The mission of the Arizona AHEC Program is to enhance access to quality healthcare, particularly primary and preventive care, by improving the supply and distribution of healthcare professionals through educational partnerships between academic and community organizations in rural and urban medical underserved areas. Arizona AHEC supports a wide variety of education programs at all levels of the health professions workforce development pipeline, including youth programs, community-based training for health professions students, continuing education for health professionals, and community health promotion.
Arizona AHEC comprises six regional centers and an administering central office at the University of Arizona Health Sciences Center. The regional centers carry out the program’s mission by creating and coordinating programs within their service regions. Collaborators include academic institutions, community organizations, healthcare agencies, and other groups that promote the health of Arizona residents.