The Mission

The mission of the Voorhees College Center of Excellence in Rural and Minority Health is to eliminate health disparities through dissemination of health information by way of technology and traditional means, and to improve specifically, the access of quality health care to the rural minority communities of Bamberg and its surrounding counties of South Carolina.

Community Outreach

The Voorhees College Center of Excellence is very interested in its surrounding community.  Most projects undertaken by the Center provide for interaction with the surrounding community.  There is the effort to provide basic health guidelines, seminars, conferences, health fairs, brochures and health internet access to Denmark and its surrounding counties.  The Center strives to aid the community in the understanding of, and application of health issue.

Health Education

The Center will provide educational and training services to pre-professional health sciences students from Voorhees College, Denmark Technical College, South Carolina State University and the Medical University of South Carolina.  Practical applications of techniques and methods in a rural setting will help students in health care programs to gain exposure to the challenges and opportunities afforded in a rural setting.  Such a setting will provide a more culturally competent health care professionals.

Health Research

Health sciences research geared toward elimination of health disparities will play a major role in the Center.  Research has been initiated in the areas of obesity, exercise, nutrition and health education.  The Center will serve as a part of the research infrastructure of Voorhees College and support faculty and students interested in health research.  The Center of Excellence is not only interested in generating health disparity research but strives to provide the general public access to the health research.

Clinical Services

The Center will provide primary care services to residents of Bamberg County and surrounding communities.  This care will significantly reduce the need for emergency and in-patient care, which results from poor access.  The clinical services will be provided by a separate corporate entity, which will contract with Voorhees College for the use of space to provide such services.  These services will utilize the community health model offering, quality, affordable and comprehensive health services.

Contact Us

Dr. Leroy Davis
Executive Director of Center of Excellence
(803) 780-1349 - ldavis@voorhees.edu

Mary Cave
Program Assistant - Center of Excellence
(803) 780-1341 - mcave@voorhees.edu