The primary goal of the SouthEast Alaska Area Health Education Center (SE AHEC) is to improve the health care status of communities in the region. This is addressed through actively stimulating interest in a variety of health care career pathways. Particular attention is paid to those who are under-represented in our southeast population such as the first person in a family to attend college. For more information about AHECs go to: http://bhpr.hrsa.gov/grants/area.htm
For Anyone:
Introduce the young people in your life to the SE Alaska AHEC website so they can explore the games and assessments. Check out the summer camps and clinics that prepare our future health care providers. Contact SE AHEC staff if you would like additional information.
When you volunteer your expertise or precious time, you can help address the health care needs of our under-served communities in southeast Alaska. We are open to new ideas and feedback. Hands to help with events are appreciated.
Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) were first proposed by the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education in the early 1970’s as a means of addressing the maldistribution of health professionals in medically underserved areas throughout the nation.
Today, more than 200 Area Health Education Centers operate in almost every state of the union, the District of Columbia and some U.S. Territories. Most receive both state and federal funding. Alaska first received AHEC funding in September 2005.
The central program office for the state of Alaska is in the Alaska Center for Rural Health, ACRH, housed within the University of Alaska Anchorage. ACRH secured AHEC funding from the HHS Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA) Bureau of Health Professions.
Four regional centers are now open in Alaska. Each AHEC Center serves a distinct geographic area with different resources and needs. Each Alaska AHEC brings very different experience and capacity to the table as well. With shared funding and a common goal the AHEC Program Office and its centers convene regularly to share ideas, engage in strategic planning, brainstorm new activities or new approaches to current activities, and support each other.
The South East Alaska AHEC opened its doors in January of 2009. It serves all of southeast Alaska. It is hosted by the SouthEast Alaska Regional Health Consortium (SEARHC). SE Alaska AHEC is based on partnerships focused on strengthening Alaska’s health workforce.
The primary goal of the SouthEast Alaska Area Health Education Center (SE AHEC) is to improve the health care status of communities in the region. This is addressed through actively stimulating interest in a variety of health care career pathways. Particular attention is paid to those who are under-represented in our southeast population such as the first person in a family to attend college. For more information about AHECs go to: http://bhpr.hrsa.gov/grants/area.htm
SE AHEC accomplishments since January 2009:
162 high school and college student job shadows
80 clinical rotations for students in professional programs
3 Alaskan Native/American Indian student clinical placements
478 students in attendance at presentations and job fairs
455 student participants in health sciences programming for grades K-8
3 teacher externs in June
1 summer pre-med intern in June and July
1 full-time AmeriCorps volunteer
SE Alaska AHEC Advisory Council Members
Mary Becker
Douglas, AK
Michelle Calvin-Casey
Juneau, AK
Crystal Duncan
Sitka, AK
Libby Watanabe
Juneau, AK
Jill Hanson
Sitka, AK
David Reid
Sitka, AK
Richard Peterson
Kaasan, AK
Esther Hammerschlag – Network Director for the Prince of Wales Health Network
To improve the health of southeast Alaska communities by addressing unmet health needs through strengthening a diverse quality health care workforce.
Expand collaborative partnerships designed to optimize the health status of all people in southeast Alaska.
Excellence, Integrity, Equity, Inclusion, Professionalism, Service, Collaboration, Innovation, Results.
