Useful Links & Resources

Federal AHEC Program -- Area Health Education Centers (AHECs) are academic-community partnerships that train health care providers in sites and programs that are responsive to State and local needs. Health career enhancement and recruitment programs for K-12 students are emphasized. AHECs improve the supply, distribution, diversity and quality of the health workforce, ultimately increasing access to health care in medically underserved areas.

National AHEC Organization -- NAO is the national organization that supports and advances the AHEC/HETC network in improving the health of individuals and communities by transforming health care through education.

National Health Services Corps, (NHSC) -- NHSC is a federal program that links communities that are designated as health professional shortage and/or medically underserved areas with health professionals. The NHSC provides support in the recruitment and retention of primary care clinicians, including dental, mental, and behavioral health professionals, to serve in their community.

University of Maryland School of Medicine -- UM SOM is dedicated to providing excellence in biomedical education, basic and clinical research, quality patient care and service to improve the health of the citizens of Maryland and beyond. The School is committed to the education and training of MD, MD/PhD, graduate, physical therapy & rehabilitation science, and medical research technology students. We will recruit and develop faculty to serve as exemplary role models for our students.

University of Maryland Statewide Health Network -- MSHN is established to reduce morbidity and mortality related to cancer and tobacco-related diseases through promotion of a wide variety of prevention and control activities as well as promotion of increased participation in clinical trials.

Maryland Special Populations Cancer Research Network -- MSPN is one of 18 “Special Population Network” grants funded throughout the United States to address cancer disparities in minority and medically underserved populations. The Network works in Maryland to address and eliminate differences in the incidence and mortality associated with cancers in these demographic groups versus the general population.

Maryland Office of Primary Care & Rural Health -- OPCRH mission is to assure the availability and accessibility of comprehensive primary health care services to all Maryland residents regardless of their ability to pay.

Maryland Cooperative Extension (MCE) -- MCE is a statewide, non-formal education system within the college of Agriculture and Natural Resources and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. MCE educational programs and problem-solving assistance are available to citizens and are based on the research and experience of land grant universities such as the University of Maryland, College Park.

National Association of Rural Health Clinics (NARHC) -- NARHC is the only national organization dedicated exclusively to improving the delivery of quality, cost-effective health care in rural under served areas through the Rural Health Clinics (RHC) Program. NARHC works with Congress, federal agencies, and rural health allies to promote, expand, and protect the RHC Program.

Mid-Atlantic Association of Community Health Centers (MACHC) -- MACHC is a non-profit membership organization, whose members consist of community, migrant and homeless health centers, local non-profit and community-owned healthcare programs. Their mission is to provide health care services to the medically underserved and uninsured in Maryland and Delaware.

MedChi (pronounced med-ki), The Maryland State Medical Society -- MedChi is to serve as Maryland's foremost advocate and resource for physicians, their patients and the public health.

Maryland State Dental Association -- MSDA Represents and supports the dental profession in its efforts to provide high quality, ethical, oral health care to the public and is the professional association for dentists in Maryland. It is a state branch of the American Dental Association.

Maryland Nurses Association -- MNA will foster the development and advancement of nursing practice and will work to achieve quality health care for all the people of Maryland.

These useful links play an important role as key partners to the Maryland AHEC Program. For more information, see the Key Partners section of this web site.