Welcome to the Office of Community Health Partnerships and the Area Health Education Center (AHEC) Program. The purpose of the AHEC Program is to help reduce the significant shortage of primary health care providers in rural and medically underserved communities in the Rio Grande Valley.

Mission

Our mission is to enhance student health care education and training networks within RGV communities, academic institutions, and community-based organizations. The AHEC program is committed to advancing the quality and delivery of patient care to rural and under-served areas and populations through our UTRGV AHEC centers in Rio Grande City, Brownsville, and San Carlos.

UTRGV Health Professions students interested in enhancing their education by gaining valuable knowledge and experience in rural and under-served settings can get involved by becoming AHEC Scholars.

Serving Our Community

Our special affiliation with the UT Health RGV clinical program offers scholars from the UTRGV School of Medicine, School of Podiatric Medicine, School of Nursing, School of Social Work and the College of Health Professions with real-world training in providing health care services to patients in South Texas. AHEC services include family medicine, acute and chronic illness care, health screenings, physical exams, immunizations, and preventive care.

Impact

• Improve patient access to primary health care in rural and underserved areas in the Rio Grande Valley.
• Develop and enhance education and training networks within South Texas communities, academic institutions, and community-based organizations.
• Educate medical students from the UTRGV School of Medicine and other health-related disciplines about the social causes of health and health inequalities.

The UTRGV AHEC Program is jointly funded by the Federal Health Resources Services Administration and the School of Medicine.