The
University of Nebraska Medical Center has received a five-year grant from the
Health Resources and Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services.
The purpose of the grant is to open a new center in Lincoln and renew funding in Area Health Education
Centers (AHEC) that already exist.
Existing centers are located in Grand Island, Norfolk,
Scottsbluff and Omaha. The new center in Lincoln will serve
the southeast region of the state.
Nebraska AHECs have received federal funding for their programs the last 13 years.
The
AHEC program is key in the recruitment and retention of health professionals in
Nebraska's 93 counties. Some of the other key duties performed by AHECs
include:
- Working with local schools (grades K-12) in health career promotion;
- Providing health career fairs and camps;
- Assisting health profession students gain educational experiences in
underserved communities;
- Working with local health career providers to assure the availability of
continuing education; and
- Working with community agencies to meet local health care needs.
"This
grant allows AHECs to continue their work with community and academic partners
to make a difference in medically underserved communities," said Michael
Sitorius, M.D., chairman of the UNMC Department of Family Medicine and director
of Nebraska AHEC in Omaha, noting that more than 75 percent of the grant
dollars go to the regional centers and their communities.
For
additional information on AHEC centers, please contact a local AHEC
representative:
