AHEC Student Services

The University of Kentucky Area Health Education Center (AHEC) Program is a collaborative effort with the University of Kentucky, the University of Louisville Health Science Center and eight regional centers to positively affect the distribution of health professionals throughout the Commonwealth of Kentucky.  The eight regional centers, or AHECs, are strategically located throughout the state. In short, AHEC works to support, train, recruit and retain the best health professionals in Kentucky.

During their rotations, AHEC clinical experiences are designed to immerse students in high quality instruction, while fostering a connection to community-based practice. By committing to an experience in a rural community in Kentucky, students will develop a broad range of clinical skills they may not obtain in urban environments. While students are going through the AHEC experience, we provide support services that enhance learning and enhance the living/working experience in a rural community. 

Preparing exceptional practitioners requires a balance of rigorous classroom instruction, coupled with high quality clinical training. AHEC rotations provide health professions students a broad range of practice experiences in a supportive, professional community. These rotations take place in small cities, rural locations and in underserved communities all across the state of Kentucky. Students enrolled in one of the UK health professions programs may be required to complete one or more immersive, community-based clinical experiences away from their home campus. These experiences range in duration, but must be at least three weeks in length. Matched with preceptors/clinical instructors by either their program liaison or by the clinical education coordinator, students explore the rewards and unique challenges of providing health services to a rural community through a variety of experiences including interdisciplinary opportunities and community service. 

Annually, our center proudly supports roughly over 1200 clinical rotations. Support services range from easing the financial burden of being off site with stipends for rent and mileage to providing information about the rotation's local community so students can feel more familiar with their settings prior to their start date. For more information on individual AHEC regions, please see the regional websites at the bottom of this page.