AHEC Objectives

Objective 1 Develop non-profit, regional Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) to conduct health professions education with an emphasis on graduate-level students at sites remote to the primary teaching facility.

Objective 2 Conduct health professions education with an emphasis on graduate-level students and integrate AHEC interdisciplinary team "block" rotations implementing the WV Rural Health Education Partnerships (WV RHEP) infrastructure.

Objective 3 Strengthen rural practice and coordination of patient care through interdisciplinary team building.

Objective 4 Provide continuing education to reduce professional isolation and improve health care.

Objective 5 AHEC will work closely with an existing health careers program, Health Sciences Technology Academy (HSTA), for underrepresented and disadvantaged students statewide by establishing an AHEC component to facilitate career paths from pre-college to rural primary care practice.

Objective 6 Enhance recruitment and retention efforts at the community level.

Objective 7 Develop and enhance cooperative relationships between the AHEC and WVRHEP programs to better meet their mutual goals of recruitment and retention of an increased number of quality health care professionals practicing in rural underserved areas of WV.