Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, May 12, 1993                   TAG: 9305120170
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C3   EDITION: STATE 
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER SOUTHWEST BUREAU
DATELINE: MARION                                LENGTH: Medium

SMYTH HOSPITAL LANDS LEARNING CENTER

It will be a learning center and offer professional development programs for physicians and other health professionals.

The Area Health Education Center board of directors, at its first meeting Monday night, chose Smyth's proposal over others from Wythe County Community Hospital, Wytheville Community College and Johnston Memorial Hospital in Abingdon to locate the center in their communities.

A steering committee of physicians, health-care administrators and other providers from across Southwest Virginia had recommended the Smyth proposal.

"One of the long-term goals . . . is to develop and expand family practice residency programs throughout Southwest Virginia, with the objective of encouraging these residents to stay in the region and improve access to family practice physicians," said Smyth County Community Hospital President Roger Cooper.

The hospital will make its Health Education Building available for the health education center. The building includes a 250-seat auditorium, classrooms and office space for the center's director and staff.

The hospital will act as the center's fiscal agent, processing payrolls and handling other financial matters.

"As the Area Health Education Center for Southwest Virginia, top quality One of the long-term goals . . . is to develop and expand family practice residency programs throughout Southwest Virginia . . . Roger Cooper Hospital president educational programs will now be conveniently available to area medical and allied health professional staff throughout Southwest Virginia," Cooper said.

"These programs will be offered under a cooperative agreement with the commonwealth of Virginia and the University of Virginia Medical School, the coordinating agency for our area," he said.

Marion Town Council and the Smyth County Chamber of Commerce had endorsed the hospital's bid for the center.

Cooper said the center "will mean great things for Smyth County and Smyth County Community Hospital, and it will be beneficial for the area's lodging and food service businesses."