The Arizona AHEC Program is comprised of five strategically located regional centers and an administering home central office based at The University of Arizona Health Sciences Center. Each regional center collaborates with the University of Arizona Health Science Center Colleges of Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy and Public Health, healthcare agencies, K-12 and other postsecondary institutions, and community organizations to coordinate and support activities that target workforce development to meet the needs of Arizona´s medically underserved rural and urban populations.

Annual Reports

• 2009 Annual Report
• 2008 Annual Report
• 2007 Annual Report
• 2006 Annual Report

The annual reports are PDF files. Most computers have a PDF viewer installed. If yours does not, Adobe Reader is a free and popular choice.

Mission

To improve the recruitment, diversity, distribution, and retention of culturally competent personnel providing health services in Arizona´s rural and medically underserved communities. Relevant legislation may be found at: AZ Legislation.

Specifically,
• 15-1643. Arizona area health education system; centers; governing boards; duties
• 15-1644. Statewide commission; membership; qualifications; duties; compensation; staffing
• 15-1645. Health professions field scholarships; purpose; amount; repayment; definition

History

Founded in 1984, the Arizona Area Health Education Center Program´s historical mission was to recruit students from under-represented racial and ethnic groups into the health professions, and to support healthcare professionals in underserved communities statewide.

Since 1984, the AzAHEC program is an integral contributor to improving the recruitment and training of the state's health workforce. AzAHEC has been recognized nationally as a designated AHEC model for the outstanding work that has been done through the program.

AzAHEC strives to attract under-represented ethnic and racial students into the health professions. Additionally, the organization focuses its attention on supporting the state's health professionals with continuing training and career enhancements.

Two advisory committees serve the Arizona AHEC Program:

• The Arizona Health Sciences AHEC Advisory Committee, whose members represent faculty from the University of Arizona´s Colleges of Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, and Public Health; and
• The Arizona AHEC Advisory Commission, whose members are appointed by the Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR) and represent health educators, health professionals, and community members serving and/or living in rural and medically underserved communities throughout Arizona.

Each regional center has its own Arizona Board of Regents-appointed governing board, comprised of healthcare providers and consumers who reflect the diversity of the populations living within the center´s geographic area.