About Eastern CT Area Health Education Center

HISTORY:
The federal Area Health Education Center (AHEC) Program was established in 1973 as a way to encourage medical schools to increase the number of students and residents trained in rural communities. The AHEC Program is housed in the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration.

The Connecticut AHEC Program was established in 1995 by Connecticut General Assembly and received initial federal funding in 1997. The program is based at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine in Farmington and implemented by regional AHECs in Waterbury, Hartford, Bridgeport and Jewett City.

AHEC'S MISSION:
To improve health outcomes by creating partnerships in education and healthcare, providing support to healthcare professionals and strengthening the quality and supply of healthcare providers.

For more information, please feel free to contact us.

AHEC'S OBJECTIVES:

• Coordinate and organize continuing education programs for medical and social service providers and their organizations that meet regulatory requirements for continuing education units and accreditation.
• Recruit, train, and retrain community health workers and institute advanced career paths through higher education. 
• Provide health career recruitment programs to high school and college students by introducing future health professions and, at the same time, provide care to those who are currently underserved medically.
• Cultivate and promote interest in developing international approaches and strategies to meet the healthcare needs of the growing immigrant and refugee populations in the region.