Â鶹ÎÞÂë°æ Center for Rural Health and Health Workforce
The Â鶹ÎÞÂë°æ Center for Rural Health & Health Workforce (ACRH-HW) is dedicated to strengthening Â鶹ÎÞÂë°æ’s health workforce, with a focus on rural communities and addressing workforce shortages. The Center oversees various programs, including the Â鶹ÎÞÂë°æ Area Health Education Centers (AHEC), which operate through six regional community-based centers across the state. As part of the Â鶹ÎÞÂë°æ's role as the state's health campus, the Center supports health program planning, community partnerships, and intercampus collaboration. It provides a statewide framework to support health workforce development, from career exploration and training to continuing education.
FEATURED PROJECTS & PROGRAMS
NEWS & Stories
Oct. 3, 2025, was a big day for the Â鶹ÎÞÂë°æ Area Health Education Center (AHEC), which is proudly housed within the UAA College of Health! AHEC marked its 20th anniversary with a special legislative citation from the Â鶹ÎÞÂë°æ State Legislature—a well-deserved recognition for two decades of crucial work.
Darrel Foister Jr., School of Nursing alum and military veteran, now serves Â鶹ÎÞÂë°æ communities as a family nurse practitioner.
UAA's Area Health Education Center (AHEC) helped bring hands-on healthcare career opportunities to over 100 students at a career fair in Ninilchik, where they engaged in activities like sheep eye dissections to explore health-related fields.
The 2025 ALPHA Health Summit, held at the Dena'ina Center in Anchorage, featured a session on combating substance use disorders through academic detailing, presented by UAA’s Â鶹ÎÞÂë°æ Center for Rural Health & Health Workforce (ACRH-HW).
Della Keats was an Iñupiaq healer whose legacy in traditional healing resonates across Â鶹ÎÞÂë°æ. In her honor, UAA offers programs to support rural and Â鶹ÎÞÂë°æ Native students pursuing careers in health care.
Upcoming Events
Contact Us:
Fax: (907) 786-6573
Email: uaa_ahec@alaska.edu
UAA Center for Rural Health & Health Workforce
1901 Bragaw Street, Suite 250
Anchorage, AK 99508
Mailing Address:
UAA Center for Rural Health & Health Workforce
3211 Providence Drive, BOC3-250
Anchorage, AK 99508
