NYS Area Health
Education Center System

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25 years connecting students to careers, professionals to communities, and communities to better health.

High school and college students exposed to health career activities

80000

Health professions students provided clinical & community-based experiential learning

100000

Healthcare workers provided continuing education opportunities

250000

Committed to increasing access to diverse and qualified healthcare professionals in all disciplines of health, the NYS AHEC System is a leader in coordinating and facilitating programming that aligns with NYS priorities.

Better Health Outcomes

Each year, approximately 50,000 health professionals receive continuing education on core topics including but not limited to opioid awareness and education, maternal and child health, behavioral health integration, and cultural competency/social determinants of health.

Social Determinants of Health

To date, 600 AHEC Scholar students have gained hands-on experience learning to provide provide high-quality, patient-centric care to overcome social and cultural factors that influence an individual’s overall health and their ability to access quality care.

Access to Healthcare

Roughly 90% of AHEC coordinated rotations and internships are in Medically Underserved Communities (MUC)) or rural areas.

Economic Impact

Approximately 70% of AHEC Scholar graduates are practicing/training/or pursuing additional education in Medically Underserved Communities (MUC)) or rural areas.

Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI)

75% of AHEC scholars and 35% of all other AHEC program participants are diverse or from disadvantaged or rural backgrounds.

About the NYS AHEC System

Founded in 1998, the NYS AHEC System is a state and federally funded workforce development initiative striving to increase the diversity of qualified healthcare professionals by recruiting and training individuals of all identities, with a special emphasis on medically underserved areas in both rural and urban communities.

NYS AHEC Links

NYS AHEC Programs

Pipeline Programs

Internships and Rotations

AHEC Scholars

Continuing Education

Opioid Awareness

NYS AHEC Leaders, Founders, and Advocates

Leisha Smallwood, MPA

Director of the NYS AHEC System

Dr. Thomas Rosenthal, MD

Associate Editor, American Academy of Family Physicians

Dr. L. Thomas Wolff, MD

Distinguished Teaching Professor Emeritus College of Health Professions, SUNY Upstate Medical University

Dr. Mantosh Dewan, MD

President, SUNY Upstate Medical University

Vito Grasso

Executive Vice President, New York State Academy of Family Physicians

Dr. Neil S. Calman, MD

CEO and a Cofounder, Institute for Family Health

Dr. Allison Duggan, MD

Plan Performance Medical Director-Western NY, Elevance Health

Dwain Harris

CEO, National AHEC Organization

Program Gallery

A special thank you to everyone who continues to help support NYS AHEC advocacy efforts.

Learn More

Learn more about the impact and value of the NYS AHEC System in increasing access to diverse and qualified healthcare professionals in all disciplines of health.

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NYS Area Health
Education Center System