The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) has awarded a $25,000 grant to the Highlands-Cashiers Hospital Foundation to go toward the cost of a new bone density scanner project to address prevention and treatment of osteoporosis, a bone disease that can result in fracture, back pain and deformity.

“This grant from The Appalachian Regional Commission is a major step forward in the Foundation’s efforts to help the hospital fund this vitally needed program for our community demographics,” said Robin Taylor, Executive Director of the Hospital Foundation. “We are very pleased that the board of the ARC recognized the importance of the role of this new equipment in meeting real medical needs in our community.”

MedWest Rehabilitation Services at MedWest-Harris is offering a series of free orthopedic screenings in November. Scheduled screenings include:

• Knee and shoulder screening with physical therapist Grant Shanks from 4 to 6 p.m. Nov. 9 in the Rehabilitation Department, located in the main building at MedWest-Harris in Sylva.

Casey Cooper, chief executive officer for Cherokee Indian Hospital, will deliver Western Carolina University’s annual public lecture on Indian health at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 2.

Cooper will address the topic “The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians: Issues in Health” in a talk scheduled for the A.K. Hinds University Center theater.

The event is made possible through a $3,000 gift from Harrah’s Cherokee Casino and Hotel to Western Carolina’s College of Health and Human Sciences to sponsor a public lecture series on Native American health issues offered through the university’s Culturally Based Native Health Program.

Southwestern Community College’s (SCC) Medical Assisting program has joined the national effort to celebrate National Medical Assistants Week Oct. 17-21. Since its inception four years ago, SCC’s Medical Assisting program has continued to grow and currently has a full enrollment of 18 students.

The theme for this year’s Medical Assistants Week is “Healthcare with a Human Touch,” which the students at SCC have fully embraced and are working to spread the word throughout the community.