Program
About the program
The AHEC Scholars Program is a national cohort of over 6,000 current health professions students interested in positioning themselves to join a well-prepared and culturally competent healthcare workforce! The Missouri AHEC Scholars two-year program is designed to enhance and broaden your health training with a combination of didactic education and community-based field placement in a HRSA-designated medically underserved Missouri rural or urban community.
Curriculum
01
Aims to increase training and development of community health workers (CHWs) and paraprofessionals to be the connectors who are able to serve as a link between health professionals and the community to facilitate access to service and improve health equity, community/population health, and social determinants of health.
02
Seeks to improve individual health and build health communities by training health care providers to recognize and address the unique culture, language and health literacy of diverse consumers and communities.
03
Current information will be provided on diseases such as opioid/substance use disorders, HPV, and emerging issues such as COVID-19.
04
Promotes the development of integrated primary and behavioral health services to better address the needs of individuals with mental health and substance use conditions.
05
Supports a coordinated, patient-centered model of health care that involves an understanding of the contributions of multiple health care professionals.
06
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.
07
Includes five key areas (determinants) of economic stability, education, social and community context, health and health care, and neighborhood and built environment, and their impact on health.
08
Seeks to improve virtual learning and telehealth curricula and community-based experiential training. The COVID-19 pandemic forced all health care systems, hospitals, and clinics to rapidly implement telehealth services, simulation-based technology, and virtual trainings to continue delivering patient care.
Program Benefits
01
Expand your knowledge of the health challenges and contexts of rural and underserved populations in Missouri to help you become a better professional
02
Build a professional network within a variety of health disciplines
03
Earn a $1,000 stipend over the course of your commitment
04
Gain a competitive edge in marketing yourself to employers
Eligibility
Be two years away from getting your degree (Fall 2025 Cohort must graduate spring, summer, or fall of 2027).
Commit to active participation for two consecutive years while concurrently working toward your degree.
Plan to enter the workforce or residency program upon graduation from your current degree program and be interested in working in a rural and/or underserved area.
Be currently enrolled in or accepted to one of the approved degree programs that are at least two years in length.
