Connecting students to careers, professionals to communities and communities to better health

Oregon Area Health Education Center is part of a nationwide system created to improve the distribution, diversity and supply of health care workers in rural and under-resourced areas.

Oregon AHEC has dozens of education programs across five regional centers and a central program office housed at Oregon Health & Science University. Programs are designed to support healthcare professionals at each step of their journey from inspiring their interest at youth to supporting them in becoming professionals and providing continuing education once they are established. 

Oregon AHEC logo

Pathway & Professional Programs

Our Pathway and Professional Programs help develop a pipeline for health care professionals in underserved communities by engaging with students in middle school, high school, community college, undergraduate universities and during a gap year.

To learn more about our youth and professional programs, find the regional center you live in and explore what we have to offer! 

AHEC Scholars Program

AHEC Scholars is a two-year national certificate program funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration, designed to better prepare health profession students for future practice serving rural and urban underserved communities.

Learn more

Continuing Education

We provide a variety of educational opportunities, including a suite of Project ECHO programming, ongoing CME coursework and lectures and state-of-the-art simulation training to health professionals designed to reduce professional isolation, disseminate best practices and improve healthcare quality for medically underserved communities.

You can learn more about these programs on our resources page

"Throughout my 7-year involvement with AHEC through the Brightworks program in high school, through the Reconnect Fellowship and AHEC Scholars, this organization has been monumental in supporting me throughout my journey to becoming a practicing PA. The organization has offered me many opportunities to network, learn, and be involved in the ever-evolving scene of rural healthcare."

- OHSU PA-S student, Class of 2024

Support AHEC Scholars

Your gift to Oregon AHEC will directly benefit health profession students through our student fund by supplementing travel and housing costs during rural rotations and other educational needs.