A new regional AHEC office for the North Central region opened in January with Cherie Taylor hired as its Director. Previously, Cherie was the Chief Executive Officer of Northern Rockies Medical Center in Cut Bank and had been in healthcare for 10 years as a Patient Accounts Services Director, Chief Financial Officer, and finally Chief Executive Officer. Cherie enjoys providing valuable resources to healthcare field.

The new regional office has been busy since the beginning of the year forming its advisory council, informing organizations and individuals of the resources available through the AHEC, and developing a work plan for the year. Recently, the Director started assisting the South Central office with recruitment and the Western office with bringing Hands on Health to North Central communities. The office has had the privilege of working with five healthcare facilities, with detailed community assessments completed by the Office of Rural Health, to put together a regional snapshot of healthcare needs.

A real focus over the next 6 months will be on recruitment, working with all groups/organizations (CAH, IHS, Tribal, PPS, K-12 Schools, and Post-Secondary Schools) to address healthcare workforce issues, increasing HOSA Chapters in the region, and rolling out as many pipeline programs like R.E.A.C.H and Hands On Health as possible.

For more information, please contact Cherie Taylor, Director of the North Central MT AHEC: cherie@mtha.org