PROGRAMS

Historically, the California AHEC Program has developed new programs, augmented existing ones, and convened community, academic, and clinical leaders to implement improvements in education and clinical services. Many activities established in past years of the Program are now institutionalized and self sufficient; Bachelor and Masters level nursing programs, Family Medicine residency programs, the College of Allied Health at Charles Drew University and the Pacific AIDS Education and Training Center program. The AHEC is recognized for development of training programs for the state’s diverse health care workforce in underserved communities and for innovation, initiation, facilitation and early investment.

Since 2003, the statewide AHEC has sponsored the California Preparedness Education Network (cal-PEN), a federal initiative originally funded to educate health professionals in disaster preparedness. A natural activity for local AHECs is the rapid dissemination of information framed to fit local needs. Cal-PEN has trained over 25,000 health professionals, most practicing in underserved areas. In October 2009 cal-PEN will debut four one-hour programs on disaster preparedness on University of California Television (UCTV) available by cable, satellite, and through the UCTV website. Programs are web-archived and will be available to download to PCs or MP3 technology.

In 2008-09 the California AHEC provided health professions education in the following program areas:

Continuing education for practicing health professionals

  • Over 5,000 practicing HPs participated in trainings on subjects such as disaster preparedness, quality improvement and chronic disease management

Community based clinical experiences for health professions students and residents

  • Over 250 community training sites
  • Over 1800 HP students trained
  • 85% of training took place in underserved sites

Teaching health professions students to present health education information to communities and clinic patients

  • 24 FM residents trained in adolescent medicine ran obesity clinic and peer education program in inner city high school
  • 10 HP students trained in geriatrics presented health education programs to elderly in US-Mexico border region
  • 80 Medical students trained in community medicine and presented health education materials to community

Health professions and higher education information and experiences for K-12 students

  • Over 10,000 K-12 students contacted
  • Over 8,000 students participated in programs
  • 72% of those trained are ethnically diverse

2009 - 2010 Program areas:

  • Community-based training for practicing health professionals
  • Community-based training for health professions students and residents
  • Teaching health professions students to present health education information to communities and clinic patients
  • Health professions and higher education information and experiences for K-12 students