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.
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.
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Our Mission
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.
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Our Reach
Our flagship offices are headquartered at University of Texas Medical Branch 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.
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Our Structure
Our regional structure supports communities and builds the health care workforce in several important ways:
- 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.
Texas AHEC East improves healthcare access in rural and high-needs communities by developing a skilled, diverse, and community-connected health workforce. Through these 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.
Whether you are exploring a future in healthcare or looking to make an impact in your community, Texas AHEC East offers ways to get involved at every stage.
Students exploring healthcare careers
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.
Health professions students
Take part in the AHEC Scholars program, where you can gain hands-on, interprofessional experience in rural and high-need communities.
Healthcare professionals and community partners
Partner with your regional center to support continuing education, community health programs, and workforce development efforts.
We invite you to learn more about the Texas Area Health Education Center (AHEC) East's program accomplishments through the years by viewing our archive.
