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.

Diversity

Increase the diversity and distribution of health professions students and practitioners through targeted training and partnerships in underserved and rural communities.

Distribution

New strategic and innovative programs with statewide partners through collaborations focused on addressing health care disparities and access issues.

Practice Transformation

Expedite practice transformation in primary care urban and rural underserved community practices through strategic partnerships with local, regional, and state agencies to improve patient health outcomes.

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.

Center for

Health Sciences

Area Health Education Center

Program Goals

Diversity

Distribution

Practice Transformation

Area Health Education Center

Diversity

Distribution

Practice Transformation

Center for Rural Health

Connect with OSU Center for Rural Health