About Virginia Area Health Education Centers (AHEC)
The Virginia Health Workforce Development Authority (VHWDA) utilizes a multi-stakeholder collaborative model to identify, recruit and retain highly qualified health professionals to successfully create and improve a competitive health workforce throughout the Commonwealth. The core work of the VHWDA is centered around community partnerships to develop a strong workforce pipeline at a younger age; increase community-based training opportunities and interprofessional collaboration; provide funding and support for health career education, advancement, pipeline development and job placement; and identify and communicate regional health workforce shortages and needs with key stakeholders and legislators.
To accomplish this, the VHWDA works in partnership with the Virginia Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) Program and its regional centers statewide. Since 1991, the Virginia AHEC centers have been instrumental in developing effective programs to address specific health care needs of their communities. This includes implementing health careers recruitment programs; identifying health workforce distribution issues; sponsoring continuing education programs; identifying career opportunities for students, displaced or unemployed adults; providing interpreter training services; and connecting students with internships and preceptorships. Through community-based interprofessional training programs, AHECs identify, motivate, recruit, train and retain a health care workforce committed to underserved populations.
REGIONAL CAREER TRAINING
Need help finding training or job opportunities? Contact your local AHEC director Monday-Friday.
Blue Ridge Region AHEC – Shenandoah Valley
Capital Region AHEC – Richmond Metro and surrounding areas
Eastern Virginia Region AHEC – Southeast Virginia and Peninsula
Northern Virginia Region AHEC – Northern Virginia
Rappahannock Region AHEC – Northern Neck
South Central Region AHEC – Lynchburg, Danville, and surrounding area
Southside Region AHEC – South of Richmond
Southwest Virginia Region AHEC – Roanoke Valley and West