Educate. Empower.

The Southwest Pennsylvania Area Health Education Center is a nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing access to primary healthcare and contributing toward the quality of health for people in our region, especially in rural and medically underserved areas. Our administrative office is located in Oakmont.

 

Our Mission

The mission of the Pennsylvania AHEC program is to help communities meet their primary health care needs by creating a statewide infrastructure bridging community and academic resources in order to facilitate the recruitment and retention of primary care providers in underserved communities…

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Our Programs

AHECs are committed to expanding of the health care workforce, while understanding the value in diversity and the importance of community, especially in rural and underserved areas.

AHECs offer creative, hands-on and innovative health career curriculums, programs, and trainings for individuals, organizations, and academic institutions.

 

AHEC Scholars

Southwest PA AHEC is part of the state-wide PA AHEC Scholars Program which seeks students in Pennsylvania health profession degree programs who are interested in working in rural and underserved communities to apply for a competitive, interprofessional two-year, hands-on supplementary course of study focused on providing care in communities with limited resources.

 

health career promotion

AHEC holds an annual Summer Health Career Academy. The academy is designed for current ninth and tenth grade students who are interested in learning about opportunities in various health careers and the academic preparation necessary for these careers. Also, in collaboration with Princeton Review, we are able to offer SAT/ACT Test Prep at a discounted rate of $60.

community health workers (CHW)

AHEC offers a 100-hour training program designed to provide the core competencies needed for work in community-based and inpatient settings. The training also provides comprehensive information about accessing healthcare and other social/community resources which are specific to the particular area where the training takes place.

 

Poverty Simulations

The Community Action Poverty Simulation (CAPS) is a learning tool created to help people understand the realities of poverty. During the simulation exercise, participants role-play the lives of low income families.

 
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july 2021

"I loved coming to the CHW classes because I knew I would learn something interesting or even new at every class."

Jaqueda P. |Greater Hazelwood Community Collborative