CT Area Health Education Center (CT AHEC) program based at UConn Health will receive $2 million over the next five years from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, for the Area Health Education Centers Program.
Entering its 26th year of operation, CT AHEC is one of 46 AHEC programs funded nationally.
“CT AHEC is an invaluable resource to UConn Health. With renewed HRSA funding, the CT AHEC Program will continue to meet its mission of improving the health status of CT residents and communities by enhancing access to quality health care, particularly primary and preventive care, by improving the supply and distribution of health care professionals through facilitating community/academic partnerships,” said Bruce Liang, MD, Interim CEO of UConn Health and the Dean of UConn School of Medicine.
CT AHEC’s focus on primary care is documented through the success of the interprofessional Urban Service Track/AHEC Scholars Program which Anton Alerte, MD, Interim Associate Dean for Primary Care, describes as a tremendous resource at UConn offering “a proven program which offers pre-professional students structured curricula, experiential learning, role modeling and mentorship” resulting in an average of 53% medical student match into primary care residencies through 2022.
With this funding, CT AHEC will serve more than 10,000 learners state-wide. Signature programs within CT AHEC include:
- Urban Service Track/AHEC Scholars Program
- Community-based Experiential Training (CBET) programs for health professions students
- Collegiate and Youth Health Service Corps
- Public Health Ambassadors
- CT Junior Science and Humanities Symposium
- Biomedical Engineering Discovery Saturday Program
As the Director of CT AHEC, Petra Clark-Dufner is excited about new initiatives being integrated by CT AHEC that include “public health workforce development, Community Health Workers and an interprofessional wellness program for health professions students” designed to enhance the overall training provided by the organization.
Clark-Dufner expressed deep appreciation for CT AHEC’s “robust academic-community partnerships, the support of UConn Health and its leadership, as well as the diverse and talented students who participate in AHEC programs – past, present and future.”
Learn more about CT AHEC.
