AHEC Scholars
Are you a health professions student looking to serve and set yourself apart?
Do you want to make a difference in rural and underserved communities?
- The AHEC Scholar program offers an immersive experience for healthcare professional students. Scholars receive specialized training as well as mentorship and will gain invaluable insights into healthcare delivery in underserved and rural communities. This unique programs equips our scholars with practical skills, cultural competency, and interprofessional teamwork establishing a well-rounded understanding of healthcare.
- Becoming an AHEC Scholar not only enriches academic learning it builds a commitment to serving populations of rural and underserved populations.
Become a nationally recognized AHEC Scholar!
Congratulations to our 2023-2025 Cohort
WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU?
- Online or in-person courses focusing on eight leading-edge healthcare topics.
- Engage with a cohort of up to 45 peers from multiple health professions fields.
- Activities that complement your current academic program.
- Engage with rural and/or underserved communities.
- Earn a nationally recognized certificate.
- Amazing resume builder.
- Receive a $1,000 stipend for your two year commitment.
- The program is FREE!
Approved Disciplines
- College of Health
- Physician Assistant Studies, MPAS
- Master of Athletic Training
- Master of Dieticians/Nutrition- MS
- School of Nursing
- BSN (not accelerated)
- Master of Science in Nursing
- Nursing, PhD
- Doctor of Nursing Practice, DNP
- College of Pharmacy
- Professional Pharmacy, PharmD
- College of Arts & Letters
- Clinical Psychology, PhD
- Bachelor of Social Work
What are the Requirements?
- Year One
- Orientation to Idaho AHEC Scholars
- 40 hours community/experiential/clinical learning
- 40 hours didactics relevant to rural and underserved communities (offered on campus or electronically)
- 20 hours of Self-Paced Didactic work on the 8 Core Topics
- Year Two
- Put Knowledge into Practice!
- 40 hours community/experiential/clinical learning
- 40 hours didactics relevant to rural and underserved communities (offered on campus or electronically)
- 20 hours of Self-Paced Didactic work on the 8 Core Topics
- Spring networking events
- AHEC Scholars Graduation and Reception of HRSA/AHEC Branded Certificate
Core Topics
- Interprofessional Education
- Supports a coordinated, patient-centered model of health care that involves an understanding of the contributions of multiple healthcare professionals
- Behavioral Health Integration
- Promotes the development of integrated primary and behavioral health services (mental health and substance abuse)
- Social Determinants of Health
- Economic stability, education, social and community context, health and health care, neighborhoods and built environments- and their impact on health
- Cultural Competency
- Recognize and address unique cultural, language, and health literacy aspects of diverse individuals and communities
- Practice Transformation
- Goal-setting, leadership, facilitation, workflow advancements, measure outcomes, adapt organization tools and processes to team-based models of care delivery
- Current and Emerging Health Issues
- Examples: Zika virus, pandemic influenza, COVID-19, opioid abuse, life-span issues
- Connecting Communities and Supporting Health Professionals
- Identify CHWs and paraprofessionals as important connectors/bridges between community and care
- Virtual Learning and Telehealth
- How is telehealth implemented in Idaho and what are the complex policies and laws that govern its use.
