DEPARTMENT of BIOLOGY


Bench To Bedside (B2B) Initiative

The Biology Department is spearheading Winthrop's participation in a state-wide initiative called Bench 2 Bedside (B2B) that is hosted by the South Carolina Area Health Education Consortium (SC AHEC) and the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). The SC AHEC organization strives to increase the number of applications and acceptance rates of undergraduate underrepresented minority students into healthcare professions training programs by providing a variety of educational, developmental and mentoring activities to support long-term academic success.


    B2B provides for an interactive, Intercollegiate Student Seminar Series facilitated through video conferencing equipment that will extend throughout the academic year. The series is composed of three components: professional and personal development, healthcare research topics, and Socratic inquiry and debate (http://scahec.net/hcp/activities.html).

    The interactive seminars are disseminated to the current institutional partners: Claflin University, Clemson University, Coastal Carolina University, College of Charleston, Greenville Technical College, Winthrop University, and 4 Regional AHEC Centers. Initial funding for the initiative came from the Duke Foundation and allowed for the purchase and placement of high-definition Polycom video conferencing systems at the participating schools.

    There are now two B2B classes developed by Winthrop University and AHEC (BIOL 121 and BIOL 122) that are delivered by Polycom to students at other institutions as well as Winthrop (See course descriptions below). The courses are open to all students interested in learning more about opportunities in health professions, regardless of their major. 

    There are three B2B classes developed by Winthrop University and AHEC (BIOL 121 and BIOL 122) that are delivered by Polycom to students at other institutions as well as Winthrop (See course descriptions below). The courses are open to all students interested in learning more about opportunities in health professions, regardless of their major.

    BIOL121 - Bench to Bedside: Pre-Health Professions Preparation (1)

    • This course is part of the Bench to Bedside Initiative sponsored by the SC Area Health Education Consortium and the MUSC. It introduces students to various health professions and diseases that negatively impact South Carolinians, reviews admission requirements and success in health career training programs, and provides insight and activities that impact admission into the programs. Notes: May not be used to satisfy Biology Area C.

    BIOL122 - Bench to Bedside Two: Pre-Health Professions Preparation (1).

    • This course is part of the Bench to Bedside Initiative sponsored by the South Carolina Area Health Consortium and the MUSC. It is the second course in the B2B series. Students will explore common preventable conditions that negatively impact the health of South Carolinian's and enhance interviewing skills for health professions training programs. Notes: May not be used to satisfy Biology Area C.

    BIOL123 - Bench to Bedside Three: Pre-Health Professions Preparation (2).

    B2B Comic Book Project

    Douglas Johnson's Team Won 1st Place and Cassidy Hess' Team won 3rd Place.

     

    Comic Book Students Picture

    The Winthrop Biology Department, under the leadership of Biology Professor and Chair Dwight Dimaculangan, partnered with the South Carolina AHEC and National Library of Medicine to include the comic book project as a component of the Bench to Bedside: Introduction to Health Professions course series. The BIOL122 course instructor, Angelica Christie, mentored the students throughout the project.

    The 10 Winthrop students, working in a course taught by biology adjunct professor Angelica Ellman Christie, selected current topics — post traumatic stress disorder, super bugs and asthma. 

    The main goal of the project, said Christie, is to teach course enrollees about awareness and knowledge of basic health information while cultivating their skills to enter health-related professions. Press Release 4/12/17 (pdf.33.71 KB).

    Comic Book Unveiling: Segment on CN2 News.


For more information about how to participate with in the B2B seminars series and courses contact

Paula Jones, MBA  
Director, Health Careers Program
South Carolina, AHEC
843/792-4443
www.scahec.net