Alaska Center for Rural Health and Health Workforce
The Alaska Center for Rural Health & Health Workforce (ACRH-HW) is committed to strengthening
and diversifying Alaska’s health workforce, especially in rural communities and underserved
populations. The Center is composed of a variety of programs, most notably the Alaska
Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) which is composed of six regional community based
centers throughout the state. As part of the University of Alaska Anchorage's role
as the state's health campus, the Center supports health program planning, community partnership, diversity, inclusion and intercampus
collaboration. The Center provides the framework of statewide community partnerships
to support the full pipeline of health workforce development from career exploration
to health program training to continuing education.
In a recent analysis of the state’s healthcare workforce, the Alaska Hospital and Healthcare Association found that job vacancies are increasing, and not enough people are entering the workforce to make up for it.
Leaders in Alaska discussed the pressing healthcare workforce crisis in the state and ways to support and retain providers at the 2023 Alaska State of Reform Conference last month.
This year’s Fall Grand Rounds, organized by UAA’s Interprofessional Education Committee (IPE) and the Alaska Center for Rural Health & Health Workforce (ACRH-HW), focused on the topic of Traditional Healing by request from rural communities.
Health education isn't always accessible in rural Alaska, The Alaska Center for Rural Health & Health Workforce (ACRH-HW) combats this by offering programming that meets youth in their home communities or brings them to a location where they have the opportunity to explore professional facilities and meet health professionals.
Fifty-two UAA students interested in the AHEC Scholars program had the opportunity to make new friends, meet program leadership, and hear from a traditional healer at the AHEC Scholars Kickoff, marking the start of a new year for our Scholars!
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National AHEC Organization (NAO)
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Awards
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ACRHHW
Alaska AHEC staff and directors traveled to Salt Lake City for the 2023 National AHEC Organization Biennial Conference. Olivia Bridges, Southwest AHEC Director, and Vincent P. Villella, Northwest AHEC Director, each received awards for their dedication to their unique and remote AHEC centers and programs.
