Bastrop * Blanco * Burnet * Caldwell * Hays * Lee * Travis * Williamson
The Texas AHEC East Capital Region resides in the heart of Austin, Texas. This regional AHEC site focuses on legislative issues that affects statewide healthcare. With our state's government officials located in our backyard, we help represent health careers and advocate for improved policies.
Our host institution is CommUnityCare Health Centers. This partnership benefits the region because the organization is a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), which focuses on providing care to underserved populations in Austin/Travis County. AHEC works closely with CommunityCare to ensure enough healthcare providers exist for the Capital region and students are exposed to working with vulnerable populations as part of their training before graduation.
In addition, the Capital Region has the support of multiple hospital systems, higher education institutions, and numerous school districts with health science programs. AHEC helps bring these groups together to provide a unique experience to students while building our future workforce.
Capital Programs
Monthly “Lunch and Learn” Online Educational Sessions
Lunch and Learn sessions are led by medical and non-medical providers in the areas of Women’s Health, Chronic Diseases, Mental/Dental Health plus pediatric topics in addition to other subjects. Online sessions are open to the public on the fourth Thursday of each month excluding December and November. The November session happens on the Thursday before the Thanksgiving holiday. Continuing Education credit is offered to Community Health Workers and MDs. Go here to access the current year’s Lunch and Learn calendar. Join the session by going here.
Austin Residency Programs
Residents are doctors in training. They have graduated from medical school, been awarded an M.D. or D.O. degree, and are now conducting additional training in a specific specialty. All residents are supervised by teaching physicians.
A resident doctor learns in both outpatient clinics and hospitals. Resident clinics serve to educate future doctors while caring for current patients. Residents are scheduled in clinic regularly and far in advance to maintain stable teams and provide patient continuity. Patients can see their primary resident doctor as much as they need. However, if the patient has an acute or urgent need, there are other resident doctors available to address their health concerns in a timely manner.
AHEC partnership with CommUnityCare delivers care by way of a team-based approach. Evidence demonstrates that when health care experts work in a collaborative fashion with the patient, his/her family and the community, outcomes are better. Members of our health care team include:
- Medical Assistants
- Physicians/Advanced Practice Providers
- Nurses- Clinical Pharmacists
- Clinical Dietitians
- Behavioral Health Counselors
- Community Health Workers
- Health Care Professional Students
Click here for more information and to apply.
Observerships
What is an Observerships and who qualifies?
An observer is a student who is involved in health care education through a formal officially recognized, educational program who requests approval to observe patient care in a CommUnityCare Clinic in a strictly nonmedical capacity (i.e., this is a one-way experience with absolutely no physical contact with the patients). The student must attend a school/university and be enrolled in courses toward a degree. An example of an observer is a premedical college student, or any student interested in pursuing a medical profession in the future.
Observation is limited to 24 hours. It does not need to be three consecutive days and can be spread over multiple days (within one month) but cannot exceed 24 hours. Observers must be 16 or older. Observers will not assist in any procedures or take part in any action other than passive observation. Stipends are not offered.
How to apply?
Please note The Department of Education and Research at CommUnityCare has deadlines for each applicable term for accepting requests.
- Spring Term Deadline: November 30
- Summer Term Deadline: March 30
- Fall Term Deadline: June 30
Observership Application Form
After each semester deadline a member of our team will be in contact with all applicants on their placement status. If approved by our department directly, students must provide all of the supplementary paperwork required at least 30 calendar days prior to your start date.
Clinical Placement & Internships
What is a clinical placement and who qualifies?
Clinical placement is defined as any arrangement of medical field students present in an environment that provides health care to patients or the public. It provides a practical experience of working with patients.
The student must attend a school that has an affiliation agreement or memorandum of understanding with CommUnityCare Health Centers. The Department of Education and Research will determine the number of students the clinic can accommodate.
- Nurse Practitioner
- Medical Assistant
- Dental Assistant
- Dental Hygienist
- Pharmacy Technician
*Because of preceptor availability and clinic capacity, available spaces are limited.
*An affiliation agreement/MOU and a request do not guarantee a clinical placement in a CommUnityCare clinic. Please go here for more information and details.
9-12 Health and Emotional Wellness Pipeline Programs
Medical pipeline programs are an important tool to combat the lack of diversity in medicine and mental health services. Students are trained with the academic knowledge and technical skills they need to gain entry to high-skill, high-wage, and high-demand in the medical field. This program with Career Technical Education school districts to provides work-based learning experiences that combine hands-on learning with real-world scenarios, so students are prepared to enter the workforce or college after they graduate high school.
AHEC Community Learning Hub
To address the educational needs of complex health issues effectively, the AHEC Community Learning Hub sessions which works to offer learning opportunities in the community in and surrounding Austin/Travis County. Lectured topics include Practice Transformation, Cultural Competency, Social Determinants of Health, Virtual Learning and Telehealth, Connecting Communities and Supporting Health Professionals, Behavioral Health Integration, and Interprofessional Education. Events happen quarterly. Please email shechem.sauls@communitycaretx.org for event details.
Community Health Training Sessions
The Promotor(a) or Community Health Worker Training and Certification Program provides leadership to enhance the development and implementation of statewide training and certification standards and administrative rules for the Promotor(a) or Community Health Worker (CHW) Training and Certification Program. Senate Bill 1051 (77th Texas Legislative Sessions) calls for the Texas Department of State Health Services to establish and operate a training and certification program for persons who act as promotors or community health workers, instructors and sponsoring institutions/training programs. Please email shechem.sauls@communitycaretx.org for more information. Be sure to include your preferred location to take the class in your email.