New director of Virginia AHEC program named

By Joe Kuttenkuler

Woody Hanes has been named program director for the statewide office of the Area Health Education Centers program, based at Virginia Commonwealth University.

AHEC is a national program designed to promote careers in health-related fields, as well as improve access to primary care in medically under-served communities through academic and community partnerships. Virginia’s AHEC network serves all of the state’s counties and is the liaison between the state’s three medical schools and rural community hospitals, public school systems, health departments and private practitioners. AHEC staff coordinate health professions recruitment and health education and training based on a particular county’s medical needs.

Hanes, who began her position at the end of January, replaced Jeffrey Johnson. Prior to coming to Richmond, Hanes served for seven years as director of the Southside Virginia AHEC – one of eight centers across the state. She says her experience working with community organizations to determine their health-care needs is invaluable in her new role.

"I see myself now as a conduit – a bridge between academic medicine and the health needs of rural communities," Hanes said. "I hope to build on the strong relationships that already exist between our organization and the community."

AHEC also supports the health-care professionals already working in rural communities by providing continuing medical education and technical assistance. Hanes said that assisting the medical personnel working in remote parts of the state is critical to the success of AHEC’s mission.

"I hope to enhance the way we work with the health professionals who are practicing in small towns all over Virginia. Recruiting new doctors and nurses in those areas is important, but we have to take care of them once they are there," Hanes said.

Before joining AHEC, Hanes directed the Southside School of Practical Nursing in Farmville, Va., from 1980-92. She received her undergraduate and graduate degrees in nursing from VCU in 1979 and the University of Virginia in 1998, respectively.

Established in 1991, the Virginia AHEC program is a joint effort among the state’s three medical schools – VCU, UVA and Eastern Virginia Medical School. The Virginia Department of Health and the Virginia Primary Care Association also support AHEC’s work throughout the state. As the statewide headquarters, the AHEC office at VCU disperses federal and some state funding to each regional office in Virginia.