RESOURCES
Below is a curated selection of organizations, reference materials, websites, and partnerships for your use.
AREA HEALTH EDUCATION CENTERS
For more information on AHECs—nationally and in the state of Oregon—please follow the appropriate links below.
National AHEC Organization
Oregon AHEC at OHSU
Oregon Workforce Institute
AHEC of Southwest Oregon (Roseburg)
Cascades East AHEC (Bend)
Northeast Oregon AHEC (La Grande)
Oregon Pacific AHEC (Lincoln City)
Oregon AHEC at OHSU
Discover Oregon AHEC’s mission to enhance healthcare accessibility and quality in rural and underserved regions. This initiative involves a strategic collaboration with OHSU and regional centers, dedicated to elevating primary care services in areas with the greatest needs. Their comprehensive approach includes workforce development, education, and practice transformation, aiming to build a diverse and culturally competent healthcare workforce.
Cascades East AHEC (Bend)
Cascades East Area Health Education Center serves Central and Southeastern Oregon, a territory of over 37,000 sq. miles that includes Crook, Deschutes, Grant, Harney, Jefferson, Klamath, and Lake counties plus the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs. CEAHEC is hosted by St. Charles Health System.
Northeast Oregon AHEC (LaGrande)
Northeast Oregon Area Health Education Center (NEOAHEC), Oregon’s pioneering AHEC established in 1991, has a rich history rooted in addressing rural healthcare crises. It began with the efforts of Drs. Lowell Euhus and Scott Siebe, who, along with legislators and healthcare stakeholders, laid the groundwork for enhancing rural healthcare in Oregon. Key legislative achievements include a rural primary care provider tax credit and a loan repayment program, crucial in NEOAHEC’s development. Starting with federal funding in 1990, NEOAHEC has focused on supporting rural healthcare providers and strengthening services from its La Grande location.
Oregon Pacific AHEC (Lebanon)
Area Health Education Centers (AHECs) in Oregon, initiated by a collaborative effort between OHSU and local communities, address the shortage of healthcare professionals in rural and underserved areas of the state. OPAHEC’s mission is to enhance healthcare access through community and educational partnerships. This involves improving healthcare education and training, recruiting and retaining professionals in underserved areas, offering community-based training for health students, and promoting health careers among K-12 and post-secondary students. OPAHEC serves counties in Northwest Oregon and is part of a larger network, including a program office at OHSU in Portland and five regional centers across Oregon, established since 1989 with state and federal support.
Oregon Healthcare Workforce Institute AHEC (Pacific University)
OHWI AHEC, part of Oregon’s healthcare workforce development, focuses on recruiting, retaining, and training a diverse health care workforce, particularly for primary care in rural and urban underserved areas. Collaborating with Pacific University, OHSU, and community partners, OHWI AHEC enhances training and education for current and future health professionals in Washington, Multnomah, and Clackamas counties. With a commitment to serving medically underserved populations, including Native Americans and low-income groups, OHWI AHEC aims to improve healthcare quality through educational opportunities and strategic planning in partnership with local health systems and academic institutions.
