Alaska's AHEC Program
Area Health Education Centers (AHECs) are a network ofprograms and centers in the United States designed to improve access to health care and address health care workforce shortages, particularly in underserved and rural areas. The AHEC program was established by the U.S. Congress in 1971 and is administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). Alaska’s AHEC began at the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) in 2005 and was the first in the country to be awarded through a School of Nursing, rather than a School of Medicine.
The Alaska AHEC program office is located within the UAA Alaska Center for Rural Health & Health Workforce. The program office contracts with six regional Centers who are hosted by community partners across the state. These Centers are dedicated to healthcare workforce engagement, training, recruiting, and retaining activities through academic and community based partnerships. Each center implements educational activities involving exposure for students to health care delivery in rural and/or underserved settings.
View Alaska AHEC's 2022-2023 Program Highlights!
Engage:
Engaging youth and adults by providing educational hands-on activities, camps, and events exploring and preparing for health care careers and opportunities in Alaska.
Train:
Training health profession students for practice in rural and underserved communities by targeting all disciplines from certificate to doctoral programs and working with health facilities and providers across the state to provide community based experiential learning opportunities.
Retain:
Retaining a high quality health care workforce in Alaska by providing access to continuing education, resiliency, and loan repayment opportunities. The ultimate goal is to stabilize the health workforce to better meet the health care needs of Alaska.
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Northwest AHEC (Nome)
Hosted by Norton Sound Health Corporation (NSHC), this center serves the health education and workforce development needs of the communities in Alaska’s northwest region. -
Interior AHEC (Fairbanks)
Hosted by Foundation Health Partners (FHP), this center supports healthcare workforce training and education for the interior region of Alaska, providing access to resources and opportunities for students and professionals. -
Yukon-Kuskokwim AHEC (Bethel)
Hosted by Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation (YKHC), this center focuses on addressing the healthcare needs of rural communities in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta by offering educational programs and clinical training. -
South Central AHEC (Anchorage)
Hosted by Alaska Primary Care Association (APCA), this center provides workforce development and health education services to the communities in the South Central region, including Anchorage and surrounding areas. -
Southeast AHEC (Juneau)
Hosted by Southeast Regional Resource Center (SERRC), this center provides support for healthcare professionals and students in Southeast Alaska, focusing on improving healthcare access and education in remote areas. -
Southwest AHEC (Office in Anchorage)
Hosted by Aleutian Pribilof Island Association (APIA), this center offers healthcare workforce training and educational opportunities, particularly for communities in Alaska's Southwest region, including the Aleutian and Pribilof Islands.
Regional AHEC contact information for each center and it's director can be found here.
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Alaska AHEC & ACRH-HW Programs
Alaska AHEC offers a variety of programs to support students, professionals, and communities in strengthening Alaska’s healthcare workforce.
🔹 Youth Exploration & Career Camps – Hands-on learning experiences to expose youth to healthcare careers.
🔹 Rural Health Career & Technical Pathways (CTEPS) – Career exploration pathways for rural school districts.
🔹 PATH Academy – Pre-apprenticeship program for participants to prepare for healthcare careers with
mentorship and training.
🔹 Rural Immersion Institute of the North (RIIN) – Cohort program for college students to experience the unique rural healthcare system
in Alaska.
🔹 AHEC Scholars Program – Advanced learning for healthcare students interested in rural and underserved practice.
🔹 Continuing Education & Training – Professional development and training opportunities, including certifications and
workshops.
🔹 SHARP Loan Repayment Program – Financial incentives to recruit and retain healthcare professionals in Alaska.
🔹 CACHE (Clearinghouse for Continuing Health Education) – A curated menu of continuing education opportunities relevant to Alaskan providers.
Please complete this form if you are interested in getting more involved with AHEC programs across the state of Alaska. The AHEC Program offers funding for summer assignments, travel support, and buy-out time, depending on the type of activity and total hours. We are actively seeking champions to support various initiatives, including Youth Health Career Exploration, where champions can serve as guest speakers or instructors for week-long intensives in rural Alaska. Other opportunities include coordinating placement activities for the AHEC Scholars Program, facilitating Continuing Education through curriculum development and instruction, and providing services for Train the Trainer opportunities like MHFA, BLS, Mandt, and more. Champions can also support Recharge Center services, collaborative grant proposals, and instructional design. To learn more, visit our website and explore how you can contribute to these meaningful activities.
AHEC Partners & Collaborations
Alaska’s AHEC Program is not possible without strategic partnerships. AHEC works in collaboration with health care institutions, universities, community organizations, and local governments to achieve the goal of engaging, training, and retaining the health workforce. These partnerships help expand the reach and positive impact of Alaska’s rural and underserved communities.
We thank all of our partners for supporting Alaska AHEC’s mission!
Alaska AHEC thrives through strong partnerships with healthcare institutions, universities, government agencies, and community organizations. These collaborations expand healthcare education, training, and workforce retention across Alaska, especially in rural areas.
Key Resources:
- Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) – Supports healthcare access in underserved communities.
- National AHEC Organization (NAO) – A nationwide network supporting AHEC programs.
- HOSA-Future Health Professionals – A student-led organization for aspiring healthcare workers.
- Alaska Department of Education and Early Development (DEED) – Oversees education initiatives related to healthcare careers.
- Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DLWD) – Workforce training and employment resources.
- Division of Public Health (DPH) – Public health initiatives and community well-being programs.
For more information about AHEC partnerships and how they support Alaska’s healthcare workforce, visit our website or contact an AHEC director today!