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H H S Department of Health and Human Services
Health Resources and Services Administration
Health Professions

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Area Health Education Centers

The Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) grant program increases the number of health care providers and improves the quality of primary care in rural and other underserved areas.

The program makes grants to schools of medicine and, in states with no medical schools, to schools of nursing, in regions with inadequate access to health care. Grantees also develop formal collaborative relationships with other health professions training programs and community-based providers to

  • Make health care education, including residencies and student experiences, available in underserved communities within the region;
  • Provide continuing education programs and other support to clinicians throughout the region; and
  • Expose youth, especially racial and ethnic minorities under-represented in the health professions and those from medically underserved areas, to health care professions and encourage them to consider health care careers.

Eligibility

The AHEC program funds schools of medicine and, in states with no medical school, schools of nursing.

Grant Programs

The AHEC Program consists of two phases, Infrastructure Development and Point of Service Maintenance and Enhancement. 

Infrastructure Development Area Health Education Centers

Infrastructure Development awards fund AHEC planning, development and implementation. Grantees provide community-based, interdisciplinary/interprofessional training programs and establish AHEC centers in one or more regions of a state. Each grantee can receive as much as 6 years of funding and no more than 12 years of financial support for multiple centers.

Point of Service Area Health Education Centers

Point of Service awards fund AHEC programs and centers that have completed the Infrastructure Development phase. Modifications may be made to the program due to changes in demographics or needs of the populations in AHEC service areas. There is an emphasis on community-based, interdisciplinary/interprofessional training programs and activities that will enhance primary care, workforce diversity, and quality of care with the goal of ultimately improving access to healthcare in underserved areas.

Advisory Committees

Open Funding Opportunities

HRSA-13-256  Nurse Education, Practice, Quality and Retention Veteran’s Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing Program

HRSA-14-010  Children’s Hospitals Graduate Medical Education (CHGME) Payment Program

All Open Opportunities