding the non-clinical drivers of health is critical to improving health outcomes and how these educational modules will help increase knowledge and build community capacity across South Carolina.

Whether you work in healthcare, public health, education, or community organizations, this episode offers valuable insights into the importance of community-informed education.

🎧 Visit our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/IACHFurman
• Listen to the latest podcast episode
• Read more about the Foundations in Community Health modules and meet the course instructors on our blog
• Sign up for the FREE online courses and earn your Digital Badge

07/15/2026

IACH Summer Fellow Spotlight: Victoria Keefer
Senior | Health Sciences | Roger C. Peace Adaptive Sports and Wellness Center
This summer, Victoria is supporting neurorehabilitation services by assisting physical, occupational, recreational, and speech therapists in a clinic serving patients with Parkinson’s disease, stroke, spinal cord injuries, and orthopedic conditions. She is also helping support adaptive sports programs that promote functional independence while contributing to a clean, organized, and patient-centered clinical environment. She is enjoying the relationships she has built with both the therapists and patients and appreciates being part of such a supportive community. Through this experience, she has learned so much about neurorehabilitation and the impact of collaborative, patient-centered care.

07/01/2026

IACH Summer Fellow Spotlight: Lauryn Keels
Senior | Public Health & Spanish | Upstate American Heart Association
This summer Lauryn is supporting community health initiatives focused on improving nutrition security, blood pressure monitoring, and the development of cardiac response plans by engaging with community partners and the work that is already being done. She is also working on researching community organizations in the Upstate and compiling data and success stories for reports and outreach materials. She is enjoying visiting different communities and organizations in the Upstate and learning about what they do!

06/26/2026

Yesterday, IACH was proud to participate in AMPLIFY's discussion, "Partnerships and Pitfalls: Community-Based Participatory Research," where leaders from healthcare, education, public health, and community organizations explored what it truly takes to build meaningful community partnerships.

Our Executive Director, Dr. Kerry Sease, joined Sally Wills (LiveWell Greenville), Edward Anderson (Responsive Ed LLC), and Dr. Julie Linton (Prisma Health) for an engaging conversation moderated by Sarah Griffin of Clemson University.

The discussion highlighted that:
✨ Strong leadership creates the foundation for successful partnerships.
✨ Relationships require continuous care, communication, and trust.
✨ The greatest impact comes when communities and organizations work together toward a shared vision.

At IACH, we believe that community-engaged research is strongest when community members are true partners in the process. Thank you to everyone who joined the conversation!

06/23/2026

🌟 New Online Learning Opportunity! 🌟

Want to learn more about the factors that shape health in our communities?

The Institute for the Advancement of Community Health is launching Foundations of Community Health, a free online learning series designed for healthcare professionals, students, community leaders, and anyone interested in improving community health.

💻 100% online
⏰ Self-paced
💲 No cost to learners
📚 Five one-hour courses

Explore topics like:
🏡 Social and Environmental Factors that Affect Health
🌾 Rural Health Dynamics and Strategies
🏥 Health Policy and Financing
⛪ Faith, Spirituality, and Community Health
🤝 Community-Driven Research

Participants can earn CEUs for individual courses, and those who complete all five modules may earn CME credit and a digital Credly badge.

Together, we're building a stronger foundation for healthier communities across South Carolina.

🔗 Read more here and register today: https://www.furman.edu/institute-advancement-community-health/2026/06/12/building-a-stronger-foundation-for-community-health-across-south-carolina/

06/09/2026

🎙️ New episode of The Community Health Exchange

“If it’s not equal for one of us, it’s not equal for any of us.”

That belief has guided Ma'ta Crawford throughout her career as a Certified Community Health Worker and community advocate.

In this episode, IACH Researcher Jody Teel talks with Ma'ta about her work on the HEAL (Health Equity Action Leadership) Board, a community-led advisory board supported by LiveWell Greenville and the Institute for the Advancement of Community Health. Together, they discuss the importance of building trust, elevating community voices, and creating meaningful change through relationships and collaboration.

Ma'ta reflects on:
• Why the HEAL Board feels like family
• What keeps her motivated to continue this work
• Her favorite memories working alongside community leaders and residents
• The importance of learning from lived experience

Her insights offer a powerful perspective on what it takes to advance health equity and strengthen communities.

🎧 Listen to the episode here:
Apple podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-community-health-exchange/id1884391046

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1vcK0EbE78ad9PbslvyuEW

06/05/2026

What can an emergency department teach us about the health of an entire community?

Through the Emergency Department as Microcosm MayX course, students explored how social, economic, and systemic factors influence patient care. Students gained a deeper understanding of the intersection between emergency medicine and public health from classroom discussions and firsthand observation experiences.

Thank you to Dr. Page Bridges and Dr. Meghan Slining and everyone else involved who made this meaningful learning experience possible.

Address

3300 Poinsett Highway
Greenville, SC
29613

Website

https://www.furman.edu/centers-and-institutes/institute-advancement-community-health/

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