The Beginning of AHEC

In 1970, the Carnegie Commission published The Report Higher Education and the Nation's Health.  This report called for greater distribution of primary care physicians and health care services in underserved areas.  With the findings of this study, the National AHEC was formed in 1972.  The PA AHEC entered the national network of AHECs in 1994.

The National AHEC Mission

To enhance access to quality health care, particularly primary and preventive care, by improving the supply and distribution of health care professionals through community/academic educational partnerships.

A Brief History of the PA AHEC

The plan to start a PA AHEC program began in 1991 with James M. Herman, M.D., M.P.H., of The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine convening a meeting of interested individuals from a variety of organizations and institutions across the state.   The outcome was a unique medical education and training statewide network that offered a new approach which  linked a distinct interdisciplinary health professions training model with medically underserved communities.  

In 1992, the PA Department of Health committed to the PA AHEC program by providing funds to plan and develop a statewide AHEC and initiate the planning of Northwest, Northcentral and Southeast PA AHEC regions.  It was a solid beginning.  With the PA Department of Health facilitating the development of the PA AHEC infrastructure and the  participating medical schools placing medical students in underserved communities, Penn State College of Medicine and partners were well positioned to submit the first competing AHEC Cooperative Agreement to the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) in March 1994. 

 Pennsylvania entered a national network of AHECs that year.  Over the last 8 years, the PA AHEC has become an innovative organization and a statewide leader for community-based training through the organizational commitment of the Commonwealth's medical schools, health science institutions, community, health professionals and state government. 

 Together we are making a difference.

[Resources] [Newsletter]

This program is funded, in part, by:  Public Health Services, Department of Health and Human Services Administration, Division of Medicine, Bureau of Health Professionals, AHEC and Special Services Branch and The Pennsylvania Department of Health.

Send mail to cstalk@psu.edu with questions or comments about this web site.
Last modified: August 22, 2002