Accomplishments

Review our yearly efforts to increase health career awareness and orchestrate activities to improve the supply and distribution of health care professionals, particularly in rural and high-needs areas. If you’d like historical information, please contact us.

2023–2024 Health Workforce Program Highlights

8,632 AHEC Participants

The Area Health Education Centers’ (AHEC) mission is to enhance access to quality healthcare, particularly primary and preventive care, by improving the supply and distribution of healthcare professionals through community/academic educational partnerships.

Pathway Programs

Pathway Programs (also known as Pipeline Programs) expose students to health careers and develop intent to pursue postsecondary education in primary healthcare professions.

4,586 Health Career Participants

Background – Percentage of Pathway Completers

64%

from Disadvantaged Background

64%

from Rural Background

51%

from Underrepresented Groups*

Clinical Training

Clinical Training improves readiness, willingness, and ability of health professions trainees to serve in primary care, rural, and medically underserved community settings.

61 Facilitated Rotations

Location – Percentage of Health Professions Students

13%

Rural Areas

87%

Primary Care Settings

67%

Medically Underserved Communities

AHEC Scholars

AHEC Scholars is a program designed to prepare future health professionals with the leadership skills necessary to better serve vulnerable populations in rural and medically underserved communities.

229 AHEC Scholars in the 2024 Interprofessional Cohort

Disciplines of AHEC Scholar Students

Medicine
Pharmacy
Behavioral Health
Physician Assistant

Nursing
Occupational Therapy
Public Health
Community Health Worker

499 Total AHEC Scholars Program Completers (2019–2024)

Continuing Education

Continuing Education provides health professionals with access to resources to improve the quality of care for medically underserved communities and populations with health disparities.

3,756 Continuing Education Participants

In their words, the impact of participating in the AHEC Scholars Program on future health professionals:

“I struggled with the fact that medicine is not always aiming to prevent death, but to enhance and prolong positive quality of life. I think this helped me realize that rural and underserved medicine focuses on the person in front of you as an individual. That level of care and attention does not require top-of-the-line materials, but being a physician present with a person in need of your care and expertise.”
— DO student Scholar

“Moving forward, I aim to incorporate the insights gained from this experience into my practice. I will prioritize community engagement strategies that foster trust and inclusivity, ensuring that health information is accessible and understandable to all residents. Additionally, I will advocate for policies that address healthcare disparities in rural areas, aiming to empower communities.”
— MD student Scholar

AHEC Program Accomplishments