Institute for the Advancement of Community Health - Furman University

🎙️ 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

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.

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

Experiential learning has the power to transform classroom knowledge into real-world impact.

In this episode, Health Careers Internship Coordinator Rebecca Haffen sits down with graduating Public Health major and Community Health Champion Will Hutson to discuss his journey in community health. From gaining hands-on experience at a physical therapy clinic to serving as an IACH Summer Fellow at Sustaining Way, Will reflects on the experiences that shaped his academic and professional path.

He shares how he connected lessons from his public health courses to community-based work, what he learned from working directly with organizations serving the community, and advice for fellow Furman students looking to make the most of internships, fellowships, and other experiential learning opportunities.

At IACH, creating meaningful opportunities for students to learn, serve, and grow is at the heart of our mission, and Will's story is a great example of the impact these experiences can have.

🎧 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

Today is DINS Day. 🎉 Ten years ago, a bold idea took root at Furman. Today, you can support our team and invest in what comes next. Gifts are still being matched through the end of the day. $100 in honor of ten years. $250 as a gift toward the next decade. Any amount moves this forward. A Decade of Community. A Future of Health. 💜 Give here: https://www.givecampus.com/campaigns/76906/donations/new?designation=1174000&a=12891513

Tomorrow is DINS Day. 💜 Ten years ago, a bold idea took root. Tomorrow, support the next 10 years of IACH. A $100 gift becomes $200. A $250 gift becomes $500. Every dollar matched through midnight tomorrow. 10 seconds to give. A future of health. A Decade of Community. A Future of Health. 💜 Give here: https://www.givecampus.com/campaigns/76906/donations/new?designation=1174000&a=12891513

Alyssa Iacobacci, a Senior Psychology Major interned at the Center for Integrative Oncology and Survivorship this past summer. When reflecting on her experience she says “I have learned a lot about working in a healthcare professional setting, which will be very useful as I move forward as a healthcare professional. More specifically, I have learned about provider-patient interactions, provider-provider interactions, and the behind the scenes of a healthcare setting. This exposure will be useful to me going into PA school.” This is who your gift supports. 💜 DINS Day — April 28. Give here: https://www.givecampus.com/campaigns/76906/donations/new?designation=1174000&a=12891513
A Decade of Community. A Future of Health.

🎙️ New Podcast Episode: Exploring Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR)

Even the most well-intentioned research can fall short when it excludes the communities it aims to serve.

In the latest episode of The Community Health Exchange, Megan Richmond, Postdoctoral Training Coordinator at the Institute for the Advancement of Community Health (IACH), is joined by postdoctoral fellows Kinsey Meggett and Abass Babatunde to explore what Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) really means in practice.

This conversation highlights how CBPR centers collaboration and shared decision-making, ensuring communities are involved at every stage of the research process—and that the partnership continues beyond the work itself.

They also discuss how this approach:
• Brings findings back to the community
• Creates opportunities for co-learning
• Strengthens the quality and relevance of research

🎧 Listen here:
Apple:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/4-cbpr-partners-in-practice-postdoc-perspectives/id1884391046?i=1000763416695
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/episode/4r0uEsy55ySXCqII9frXCa?si=eaRtVMgtSYq82Etm1JrBbg

Last week our 2025 IACH Summer Fellows had the chance to talk about their internship experiences. One of them, Will Hutson, worked at Sustaining Way and had a lasting influence on the organization.

“Will's use of his skill set to support Sustaining Way's NCHI Survey exceeded my expectations for his time with us. His ability to adapt to change, lead with curiosity, and ask essential questions contributed to his exceptional work. His interest in data and analysis translated into a passionate project that will have immediate, tangible differences in our programming in the coming years.” - Jenna Seigworth, Community Health VISTA, Sustaining Way

This is why IACH co-creates with community, not for community. 💜 DINS Day is April 28. Support this work. Every gift matched up to $10k. Donate here: https://www.givecampus.com/campaigns/76906/donations/new?designation=1174000&a=12891513
A Decade of Community. A Future of Health.

One week from today is DINS Day. 🎉 Every student who showed up to an internship. Every partner who trusted us to support their work. This is what your gift sustains — whether that's $100 in honor of ten years or $250 as a leadership gift toward the next decade. We are halfway to our $10,000 matching fund, give before April 28 while your gift is still being matched!
A Decade of Community. A Future of Health. 💜 Give here: https://www.givecampus.com/campaigns/76906/donations/new?designation=1174000&a=12891513

What can 10 people do? A lot. 💜 🎯 10 alumni at $250 = $2,500 — matched to $5,000 🎓 10 students at $10 = a generation of giving launched 💚 10 sustainers at $25/month = $3,000 in recurring impact every year Every group of 10 moves this forward in a different way.
Give for DINS Day: https://www.givecampus.com/campaigns/76906/donations/new?designation=1174000&a=12891513 .
Match runs through April 28. A Decade of Community. A Future of Health. 💜