The statewide Area Health Education Centers program is a partnership between OHSU and Oregon communities. Its purpose is to improve the education, training and distribution of health care professionals in rural Oregon. There are five AHECs statewide, each dedicated to working with local health care facilities and providers, community leaders, schools and citizens to identify and meet local needs. The program allows students and residents to serve in rural settings, both filling a provider shortage and spurring interest among budding professionals in rural health care. Their Medquest Health Careers Choices camp has provided health career exploration opportunities to more than 120 students in grades nine through 12.
Students learn about a variety of careers from presenters living in the community.
These professions include medicine, dentistry, EMT, pharmacy, nursing, occupational and physical therapy, veterinary medicine and naturopathy. During the weeklong camp participants do at least two job shadows. Surveys show that more than half of past participants have actively pursued health careers. During their AHEC-sponsored rural rotation dental hygiene students from OHSU's School of Dentistry provide dental screenings and oral health education to students at Clatskanie Elementary School, Stepping Stones, Bryant House Preschool and Orchard Street Group Home, all in Clatskanie, Hudson Park Elementary and Ranier Head Start, both in Ranier, and Westport School in Westport. The rotation emphasizes community service and is responsive to local requests for dental screenings, educational services and health fairs.