NC AHEC evolved from national and state concerns with the supply, distribution, retention and quality of health professionals.
WORK SESSION – the staff of the UNC Medical School’s Division of Education and Research in Community Care wrote a proposal that brought the $8.5 million contract to the university. Here, in a work session, they listen to Glenn Wilson, then project director, talk about the need for better distribution of health manpower across the state. From left, around the table, are: John Payne, Shirley Jacobs, Faye Pickard, Ann Francis, Jim Vaughn, John Parker, Dr. Glenn Pickard, Moses Carey, Sally Powell, Dr. Eugene Mayer, Vince Kavel, Ethridge Price, Dr. W. Reece Berryhill, and Glenn Wilson. Reprinted from The Chapel Hill News, Volume 50, Number 94, Friday, October 6, 1972.
In 1970, a report from the Carnegie Commission recommended the development of a nationwide system of Area Health Education Centers.
Legislation and federal support since the early 1970s has made the implementation of AHEC programs possible in many states. This national focus coincided with a growing effort in North Carolina to establish statewide community training for health professionals and reverse a trend toward shortages and uneven distribution of primary care physicians in the state’s rural areas.
The program began in 1972 with three AHEC regions under a federal AHEC contract with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine. In 1974, the North Carolina General Assembly approved and funded a plan to create a statewide network of nine AHEC regions. The plan called for the establishment of 300 new primary care medical residencies and the regular rotation of students to off-campus sites.
The General Assembly also provided funds to build or renovate AHEC educational facilities in the nine regions and to develop the proposed program components. By 1975, all nine AHECs were operational.
Interprofessional education (IPE) programs are a major strategic emphasis for NC AHEC. In a transforming health care workplace, interprofessional teamwork skills are increasingly needed to [...]
The North Carolina Area Health Education Centers Program
Mission
To meet the stateās health and health workforce needs. NC AHEC provides educational programs and services that bridge academic institutions and communities to improve the health of the people of North Carolina with a focus on underserved populations.
Vision
To help lead the transformation of health care education and services in North Carolina.
Values
Collaboration
We will be team-based and open-minded.
Diversity
We will be respectful and inclusive.
Service Excellence
We will deliver quality activities and services that our customers value.
Innovation
We will continuously generate, test, evaluate, implement and improve new ideas.
integrity
We will act with fairness, transparency and the highest level of ethics.
History
The North Carolina AHEC Program evolved from national and state concerns with the supply, distribution, retention and quality of health professionals. In 1970, a report from the Carnegie Commission recommended the development of a nationwide system of Area Health Education Centers.
Legislation and federal support since the early 1970s has made the implementation of AHEC programs possible in many states. This national focus coincided with a growing effort in North Carolina to establish statewide community training for health professionals and reverse a trend toward shortages and uneven distribution of primary care physicians in the state’s rural areas.
The program began in 1972 with three AHEC regions under a federal AHEC contract with the UNC-CH School of Medicine. In 1974, the North Carolina General Assembly approved and funded a plan by the UNC-CH School of Medicine to create a statewide network of nine AHEC regions.
The plan called for the establishment of 300 new primary care medical residencies and the regular rotation of students to off-campus sites.
The General Assembly also provided funds to build or renovate AHEC educational facilities in the nine regions and to develop the proposed program components. By 1975, all nine AHECs were operational.
The NC AHEC Pipeline
The NC Area Health Education Centers
Area L AHEC – Serving Edgecombe, Halifax, Nash, Northampton, and Wilson counties. Charlotte AHEC – Serving Anson, Cabarrus, Cleveland, Gaston, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Stanly, and Union counties. Eastern AHEC– Serving Beaufort, Bertie, Camden, Carteret, Chowan, Craven, Currituck, Dare, Gates, Greene, Hertford, Hyde, Jones, Lenoir, Martin, Onslow, Pamlico, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Pitt, Tyrrell, Washington, and Wayne counties. Piedmont AHEC – Serving Alamance, Caswell, Chatham, Guilford, Montgomery, Orange, Randolph,and Rockingham counties. Mountain AHEC – Serving Buncombe, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Swain, Transylvania, and Yancey counties. Northwest AHEC – Serving Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Davidson, Davie, Forsyth, Iredell, Rowan, Stokes, Surry, Watauga, Wilkes, and Yadkin counties. South East AHEC – Serving Brunswick, Columbus, Duplin, Pender, and New Hanover counties. Southern Regional AHEC – Serving Bladen, Cumberland, Harnett, Hoke, Moore, Richmond, Robeson, Sampson, and Scotland counties. Wake AHEC – Serving Durham, Franklin, Granville, Johnston, Lee, Person, Vance, Wake, and Warren counties. Duke AHEC
