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The Area Health Education Center (AHEC) program is a national program, begun in 1970, for improving the accessibility and quality of primary health care. The program was designed to encourage universities and educators to look beyond the institutions to partnerships that meet community health needs, working toward the goal of decentralizing health professions training and linking communities with academic health centers in partnerships that promote cooperative solutions to local health problems.

For further information on the National AHEC Organization (NAO) and links to programs in other states, visit the NAO website

Wisconsin AHEC System
Development of the AHEC program in Wisconsin started with a small state grant in 1990. The program received federal core AHEC funding from 1991-1999. It is now supported through an allocation in the State of Wisconsin budget, smaller federal and private foundation grants and membership and services fees, as well as the substantial contributions of its academic and community partners in developing and maintaining community sites.

The Wisconsin AHEC System works to improve the supply, distribution and quality of health care professionals in Wisconsin, thereby improving access to health care in the state's rural and urban underserved areas. Program areas include the following:

  • Enhancing the learning experience for all health professions students at community-based sites, with an emphasis on interdisciplinary programs, developing cultural competence, and technology support

  • Supporting health careers recruitment programs in underserved rural and urban areas, to assist high school and college students from underrepresented populations prepare for entry into health professions schools

  • Supporting faculty mentors and preceptors at community-based training sites with continuing education, technology support and other services to enhance the practice environment and maximize the ability of health professionals in underserved communities to provide high quality health care

  • Partnering with local organizations in a variety of outreach activities to improve the health of the community.

The Wisconsin AHEC System is a collaborative project of the University of Wisconsin Medical School in Madison and AHEC's community and academic partners throughout the state, including primary care residency training programs, the UW School of Pharmacy, the Marquette Dental School, 13 nursing schools, 3 physician assistant programs, 3 social work programs, a variety of physical therapy and allied health programs and the state's technical college system.

Each of the four regional centers is an independent not-for-profit corporation, separate from the medical school, and has a designated geographic area. In addition to a Center Director, each regional center employs a program staff of 2 or 3 people, usually including an education coordinator. To insure community representation in decision-making regarding AHEC programs, each center has a community board comprised of health professionals, community representatives, and consumers in the regions served by the Center. Board representation and input allows Centers to respond to community identified needs.

In 1998 the four regional centers approved by-laws to create a statewide organization, with representation from each center, the academic partners and state and community organizations. In partnership with the UW Medical School, the Board of Directors of this statewide organization, known as the Wisconsin AHEC System, provides oversight of statewide AHEC activities, including distribution of funds to the regional centers. The UW Medical School provides space and administrative staff for the statewide program office at the Medical School facilities on the UW-Madison campus and supports a statewide network of community-based clinical training sites for medical students.

Each AHEC conducts programs in conjunction with the various health professions schools. Over 300 community-based training sites are now active that were originally developed, supported or assisted by Wisconsin AHEC. These sites include migrant and community health centers, health care for the homeless projects, rural health clinics, managed care organizations, as well as other public and private community-based clinics, and hospitals that serve rural and urban underserved populations. In 2000-2001, these sites served over 1600 health professions students, providing an estimated 10,472 student-weeks of community-based training.

Last Updated May 3, 2006