RD230 - Annual Report on the Statewide Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) Activities


Executive Summary:
The Virginia Statewide AHEC Program was established in 1991 to increase access to primary care. It grew out of several recommendations from the Virginia Department of Health. As provided in Section 32.1-122.7 of the Code of Virginia, the mission of AHEC is to promote health careers and access to primary care for medically underserved populations through community-academic partnerships. This mission is accomplished by conducting programs to: 1) attract students into health careers, 2) support the community-based training of health professions students and residents, 3) recruit, support and retain health providers to underserved areas or settings that address the needs of underserved populations, and 4) promote health and prevent disease in partnership with other community organizations.

The Virginia Statewide AHEC Program is administered through a statewide advisory board and the eight individual AHECs. AHECs receive federal funding through a “Model State-Supported AHEC” cooperative agreement. The “Model” cooperative agreement from the US Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) requires a 100% non-federal match. In FY06, the Virginia AHEC Program office at VCU received $660,696 in federal model funding (direct & indirect) of which 80% was equally distributed among the eight (8) community AHEC centers.