The Purchase Area Health Education Center (AHEC) is available to assist pre-health professions and post baccalaureate students from the Purchase region prepare for health careers. Services available to students include:
In the fall, pre-health professional students are able to attend the Pre-Health Professionals Fair on Murray State University's campus. Numerous health professional programs from a variety of schools are invited so students can meet and inquire about admission requirements and curriculum.
Rural Community Health 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 students can be eligible for the program if space is available. Scholars are chosen based on interest in rural health care.
RCHS touring KY Medical Schools
The Letters from Home program is designed to keep health professions students from the Purchase region who are accepted into medical schools connected to AHEC. We believe it is important that medical students know they have a support system in Purchase AHEC and we desire to foster a climate of connection with medical students and the healthcare community back home. Dinners are coordinated close to the medical school campuses and help maintain that sense of connection to the region. Representatives from our region's hospitals are invited to join AHEC in hosting events in order to get to know students, follow them along their career path, and hopefully increase the potential to return back home to practice one day.
The Student Rural Health Association Chapter is an organization created to emphasize the importance of being a rural provider especially in the state of Kentucky. Murray State students, who have any interest in rural health, can participate in the SRHA Chapter. The chapter meets once a month on campus, where either guest speakers discuss different topics like having a social life as a rural provider or the students conduct activities like suturing or simulating an overdose to better prepare them as future providers. Every topic emphasizes rural health and being a provider within our community. Along with monthly meetings, students can participate in events like Kentucky Rural Health Association conference, rural hospital and school tours, community service, and more. Students also qualify for a scholarship through the Kentucky Rural Health Association. There are no fees to participate.
SRHA Chapter on University of Louisville Trover Campus Tour
Suturing during Chapter Meeting