AHEC Scholars in Central New York

AHEC Scholars is a two-year program for health professions students interested in getting hands-on experience and learning about topics that affect communities. The program focuses on developing a deeper understanding social determinants of health that affect vulnerable populations and underserved communities..

By learning about the unique needs many people face, students will change the way they see the bigger picture beyond the individual. The AHEC Scholars program is designed to augment the student’s current curriculum. Ultimately, students will create more meaningful interactions with the populations they encounter through their experiences in the program.

Eligibility:
Individuals interested in participating in the AHEC Scholars Program must:

• Be currently matriculated into an accredited allied health or health professional degree/certificate program; and
• Be interested in improving the health quality of individuals in underserved healthcare communities.

Requirements:
Each AHEC Scholar will be required to complete 40 hours of didactic education and 40 hours of community-based experiential training per year (80 hours total for didactic and 80 hours total for experiential throughout the 2-year program).

DIDACTIC EDUCATION

Didactic education consists of an online curriculum that addresses topics designed to augment patient care, including:

• Cultural competency
• Understanding vulnerable populations
• Behavioral health integration
• Interprofessional care coordination
• Healthcare reform and quality improvement

The curriculum will be delivered through videos, journal articles, and online certificate programs.

EXPERIENTIAL TRAINING

Each AHEC Scholar will be a part of an interprofessional team of students. Through a variety of community-based projects and experiences, participants will apply their knowledge from the didactic education in their interactions with the community and become a more well-rounded student.