AHEC Scholars Program

About

Texas AHEC East Scholars Program

The Texas AHEC East (TAE) AHEC Scholars Program recruits and trains a diverse group of health professions students from across the TAE service region, creating an interprofessional team of health professionals committed to serving rural and/or underserved communities and the transformation of health care in Texas.

The AHEC Scholars program is a national two-year program for students enrolled in various health professions programs.

AHEC Scholars is ideal for students interested in obtaining additional training and team-based clinical experiences working in rural areas and/or with underserved populations. Texas AHEC East accepts 120 students into the program each year with an emphasis on individuals from underrepresented minorities, disadvantaged/rural backgrounds, and first-generation college students. The TAE AHEC Scholars Program strives to improve the diversity and distribution of all health professions while also encouraging students to serve/practice in rural and/or underserved communities in the future.

AHEC Scholars is a program that is implemented by local, statewide, and regional AHECs. Students complete 40 hours of didactic training and 40 hours of experiential training each year. The AHEC Scholars program is structured around a strong foundation of six core topics.

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What will you learn

Core Topics

Interprofessional Education

Also known as interdisciplinary training, supports a coordinated, patient-centered model of health care that involves an understanding of the contributions of multiple health care professionals.

Behavioral Health Integration

Promotes the development of integrated primary and behavioral health services to better address the needs of individuals with mental health and substances use conditions.

Cultural Competency

Training health care providers to recognize and address the unique cultural, language and health literacy differences across diverse patients and communities to improve individual health.

Practice Transformation

Aims to fully support quality improvement and patient-centered care through goal-setting, leadership, practice facilitation, workflow changes, measuring outcomes, and adapting organizational tools and processes to support new team-based models of care delivery.

Social Determinants of Health

Consisting of five key areas (determinants): economic stability, education, social and community context, health and health care, and neighborhood and built environment in regards to how they impact health.

Current and Emerging Health Issues

Focuses on recognizing and understanding new health concerns across communities and within populations in order to better serve patients and educate community members.

Connecting Communities and Supporting Health Professionals

Aims to increase training and development of CHWs and paraprofessionals to be the connector who are able to serve as a liaison/link/intermediary between health professionals and the community to facilitate access to service and improve health equity, community/population health, and social determinants of health.

Virtual Learning and Telehealth

Seeks to improve virtual learning and telehealth curricula and community-based experiential training. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced all health care systems, hospitals, and clinics to rapidly implement telehealth services, simulation-based technology, and virtual trainings to continue delivering patient care.

FAQ

What are the requirements?

  • Students must be currently enrolled in at least a two-year health professions program and must live or study within the Texas AHEC East service region.
  • Students should be interested in serving underserved and/or rural populations
  • Students need to be willing and able to complete the duration of the 2 year program including 40 hours of didactic and 40 hours of experiential work per year and a one-time program follow up.
  • Students must be a permanent resident, national, or citizen of the United States

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Why AHEC Scholars?

  • Enhance healthcare knowledge in clinical and community settings
  • Positively impact underserved communities
  • Engage with interdisciplinary teams
  • Gain career development skills
  • Resume building opportunities
  • Networking with like-minded healthcare providers
  • Commencement Recognition

Who can be an AHEC Scholar?

  • Interested in underserved and/or rural healthcare
  • Currently enrolled in at least a 2-year health professions program
  • Willing to immerse yourself in didactic and experiential opportunities

What is Involved?

  • 40 hours of didactics (variety of learning modalities available including online) each year for two-years
  • 40 hours of experiential learning (simulations, community service, clinical rotations) each year for two-years
  • Commitment to completing the two-year program

Concurrent Credit?

Many of the AHEC Scholar requirements can be satisfied by the didactic and experiential learning you are already completing for your degree program and in extra-curricular activities.  Ask us about your specific program!

What do I need to Apply?

  • Completed Application 
  • Personal Statement

Applications are completed via web link HERE or in the drop-down menu of the AHEC Scholars Tab at the top of the page. Your personal statement should be uploaded before you hit submit.

Have more questions?

You can find answers by clicking below or by contacting us.

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Ready to apply? Let's get started!

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