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The Texas Area Health Education Center (AHEC) East improves the healthcare workforce across 100 counties in East and Southeast Texas with a goal to recruit, develop, and support healthcare professionals.

Texas AHEC East is also a Charter Member of the National AHEC Organization (NAO), now comprised of 56 AHEC programs and more than 235 centers operating in almost every state and the District of Columbia. NAO supports and advances the AHEC network in improving the health of individuals and communities by transforming health care through education.

Find an AHEC Center

The Texas AHEC East program was initiated September 30, 1991, with a basic/core grant award as a program of the School of Medicine of The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. The program was founded on the premise that communities of East Texas were in need of health professions education outreach and support services, and an AHEC infrastructure could help address those needs.

It was recognized that the AHEC would build partnerships with both community and academic partners throughout the region to most effectively combine resources in a collaborative design to address mutual needs. Additional guiding principles included orienting activities to communities and their needs, placing high priority on primary health care education, seeking to improve diverse representation in the health professions, addressing the needs of high-needs populations, designing education activities with an interdisciplinary or multi-disciplinary component, and encouraging health promotion and disease prevention concepts and processes in activities.

HOW WE WORK

AHEC Scholars Program

AHEC Scholars supports students pursuing health careers through experiential learning, mentorship, and community engagement.

Careers in Healthcare

Inspiring the next generation of healthcare professionals across Texas in rural and high-needs communities.

Community Health and Development

Beyond workforce training, we collaborate directly with communities to address local health challenges and promote wellness.

Education and Support

We provide accessible, accredited training that supports licensure, certification, and skill development.

Community-Based Training

Texas AHEC East partners with universities, health systems, and community clinics to provide clinical training opportunities for health professions students.

Strengthening the Workforce

Our integrated program model helps ensure that health workforce development is local, sustainable, and responsive to the real needs of communities.

Advancing Healthcare Access and Workforce Development Across East Texas

Texas AHEC East is committed to strengthening the healthcare workforce in East Texas—especially in rural and high-needs communities. Through our network of eight regional centers, we connect over 20 million people across 100 counties to vital health resources, professional training, and workforce development programs.

Our focus is on improving the supply, distribution, training, and retention of qualified healthcare professionals, ensuring that even the most remote communities have access to quality care. Each of our regional centers is deeply embedded within the communities they serve and are hosted by local institutions or nonprofit organizations. This allows us to deliver programs that are both impactful and locally informed.

Reach

Our flagship offices are headquartered at University of  Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) in Galveston, and we have centers in the Capital Region, Coastal Region, Dallas-Fort Worth Region, Greater Houston Region, Northeast Region, Piney Woods Region, Victoria Region, and the Waco Region.

Why our regional structure matters

Local embedment: Each center is hosted by a local institution (often a non-profit or community entity), giving it strong ties to the unique needs of its region and enabling tailored programs.
Broad reach: With eight centers covering over a hundred counties, we ensure that rural, urban, and micropolitan areas are all supported.
Diverse strategies: From high-school health career camps to continuing education for practicing providers, the spectrum of interventions helps build workforce capacity at multiple levels.
Workforce focus: By engaging students early, supporting rotations and placements in high-needs settings, and offering continuing education, we aim to improve not just supply but also distribution and retention of health professionals.

Get involved

High school and college students interested in health-career tracks are encouraged to connect with their regional center for mentoring, job-shadowing, camps and more.
Current health professions students can explore the AHEC Scholars program, which offers interprofessional experiential learning working in rural and high-needs communities.
Providers and community stakeholders can partner with their regional center for continuing education, community health initiatives, and workforce-development efforts.

Learn About AHEC Events

Texas AHEC East 2025 Map

OUR 4 KEY PROGRAM AREAS

Strengthening the Health Workforce Across East Texas

Texas AHEC East improves healthcare access in rural and high-needs communities by developing a skilled, diverse, and community-connected health workforce. Through four integrated program areas, we support the full continuum, from early student engagement to professional development and community health.

Health Careers Promotion & Preparation

We introduce students to healthcare careers through hands-on experiences, mentorship, and academic guidance.

Community-Based Experiential Training

Students gain real-world clinical experience in rural and high-needs settings, developing the skills and perspective to serve diverse communities.

Professional Education & Support

We provide accessible, accredited continuing education to help healthcare professionals maintain licensure and strengthen their skills.

Community Health & Development

We partner with communities to improve health outcomes through education, outreach, and initiatives that promote wellness and access to care.

We invite you to learn more about the Texas Area Health Education Center (AHEC) East's program office team and reach out with any questions you may have.

Learn More: Texas AHEC East Program Office Team