The CHAG program was established in 1993 to address health care maldistribution in eastern North Carolina by focusing on young people in the early stages of career planning, such as high school students and people considering mid-career changes. The rationale for this approach evolved from the grow your own concept which contends that physician retention and recruitment may be best achieved by identifying and supporting community residents interested in pursuing medical careers. A CHAG, comprised of a group of key community members would serve as a mechanism for identifying and supporting prospective applicants to medical school. The goal of the CHAG program is to inform communities of this approach to physician recruitment and to facilitate the development of CHAGs through the provision of contact with the medical school, EAHEC and related education resources.

The CHAG program concentrated on facilitating the development of a CHAG in Plymouth, a town with a population of approximately 4,500 people and located in a health professional shortage area in eastern North Carolina. The first CHAG Program meeting occurred in Plymouth in October 1995 and was attended by 33 people representing local schools, businesses, the hospital, the health department, and the Chamber of Commerce. The Plymouth CHAG convened monthly thereafter. In addition to actively attending all meetings as members of the Plymouth CHAG, the program staff coordinates topics and speakers for meetings, provides educational resources to the group and helps to secure funding for a retreat. Members of the Plymouth community explicitly requested assistance from the CHAG Program and key people were committed to bring the CHAG concept to their community.

For more information contact: Dawn N. Grant, MPH, Director, Allied Health Education, 252.744.5214.