
RECRUIT * TRAIN * RETAIN
PA Area Health Education Center
Pennsylvania AHEC Scholars Program![]() PREPARING FUTURE HEALTH PROFESSIONALS FOR RURAL AND UNDERSERVED CARE The Pennsylvania AHEC Scholars Program seeks students in Pennsylvania health profession degree programs who are interested in working in rural and underserved communities to apply for a competitive, interprofessional two-year, hands-on supplementary course of study focused on providing care in communities with limited resources. Applicants from disadvantaged and/or rural backgrounds and underrepresented minorities are encouraged to apply. Each year includes the following: 40 hours community-based, experiential, or clinical training in rural and/or underserved area 40 hours didactic education (online and in-person training focused on six Core Topic Areas) Core Topic Areas: Interprofessional Education Behavioral Health Integration Social Determinants of Health Cultural Competency Practice Transformation Current and Emerging Health Issues Pennsylvania AHEC Scholars will be trained and mentored by faculty and health professionals working in rural and underserved communities. Pennsylvania AHEC Scholars will learn in collaboration with students in various health care disciplines. Students will learn how other health professionals think about patient care, what various team members bring to the table in caring for patients, and how to be part of an interprofessional team.
"I think that the PA AHEC Scholars Program has taught me a lot about public health and underserved populations. I have learned to be more open minded and consider more factors when working with patients. One of the biggest influences from this program was when I participated in a poverty stimulation. The experience had a lot of value and opened my mind." The Pennsylvania Area Health Education Center and its Scholars Program is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $721,000 annually with no percentage of the work being financed with nongovernmental sources. The contents are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government. AHEC Scholars is a 2-year program and students must commit to be in the program for 2 years. Entry point into the program is dependent upon each student's program with the exit point at graduation/completion of your degree. The program is delivered in two required components each year: 40 hours community-based, experiential, or clinical training in rural and/or underserved area Core Topic Areas: Interprofessional Education Pennsylvania AHEC Scholars will be trained and mentored by faculty and health professionals working in rural and underserved communities. Pennsylvania AHEC Scholars will learn in collaboration with students in various health care disciplines. Scholars will learn how other health professionals think about patient care, what various team members bring to the table in caring for patients, and how to be part of an interprofessional team. Click to learn more about our project-based tracks: Students must be enrolled in a health profession training program, be in good academic standing, and be willing to commit to two years of program participation prior to graduation. Interested students must complete an AHEC Scholars application, indicating their interest in and experience with rural and underserved populations and communities. Eligible health profession programs include, but are not limited to: Medical, Dental, Pharmacy, Nurse Practitioner, Nursing, Physician Assistant, Social Work, Physical Therapy, and Public/Population Health. Apply online at: PA AHEC Scholars Program: www.paahecscholars.org The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA): https://www.hrsa.gov/ Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH): http://www.health.pa.gov/ Pennsylvania Area Health Education Center: http://www.paahec.org/ Students should have a current interest in rural or underserved healthcare and be currently enrolled in a health professions degree or certificate program and be two years from program or degree completion. This includes but is not limited to students in Medical, Dental, Pharmacy, Nurse Practitioner, Nursing, Physician Assistant, Social Work, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and Public/Population/Community Health programs. AHEC Scholars is a program for health professions students interested in supplementing their education by gaining additional knowledge and experience in rural and/or underserved urban settings. PA AHEC Scholars will be awarded a certificate upon completion of the two-year PA AHEC Scholars Program, distinguishing them from their peers. Scholars will also have the chance to meet leaders in health care and make connections with other participants, creating an invaluable network for their future careers in health care. Area Health Education Centers work to improve the supply, distribution, retention, quality, utilization, and efficiency of a health care workforce committed to underserved populations. We help bring the resources of academic medicine to address local community health needs. The strength of the AHEC Network is our ability to creatively adapt national initiatives to help address local and regional healthcare issues. To enhance access to quality healthcare, particularly primary and preventive care, by improving the supply and distribution of healthcare professionals via strategic partnerships with academic programs, communities and professional organizations. Recruit, Train, Retain: Empowering communities to create a healthy Eastcentral and Northeast Pennsylvania. For more information, please contact: Debra Youngfelt, BS, MCHES, CTTS ![]() ![]() |