Director of Student Programs

Joan, Director of Student Programs for Gulfcoast South AHEC since 2007, has over 20 years of experience in the fields of education and student training. She successfully coordinates GSAHEC’s REACH Student Programs, clinical training, and programming for health professions students. Joan has also facilitated various health education programs covering topics such as eating disorders, cancer awareness, HPV, opioid student and provider training, and programming for students regarding the coronavirus pandemic. Joan’s primary goal is to recruit more students into health careers that will reduce the critical shortage of health professionals. She continues to develop programs created for students of all ages interested in health careers that serve rural and underserved communities.

As a certified Tobacco Treatment Specialist (CTTS), Joan facilitates cessation classes and trains health profession students on the dangers of nicotine and the benefits of quitting to prepare them to provide future patient consultations. Joan is one of nine Florida AHEC staff members invited by Tobacco Free Florida and the Florida Department of Health that created the first statewide youth vaping cessation curriculum.

A strong advocate for Area Health Education Centers and student programming, Joan has presented and acted as a guest speaker for youth-serving organizations, health literacy organizations, and public health organizations at the regional, state, and national levels. However, her Australian Shepherds just know her as “the Queen of playing fetch the ball” …every single day…rain or shine.