Area Health Education Center Program | Oklahoma State University

Thank you for your interest in our program! The Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA) designates most Oklahoma counties as areas of primary care health professional shortage. The Oklahoma Area Health Education Program (OK-AHEC) was established in 2017 to address these shortages. OK-AHEC strengthens the state's healthcare workforce by recruiting, training, and retaining health professionals committed to increasing access to primary care in underserved urban and rural communities.

Through a network of regional centers located in Enid, Lawton, McAlester, and Tahlequah, OK-AHEC prepares underrepresented minority and disadvantaged (URMD) youth for healthcare careers, promotes clinical training opportunities for students, and provides continuing education programs for health professionals working in underserved communities.

The regional centers are locally managed by Community Advisory Boards and partnerships supported by the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Oklahoma State University, Cameron University, Northwestern Oklahoma State University, Comanche County Memorial Hospital, Northeastern Health System, Rural Health Projects, Inc., McAlester Regional Hospital, local foundations, academic institutions, associations, and nonprofit institutions.

Program Goals

Our program recruits individuals from rural backgrounds into health professions and provides community-based training and education in underserved areas to develop a healthcare workforce with a focus on primary care. We prepare individuals through field placements in community-based organizations, health centers, and clinics, and conduct interdisciplinary training involving various health professionals. We offer continuing education programs for professionals providing care in underserved areas, implement effective program measurement and evaluation strategies, and establish youth public health programs to recruit high school students into health careers.

Get experience for a wide variety of healthcare professions.

This project is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under U77HP31121 Point of Service Maintenance and Enhancement, with an annual award amount of $383,407 and a 100% non-federal match. This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.

Area Health Education Center

Program Goals

Center for Rural Health

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