Idaho Area Health Education Center

Did you know that Idaho is experiencing a severe shortage of health professionals? Our state is in dire need of primary care physicians as well as other types of health professionals.  Physicians, dentists, and mental health providers are especially needed to serve Idaho’s most rural areas as well as its underserved communities.

Idaho Area Health Education Center’s (AHEC) mission is to, “enhance Idaho’s healthcare workforce and community health in rural and under-served areas by partnering with educational institutions and state, regional, and national primary care proponents.” Idaho AHEC, a program of Jannus, Inc. a multi-service non-profit organization located in Boise, began in 1987. Idaho Area Health Education Center (AHEC) is part of a nation-wide system of programs, created by Congress in 1971, to improve the distribution, diversity, and supply of the primary healthcare workforce, with a special emphasis on meeting the needs of rural and underserved areas.

Idaho AHEC is affiliated with University of Washington School of Medicine WWAMI Program, a five state collaboration for medical education which takes its name from the first letter of each of the states that partner together—Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana and Idaho.

Our Orientation to Health Careers program provides middle-school and high-school students with a chance to learn more about a variety of health careers in their own communities. Participants gain awareness about health career options, which we hope increases their desire and motivation to enter primary care or public health occupations.

Idaho AHEC supports programs that allow medical students to complete clinical rotations in rural areas of Idaho for several weeks. Student stipends help students pay for housing, transportation, and food while on rotation in rural communities.

We also partner with others to provide continuing education for health professionals, connect health professionals with jobs in rural and underserved areas of Idaho, and promoting good community health practices. Idaho AHEC's budget is small, but the vision is big.

Help Idaho AHEC help Idahoans have better access to healthcare by making a donation today!