Dreaming here

By April M. Silvaggio  

SEPTEMBER 30, 2010 12:00 p.m. (0)

Think of it as an opportunity for the Greenville Drive and the Greenville Hospital System University Medical Center to team up with the community and hit a home run for improving health care in the Upstate.

That’s the goal for the “Field of Dreams Gala,” a first-of-its-kind event planned for Oct. 7 at Fluor Field being staged to raise scholarship dollars for students enrolled in the GHS Medical Experience Academy, a recently announced pipeline for students interested in advanced training in healthcare.

The fundraiser includes a concert by the Greenville Symphony Orchestra, a black tie and sneakers dress code, formal dining and a finale featuring fireworks as the backdrop to Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture.

“I haven’t heard of an event like this around here,” said Mike Riordan, chief executive officer of GHS. “This is an opportunity to celebrate with the community. But the tennis shoes aren’t a joke. Our goal is to have some fun, but also be respectful of the Greenville Drive field.”

Tickets to the gala are $300 per couple, with cocktails at 6:30 p.m. that evening followed by an on-field dinner at 7:30 p.m.

The GHS Medical Experience Academy began as a pilot program in July with the launch of Tier 1 with 12 rising 12th graders from Greenville County Schools.

The four week curriculum included educational, experimental and social activities, as well as mentoring and academic tutoring to equip students to make informed career decisions and prepare for continued health care training.

Tier 2 for rising sophomores at Furman University will launch next summer with a small group of students participating in progressive learning experiences designed to build preparatory skills and guide students’ health care career decisions.

The pilot for Tier 3 will launch in 2012 when rising seniors at Clemson University engage in chosen field clinical/non-clinical, hands-on, research-rich learning experiences.

Beyond each pilot launch, each tier will use a formal application process to select participants. A new Web site for this purpose is under construction and will be available for Tier 1 applicants later this fall.

Students who participate in the program will be offered the opportunity to apply for college scholarships based on merit. They will also be eligible to receive academic credit through GHS’ academic partnerships for each Tier level of student participation.

Riordan said innovative initiatives like this are imperative in helping meet the Upstate’s growing healthcare needs.

“We need doctors and nurses, but we also need pharmacists, therapists and physician assistants,” he said. “We need to be ready to meet the needs of our community both now and 20 years from now.”