The Michigan Area Health Education Center hosted its first Friends of MI-AHEC Dinner, a celebration of the successful creation of the statewide network and the kickoff of the Friends of MI-AHEC fundraising campaign.

Five scholarships were presented to students from across the state in honor of Valerie M. Parisi, M.D., M.P.H., M.B.A., former dean of the Wayne State University School of Medicine and a cofounder of MI-AHEC, during the June 5 dinner, held at the Wharton Center for the Performing Arts in East Lansing, Mich.

Lt. Gov. Brian Calley served as the keynote speaker of the event. Other speakers included Melanie Brim, president and chief executive officer of the Michigan Health Council; Kim Sibilsky, executive director of the Michigan Primary Care Association; and Wayne Bradley, president of the Detroit Community Health Connection. Topics ranged from the importance of AHEC in Michigan to the importance of collaborations.

Testimonials about MI-AHEC were given by Angel De La Torre, recipient of the Dr. Valerie Parisi Scholarship, and Cynthera McNeill, a clinical instructor for the Wayne State University College of Nursing.

Michigan AHEC is funded by the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration and Wayne State University. Academic partners include Wayne State University's School of Medicine, College of Nursing, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and School of Social Work; the University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry; Central Michigan University; Western Michigan University; and Northern Michigan University. The program strengthens the state's health care workforce by recruiting, training and retaining health professionals committed to increasing access to primary care.