About Us
Building and supporting the healthcare workforce South Carolina needs
Mission Statement
Lowcountry Area Health Education Center (AHEC) connects students and professionals with the tools, training and resources necessary to develop an effective healthcare workforce, with a focus on primary care for rural and underserved areas.
Connecting Students, Professionals & Communities
Lowcountry AHEC is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that serves the 12 southeastern counties of the state, and is one of four regional centers within the South Carolina AHEC System. Together with the rest of the AHEC System, our education, recruitment and retention programs serve as a bridge between academics and communities, connecting students to health careers, health professionals to communities and communities to better care.
Lowcountry AHEC is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that serves the 12 southeastern counties of the state, and is one of four regional centers within the South Carolina AHEC System. Together with the rest of the AHEC System, our education, recruitment and retention programs serve as a bridge between academics and communities, connecting students to health careers, health professionals to communities and communities to better care.
What is an AHEC?
Congress established the AHEC (Area Health Education Centers) program in 1971 to recruit, train, and retain a healthcare workforce dedicated to serving underserved communities. South Carolina AHEC was founded in 1972 as one of the first 11 AHEC programs in the nation. Today, the South Carolina AHEC system includes four regional AHECs and a central Program Office. Since 1977, Lowcountry AHEC has worked to connect students and healthcare professionals with the tools, training, and resources needed to strengthen the healthcare workforce, with a particular focus on primary care in rural and medically underserved areas. We collaborate closely with South Carolina’s institutions of higher education, healthcare providers, community partners, and other stakeholders to build and sustain the workforce needed to ensure every person has access to community-based, high-quality, patient-centered care. This is achieved through a broad range of programs that support every stage of the health professions pathway — from high school and college students exploring healthcare careers, to students in health professions training programs, to practicing professionals seeking continuing education and professional growth.
Since 1977, Lowcountry AHEC has strived to improve the training and distribution of health professionals to build and support the healthcare workforce South Carolina needs to connect all communities to better health.
Meet Our Team
Our team is made up of passionate professionals committed to building South Carolina’s healthcare workforce. Each staff member brings expertise in education, clinical coordination, public health, and community engagement.
Board of Directors
Lari Gooding, MBA
Allendale County Hospital
Danette McAlhaney, MD
Bamberg Family Practice
Joshua Peterson, MSN, RN
Hilton Head Medical Center | Carolina Medical Center
Angela Johnson, MSN, RN
Roper St. Francis Healthcare
Dee Ward Robinson, LISW-CPS, LAC, CS
William J. McCord Adolescent Treatment Facility
Andreea Moran, DNP, MSN, RN
Medical University of South Carolina
Missy Feather, DNP, MBA-HCM, RN-BC
Colleton Medical Center
Natassia Allen, MBA
BJH Comprehensive Health Services, Inc.
Jonathan L. Vallentine, SHRM-SCP
MUSC Health – Human Resources
Ann Lefebvre, DSW, CPHQ
South Carolina AHEC
Jennifer Rahn, MD
Low Country Health Care System
Dee Ward Robinson, LISW-CPS, LAC, CS
Tri-County Commission on Alcohol & Drug Abuse
Amanda Sims, BSN, RN-BC, CSN
Dorchester School District Two
Michelle Strickland
Hampton Regional Medical Center
Consortium Members
