Communities to Better Health

Rural Scholars is a four week summer program sponsored by Purchase Area Health Education Center which introduces rural students to the need for health and medical professionals in rural communities, like their own. Scholars will be exposed to community health and population based health issues within rural communities. Priority is given to students from: Ballard, Calloway, Carlisle, Crittenden, Fulton, Graves, Hickman, Livingston, Lyon, and Marshall, McCracken or Trigg counties. However, other Kentucky residents can be eligible for the program if space is available. Scholars are chosen based on interest in rural health care.

Staying connected when you are away at school. The Letters from Home initiative helps us keep connected with pre-health professions students from the region, who are accepted into medical schools. This program fosters ongoing communication and support between our local medical students and our service area. Student Dinners are coordinated close to the medical school campuses to help maintain a sense of connection to the region. Representatives from the area hospitals are invited to join AHEC in hosting events, so they may get to know students, follow them along their career path, and hopefully increase the potential that will return back home to practice one day. Newsletters provide a composite of the current happenings at area hospitals, and features local practitioners offering words of encouragement, as the students navigate their way through medical school and residency.