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About Southwest Louisiana Area Health Education Center (SWLAHEC)
Since 1991, SWLAHEC has served as an independent nonprofit organization and a member of the national network of Area Health Education Centers (AHECs) operating in 48 states. SWLAHEC’s mission is to improve health status through access to information, education and health services. SWLAHEC seeks to improve health through numerous programs focusing on two main areas: 1) recruiting and educating health professionals and 2) educating the public on how to live healthier lives.
Our Vision
is to be a premier community-based agency made up of diverse, knowledgeable, and accountable employees and volunteers working together to achieve a common mission by providing creative solutions to health challenges.
Southwest Louisiana Area Health Education Center
Announces New CEO & Board President
The Southwest Louisiana Area Health Education Center has announced that Ashley Orphe, M.P.A., will serve as the organization’s new chief executive officer and Tahisa P. Colbert, D.D.S., M.B.A., has been elected as the organization’s board president.
A native of New Iberia, Ms. Orphe brings to this position over ten years of experience in non-profit management and operations. She most recently served as the Southwest Louisiana Area Health Education Center’s chief operations officer and managed various departments and grant initiatives.
Ms. Orphe graduated from Louisiana State University with both a Bachelor of Science and Master's degree in Public Administration. Her ten years of experience in non-profit management and operations includes having served as operations lead, coaching and development lead, and customer experience manager for AT&T Mobility. She also served as director of operations and interim executive director for Mid-City Redevelopment Alliance located in Baton Rouge, a housing stability and community development agency. She has served in various taskforces and strategic planning committees that have allowed her to gain a wealth of knowledge in creating sustainable teams and funding opportunities for new and existing community initiatives.
Ms. Orphe is a recent graduate of Leadership Iberia XXV where she participated in a year-long development training with a group of her peers. Ashley is no stranger to community engagement and service, as she is currently a member of Downtown Neighborhood Association and a Board Commissioner for the Hopkins Street Economic Development District in New Iberia. Both groups focus their efforts on the revitalization and development of community and economic solutions throughout both historic and cultural districts by meeting the people of the community where they are, and empowering them to develop, execute, and sustain the solutions they seek.
Dr. Tahisa P. Colbert, a practicing general dentist of Lafayette, has always been an advocate for oral health care and has been affiliated with several community-based efforts. She previously functioned as leader of the dental health committee, supporting former Governor Kathleen Babineaux-Blanco’s Healthcare Reform Panel, representing Region IV. She also was appointed by former Governor John Bel Edwards to serve on the Fluoridation Advisory board for the state of Louisiana and fulfilled the position
of chairman. Dr. Colbert also assumed the role of State Dental Director and worked diligently to establish oral healthcare goals for Louisiana.
Professionally, she has been a member of various dental organizations, for which she also served in positions of leadership. Dr. Colbert’s recognition of oral health as a component of overall health led to her continued support for the community through her affiliation with Southwest Louisiana Area Health Education Center (SWLAHEC). She has been a board member since 2002 and recently was bestowed the position of board president. Her goal is to continue the mission of SWLAHEC under the direction of Ms. Orphe and fellow members who serve on the board of directors.
The Southwest Louisiana Area Health Education Center, commonly referred to as SWLAHEC, is a member of the national network of Area Health Education Centers (AHECs). The non-profit organization has been working to improve health outcomes across southwest Louisiana since 1991. For the 13 parishes it serves – from Calcasieu to Iberia and communities in between – the organization offers access to information, education and health services. It is involved in dozens of health-related programs, grant initiatives and community outreach services. But, for over three decades, SWLAHEC’s main focus has been on strengthening the region’s healthcare workforce and preparing it for the future.
“We have a phenomenal group of individuals working to improve the health and well-being of southwest Louisiana,” said Orphe. “I am excited for the opportunity to serve as CEO to support these champions and build on the foundation of this great organization. For over three decades, SWLAHEC has been involved in all sorts of engaging health programs and grassroots initiatives that have touched thousands of lives across our community. Under the leadership of our board of directors and through the shared experiences of our leadership team, we’ll work to build on this momentum and amplify our impact.”
“The future looks very bright for our organization, and I am excited to lend my experience to helping Ashley and her team,” said Dr. Colbert, SWLAHEC’s new board president. “Ashley brings to SWLAHEC a wealth of knowledge in non-profit management and has already proven her ability to manage multiple departments and programs. Perhaps most important, Ashley is fiercely passionate about this community and cares deeply about the people here. I cannot wait to see what she has in store for SWLAHEC!”
As SWLAHEC’s new CEO, Ashley brings her vested passion and community involvement to the continued growth and development of the organization as a viable catalyst and community leader.
“I tell people all the time that SWLAHEC is the best kept secret in Southwest Louisiana,” said Orphe. “Well, the secret is out. We have made great progress in advancing the health of our region – and our work has only just begun!”
Improving health status through access to information, education and health services.
Improving health status through access to information, education and health services.
Improving health status through access to information, education and health services. Improving health status through access to information, education and health services.
Career & Professional
Development
Louisiana is short on medical professionals.
SWLAHEC is here to help.
SWLAHEC & The Medical Field
The shortage of health professionals in all areas of Louisiana is well documented. The Career and Professional Education Department at SWLAHEC works to improve the health status of the residents of southwest Louisiana by ensuring that there is an adequate workforce of professionals to meet their health needs. This department operates or supports a range of programs which deal with exposing elementary and high school students to health careers, working with medical and health education students to enhance their educational experience, and helping to provide continuing education opportunities for health care and professionals. In addition to these programs, department staff collects the data for the annual federal AHEC grant and participates in other local and statewide collaborative efforts to ease the shortages of health professionals. We refer to these programs as our core AHEC programs.
Health Interventions
Improving health through prevention & intervention.
The vision of the Health Interventions Department is to be a reliable, reputable, proactive and diverse group of health education committed to the goals of improving personal health through effective prevention programs and intervention strategies. This vision is achieved through several programs:
HIV/AIDS/STD (HAP) Prevention Program
Navigators for a Healthy Louisiana Program
HIV/STD Taskforce
Louisiana Bridge Program
SWLA Harm reduction Regions 4 & 5
Health Equity
Healthier living one community at a time.
The Health Equity and Social Justice Department is built of Community Health Workers (CHWs), Community Ambassadors, and other motivated Community Leaders. CHWs and Ambassadors are the frontline “boots-on-the-ground” workers who are trusted members of and/or have an unusually close understanding of the community served. The department builds individual and community capacity by increasing health knowledge and self-sufficiency through a range of activities such as outreach, community education, and advocacy. Programs such as vaccination equity, women and men's health initiatives, Youth Empowerment, community-based blood pressure and diabetes programs, and so much more address the many barriers communities face. This team works to ensure that those who are at-risk within their communities receive proper resources and tools to achieve health equity and social justice."
Community Resource
Improving chronic disease outcomes in Louisiana.
Meeting local health needs.
The Community Resource Department aims at improving the chronic disease outcomes in Louisiana by linking healthcare providers and communities to chronic disease self-management, health education, and health behavior support services. We lead regionally targeted efforts to identify community resources and establish community-clinical linkages to advance the prevention and management of heart disease and diabetes. The Community Resource Department also establishes and maintains partnerships for the purpose of increasing clinical interventions that increases access to community resources and lessens the burden of chronic disease in the region.
Public Health Support
The mission of the Public Health Support Department is to improve the health status of southwest Louisiana by supplying staff and services to meet the health needs of local citizens. This mission is accomplished through its contracts with the Louisiana DHH/ Office of Public Health’s Fetal and Infant Mortality Review (FIMR) Program, Nurse – Family Partnership (NFP) Program, Imperial Calcasieu Human Services Authority, and the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury Contract.
At SWLAHEC, we are passionate about women’s health! For women in our community, whether they are tackling home or work responsibilities, caring for children or supporting loved ones – it’s important that they prioritize their physical, mental and emotional health. This is what our “Love Yourself” campaign is all about!
Interested in learning more about our “Love Yourself” campaign? We encourage you to connect with us!
We have t-shirts for purchase for the next time you join us at one of our community events!
