Bettie Rundlett
Washington State University Extension
East Washington Area Health Education Center
310 N. Riverpoint Blvd.
P.O. Box 1495
Spokane, WA 99210-1495
(509) 358-7646, (509) 358-7647 fax

Steven Meltzer
Washington State University Extension
East Washington Area Health Education Center
310 N. Riverpoint Blvd.
P.O. Box 1495
Spokane, WA 99210-1495
(509) 358-7640, (509) 358-7647 fax

National Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) were established by Congress in 1972. Now in 46 states, there are 183 Centers serving specific geographic areas. The mission of these Centers is to recruit and retain health professionals for rural and urban underserved communities to assure access to quality health care. Part of that mission includes implementing K-20 health careers programs. The Eastern and Western Washington AHECs were established in the mid-80s through the University of Washington School of Medicine. As part of Washington State University since 1985, the EWAHEC established its academic home within WSU Extension in 2004.

The AHECs work to build strong, accessible health care systems by supporting health science students’ clinical rotations, developing career exploration activities for youth, identifying mentors and preceptors, and supporting community health activities.

The EWAHEC is currently a contractor to the State of Washington Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board, serving as liaison and providing technical assistance to regional Health Skill Panels aligned with local Workforce Development Councils. These panels are community and county coalitions which include healthcare industry leaders, K-12 and post-secondary educators, labor, and economic development principals charged with assuring an adequate health professions workforce in the face of mounting personnel shortages in this field.

This session will educate Extension professionals about the opportunities for formal or informal partnerships with AHECs in their state, and highlight programs which offer career exploration opportunities and community engagement in efforts to strengthen the health workforce.