Welcome new and returning AHEC Scholars at Geisel School of Medicine and Franklin Pierce University.

You will be receiving information from me via email re: the Northern NH AHEC trip. However, in the meantime I thought it helpful to share/refresh your memory about the AHEC Scholars program.

Background and Requirements of the NH AHEC Health Equity Scholars Program

The AHEC Scholars program is a somewhat new national program (instituted in 2017) hosted by each Area Health Education Center (AHEC) across the country. The program is partially federally funded* (see below for information on the funder) and, with that, a few requirements of the AHEC Scholars, including: 

• Commitment based on length of academic program (i.e. , 2-year commitment for MD students; 18-month commitment for PA students),
• Self-documentation of 40 hours of didactic experiences (this can include electives at your academic institution) per year
• Self-documentation of 40 hours of community-based and/or clinical experiences (this can include AHEC organized events and any other community-based volunteer activities and/or clinical requirements) per year 
• Completion of evaluation surveys (baseline survey, survey following activities, post-graduation survey, etc.)
• A post-completion follow-up for all students 12 months after completion of professional program (MD or PA)

Our AHEC team will work closely with your academic leadership to create opportunities. For example:  

• A 2-day event in rural northern New Hampshire for 24 Scholars is scheduled October 25–26, 2024 
• A 1-day event in urban underserved areas in southern New Hampshire for 30 scholars in Spring 2025 (date TBD) as well as notification of local opportunities in the southern region throughout the year
• Quarterly newsletter listing optional didactic offerings and events—many offered virtually, some in-person

Finally, we will work closely with our statewide AHEC team to create additional community-based or didactic offerings that may help increase your knowledge of populations living in rural or underserved communities. 

As always, please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions!  

Thank you, Kristina

*AHEC is a national program funded by the US Department of Health and Human Services/Health Resources and Services Administration. Dartmouth’s Geisel School of Medicine has hosted and provided matching funding for the New Hampshire Area Health Education Center Network since 1997. The projects described here are supported by HRSA Grant No. U77HP03627 from the Health Resources and Services Administration of the US Department of Health and Human Services. This information should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS, or the US Government.