AHEC celebrates record-breaking class of scholars in an inspiring completion ceremony
Friday, April 25, marked a momentous occasion as the Area Health Education Center (AHEC) proudly celebrated the graduation of 47 exceptional students from its prestigious AHEC Scholars Program. These future healthcare leaders each completed at least 80 hours of immersive, hands-on learning and 80 hours of community-based training, equipping them with the skills and insight to serve Ohio’s most vulnerable communities.
Designed as a dynamic enhancement to traditional academic pathways, the AHEC Scholars Program offers interprofessional, team-based education focused on real-world healthcare challenges. From behavioral health and cultural competency to social determinants of health and emerging health issues, scholars explored vital topics that shape the future of equitable care—both in urban and rural settings.
At the heart of the program’s completion ceremony, each scholar received a Certificate of Completion and a personalized letter of commendation from the President of the National AHEC Organization. Several scholars—Julianna Barnhart, Alexia Howell, Jacob Louis and Danté Yarbrough—stepped up to share moving personal stories about perseverance, growth and the transformative power of community support.
In a historic milestone, 14 graduates from this year’s class will be matriculating to NEOMED in 2025, the highest number since the program launched in 2018!
This outstanding group includes:
Raneem Al-Sharif, Sarah Dang, Avinab De, Jillian Gady, Ashraf Halaibeh, Alexia Howell, Morgan Klein, Jacob Louis, Anvitha Nadendla, Muawiyah Samad, Alisha Slomers, Divya Warrier, Danté Yarbrough and Andy Yuan.
To cap off the celebration, eight standout students were honored as AHEC Scholars of the Year for their exceptional dedication and leadership:
Julianna Barnhart, Spencer Bradford, Jillian Gady, Victoria Hahn, Raneem Al-Sharif, Jessica St. Laurent, Avinab De, Jacob Louis and Danté Yarbrough.
The ceremony was more than just a celebration—it was a stirring reminder of the power of education to transform lives and communities.
"This program is a shining example of what we can accomplish when we come together to support one another," said Patricia Thornborough, regional director of Northeast Ohio AHEC. "I'm proud of each and every one of our scholars and wish them all the best as they begin this exciting new chapter.
[Bold names indicate individuals who received multiple honors, such as speaking at the ceremony, NEOMED matriculation, and/or being named an AHEC Scholar of the Year.]
For more information on the AHEC Scholars, visit: AHEC Scholars Program | NEOMED
This program is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as part of an award totaling $47 million with an additional 100% percentage financed with nongovernmental sources. The contents are those are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.” For more information, visit, HRSA.gov.