Local News

June 27 is National HIV Testing Day.  The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates about 1 in 7 people with HIV don’t know they have it. This year’s theme, #DoingItMyWay is part of the Act Against AIDS initiative created to build awareness for HIV testing and prevention. Authorities say HIV testing should be a part of every adult’s health routine.

The St. Clair County Health Department offers confidential rapid HIV testing, by appointment, at two locations. The Main Office located at 3415 28^th Street, Port Huron and the Teen Health Center (ages 10-21) at 2215 Court St, Port Huron. Testing provides accurate information about HIV/AIDS, transmission and how to reduce your risk of infection.   For more information about their services call (810) 987-5300 or visit our website at www.scchealth.co. Also, you can follow them on social media @scchdmi.

McLaren Port Huron’s diabetes education team will present a free diabetes care program. Diabetes Care: Put Your Heart and Soul into It takes place Tuesday, July 16, 1:30 – 3 p.m., in the McLaren Port Huron Drew Classroom. This program is sponsored by Lions of Michigan and the Lions Club International Foundation.  The public is invited to join guest speaker Lillian Mess, DNP, for an informational program about diabetes and heart health.  Organizers say attendees will be encouraged to relax their minds and bodies with a tai chi demonstration and learn its health benefits.  They will also enjoy food samples from recipes that will keep their heart and soul healthy and happy!  Diabetes educators will be available to answer questions and while this program is free, registration is required.  To register or for more information call HealthAccess at 1-800-228-1484.

St. Clair County Community College has received an Innovation of the Year Award from the League for Innovation in the Community College for its work in establishing its interactive, STEAM-based Experience Center. The college won the award in the category of Community Engagement Education and Forward-thinking Partnerships.

This year, the League nationally awarded 57 winners, including just four from Michigan. SC4 team members recognized for their work on the Experience Center include President Dr. Deborah A. Snyder, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Kirk Kramer, Executive Director of Budget and Project Management Becky Gentner, Institutional Technology Manager Spencer Hazlewood, Project and Purchasing Manager Jessica Smith, Professor of Physical Science Suzanne Doherty, and Professor of Biology Carrie Dollar. Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum Director Mel Drumm also was recognized.

“We are honored to receive this award,” says Dr. Snyder. “The Experience Center is a place where students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members of all ages can feel engaged and inspired. We are grateful for the continued support, collaboration and leadership of our community, here on campus and far beyond.”

SC4 announced an official partnership with the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum and its Unity in Learning initiative on the 16,000-square-foot center in fall 2018. The center — the only one of its kind in the region — provides interactive teaching and learning opportunities for students and guests of all ages through exhibits, field trips, and educational programming opportunities.

Located in the college’s Clara E. Mackenzie Building, the center features interactive displays, traveling exhibits, 3-D pens and technology, a circuit center, a coding station, a virtual reality simulation, an augmented reality sandbox, a fossil dig area and larger-than-life exhibits in its Dr. Bassam H. Nasr Science Museum — including a woolly rhinoceros skeleton replica, T-Rex and Mastodon skull replicas.

Future Experience Center enhancements include a Jacob’s Ladder display that highlights the power of electricity and a gifted Tarbosauras skeleton cast thanks to the SC4 Foundation and two Community Foundation of St. Clair County donor advised funds.

Additionally, the Experience Center is a growing regional field trip destination, partnering with the St. Clair County Regional Educational Service Agency (RESA) to ensure field trips seamlessly align with K-12 science-based curricula in the region. For more information on scheduling a visit, please send an email to experiencecenter@sc4.edu.

Lawren Ruiz has been named the Employee of the Month for May. She has worked at McLaren Port Huron for seven years and currently works in Care Management.

 Ruiz was nominated by her peers because she lives the hospital values every day. Staff, patients and families alike are treated with warmth and caring. She goes to great lengths to make sure customers are not only satisfied but wowed. She is always willing to help and always gives individual attention to others when working out a problem or when questions are asked. Ruiz creates a positive, happy work environment. She keeps her coworkers smiling, on time, organized, and informed. Ruiz is a very hard worker, takes pride in what she does, has a great sense of humor, and makes moments matter.

 This employee recognition is given to individuals who consistently live the values, mission and performance standards of McLaren Port Huron. Honorees are nominated by a co-worker, physician, volunteer, and/or customer.

To learn more about McLaren Port Huron, visit www.mclaren.org/porthuron.

The St. Clair County Community College Foundation recently approved $100,500 in new scholarships for the upcoming 2019-20 academic year. Students pursuing programs in all fields of study at the college may benefit from the scholarships, especially those in health sciences.   SC4’s health sciences programs are getting a big boost thanks to a Capital Outlay project approved by the Michigan State Legislature to support higher education job training and fund $4.9 million of the $9.8 million Health Sciences A.J. Theisen Building renovation. The renovation accelerates the expansion of programs, allows for a more interdisciplinary approach to patient care, and will serve more students via advanced teaching systems.

Those students pursuing degrees in nursing, radiologic technology, medical assisting, respiratory therapy, health information technology, and other health science-related majors were given preference during the selection process this year.