AHEC Scholars alumni share impact on graduate education

The AHEC Scholars Program continues to make an impact beyond the undergraduate experience, helping students carry interprofessional, community-focused learning into their graduate health professions education at Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED).

To date, 46 AHEC Scholar graduates have continued their education at NEOMED. A recent survey with 22 respondents provides insight into how AHEC learning continues to influence their education and professional development.

What is AHEC Scholars?

The AHEC Scholars Program is a longitudinal, interprofessional program that prepares health professions students to serve rural and health profession shortage areas through community-focused learning, clinical experiences and professional development. Scholars build skills in core areas designed to prepare students for the changing healthcare environment. In this survey, the core topics identified as most important to students were Interprofessional Education, Social Determinants of Health and Behavioral Health Integration.

Continuing Careers at NEOMED

AHEC Scholar graduates reported continuing to apply what they learned through the AHEC Scholars Program in their clinical site placements and research experiences at NEOMED. When asked which regional AHEC programs were most helpful in preparing them for graduate education, graduates highlighted programs that connect classroom learning with real-world patient care. These findings reflect regional AHEC programming and do not include the community-based experiences provided through our four AHEC centers.

#1 Mental Health: End of Life Care & Grief. The program was developed in collaboration with the NEOMED Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program (GWEP) and provided students with an opportunity to explore the complexities of mental health, grief and end-of-life care.

#2 Day in the Life of a Medical Student. A collaboration with the Internal Medicine Interest Group (IMIG), this experience incorporated gross anatomy learning and patient interviewing, giving AHEC Scholars an early opportunity to develop skills and perspectives that translate directly into the NEOMED curriculum.

By the Numbers

• 46 AHEC Scholars have continued their education at NEOMED.
• 4 Graduate Programs: 78% Medicine | 9% Pharmacy | 5% Dentistry | 10% COGS
• 3 Top AHEC Topics: Interprofessional Education | Social Determinants of Health | Behavioral Health Integration

To learn more about AHEC at Northeast Ohio Medical University, contact Rebecca Brabander at rjohnson4@neomed.edu.