About AHEC

OVERVIEW

The University of Kentucky Area Health Education (AHEC) Program is a collaborative effort with the University of Kentucky, the University of Louisville Health Sciences Center, and eight regional centers to affect positively the distribution of health professionals throughout the Commonwealth. The centers, or AHECs, affiliated with the University of Kentucky are strategically located at Morehead (Northeast AHEC), Mt. Vernon (Southern AHEC), and Hazard (Southeast AHEC). An additional AHEC in Park Hills (North Central) was established in July 1999 to encompass the north central portion of Kentucky. The AHECs affiliated with the University of Louisville are Murray (Purchase AHEC), Madisonville (West AHEC), Bowling Green (South Central AHEC) and West Louisville (Northwest AHEC). Each AHEC is directed by an Advisory Board composed of community leaders and health care practitioners representative of the area. The AHECs are staffed by a Center Director and support staff that work with the universities, community medical facilities and practicing health professionals to accomplish the following goals:

GOALS

Provide resident and student educational rotations away from the university
medical centers;

Emphasize, promote, and support primary care;

Assist in the recruitment and retention of needed health professionals;

Maintain library/learning resource centers and networks that serve students,
preceptors and practicing health care professionals in the areas;

Provide health education to communities through health awareness and health
promotion programs;

   Develop health careers awareness programs for youth, especially minority
     and disadvantages students, and recruit participants for health professions
     preparation workshops;

Increase awareness of the health care needs of Kentuckians through
university faculty and local healthcare practitioners working together;

Provide continuing education programs at the local and regional level.

UK AHEC Reports:

2003/2004

2004-2006