Health Care Workforce in the Blue Ridge Region

The BRAHEC service area covers over 9,000 square miles, making transportation a major barrier to health care for many residents. Nearly 60% of the district's population lives in only six counties (Albemarle, Augusta, Culpepper, Fauquier, Frederick and Rockingham) and two cities (Charlottesville and Harrisonburg). In the region, 15 counties and all 7 cities are classified as MUA/P. Fourteen are primary care HPSAs; 6 are mental health HPSAs; and 15 are dental HPSAs. Four FQHCs and five rural health clinics serve the region. (October 21, 2016--retrieved from: HPSAfind and VDH). Harrisonburg, the largest city in the district, has a population of 52,538 with 18.6% self-identifying as Hispanic/Latino. Almost 23% speak a language other than English at home, 19% were born in another country, and 32% were estimated to have incomes below the poverty level. (American Community Survey 2010-2014).

Cities

  • Buena Vista
  • Charlottesville
  • Harrisonburg
  • Lexington
  • Staunton
  • Waynesboro
  • Winchester

Counties

  • Albemarle
  • August
  • Bath
  • Clarke
  • Culpeper
  • Fauquier
  • Fluvanna
  • Frederick
  • Greene
  • Highland
  • Louisa
  • Madison
  • Nelson
  • Orange
  • Page
  • Rappahannock
  • Rockbridge
  • Rockingham
  • Shenandoah
  • Warren

AHEC Event Calendar

Explore our upcoming events by clicking into the interactive calendar below.

Director

Program Director

Brenda Bechler This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Brenda Bechler is the Assistant Director for Community Health Education and the Blue Ridge AHEC Director at James Madison University’s Institute for Innovation of Health and Human Services. Brenda received her Bachelor in Health and Physical Education from Eastern Mennonite University and her Masters in Kinesiology from James Madison University. She has over 25 years of experience in health education in a variety of settings including: corporate wellness, chronic illness rehabilitation, home visiting, adolescent sexual health education, and as a college health instructor. Brenda is eager to create partnerships with academia, the local community, and professional organizations to enhance health equity.

Blue Ridge AHEC

755 Martin Luther King, Jr. Way
Harrisonburg, VA 22801

Phone: (540) 568-5284

brahec.jmu.edu

Map of location

Health Facilities

HEALTH FACILITIES

District Health Organization and Hospitals

  • Augusta Medical Center
  • Central Shenandoah Health District
  • Culpeper Regional Hospital
  • Fauquier Health System - Hospital in Northern Virginia
  • Lord Fairfax Health District
  • Martha Jefferson Hospital
  • Rappahannock/Rapidan Health District
  • Rockingham Memorial Hospital
  • Shenandoah Memorial Hospital
  • Thomas Jefferson Health District
  • Stonewall Jackson Memorial Hospital
  • University of Virginia Health System
  • University of Virginia Health Science Center
  • Winchester Medical Center

Community Health Centers (CHC)

  • Harrisonburg Community Health Center
    563A Neff Avenue
    Harrisonburg, VA 22801
    Phone: (540) 433-4913

  • Highland Medical Center School Based Health Care
    240 Myers Moon Road
    Monterey, VA 24465
    Phone: (540) 468-3300

  • Clarke/Frederick/Winchester
    141 Fort Collier Road
    Winchester, VA 22603
    Phone: (540) 665-6386

  • Migrant SVS-Winchester Outreach
    867 Fairmont Avenue
    Winchester, VA 22601
    Phone: (304) 263-4999

  • Winchester Family Health Center
    525 Amherst Street
    Winchester, VA 22601
    Phone: (540) 722-2369

  • Winchester Family Health Center
    130 Peyton Street
    Winchester, VA 22601
    Phone: (540) 722-2369

VIRGINIA AREA HEALTH EDUCATION CENTERS (AHEC)

Click any area to learn more about each AHEC region

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