The UF AHEC (Area Health Education Centers) program helps bring the resources of academic medicine to address local community health needs within a 37-county service area. The purpose of the UF AHEC program is to meet the needs of the communities they serve through robust community-academic partnerships, with a focus on exposing students to careers in health and educating and training the current and future health care workforce. UF AHEC employs traditional and innovative approaches to develop and train a diverse health care workforce prepared to deliver culturally appropriate, high-quality, team-based care, with an emphasis on primary care for rural and low-income communities.
AHEC Scholars Program
The AHEC Scholars Program is a unique, interdisciplinary training program for Health Profession students interested in addressing primary and patient care in under-served and rural communities. The program accepts on 150 students each year and engages them for two years in 40 hours of experiential, community-based, or clinical training and 40 hours of online education each year. The program is free to participants. Please visit your area AHEC website to apply.
Northeast Florida AHEC Scholars Program
Big Bend Florida AHEC Scholars Program
Western Florida AHEC Scholars Program
Suwanee River Florida AHEC Scholars Program
Healthcare Summer Institute
The Healthcare Summer Institute is a 4-week summer camp on the University of Florida Campus for rural and first generation rising Junior and Senior High School students in the specific UF AHEC areas. Participants shadow different health care professionals and professions, visit the Anatomy and Simulation Labs, and take part in other Health related activities. Participants also take part in development workshops about study skills, test taking, and SAT prep.
Other AHEC Area Programs
The Big Bend AHEC oversees area High School participants in the Healthcare Summer Institute program and provides numerous community education programs covering Diabetes education, Breast Cancer education, Tobacco Cessation, Health Insurance enrollment, and more.
Contact: support@bigbendahec.org
Northeast Florida AHEC (NEFAHEC) oversees the Health Career Preparations Program, which provides high school students interested in health care careers with opportunities for clinical tours, to shadow health care professionals, as well as academic development workshops. NEFAHEC also hosts college students in AHEC Scholars Program, learning more about leadership and health care issues, and provides community education workshops for Seniors and about Diabetes education, Opiod education, Tobacco Cessation, and more.
Contact Information: aballew@northfloridaahec.org