The Nebraska Area Health Education Center Program’s newest cohort of scholars have arrived, and of the 74 students from throughout Nebraska taking part in the two-year program, 10 are new students in the UNMC College of Medicine.
New medical AHEC students this year are:
- Madelyn Graff
- Lydia Hesseltine
- Paige Jeffryes
- Micaiah Vrbka
- Austin Choat
- Ayush Chataut
- Nour Elrokshi
- Austin Osborn
- Abigail Sharp
- Makenna Douglas
“The AHEC Scholars program aligns with the goals of UNMC to provide exemplary preparation to serve rural and underserved Nebraska as part of an interprofessional team,” said Nebraska AHEC program director Jeffrey Harrison, MD.
The AHEC program itself, established at UNMC in 2001 and part of a national initiative, does not teach medicine – or any of the other health professions its students are interested in.
“These are health professional students who really want to become leaders within rural, underserved areas,” said Lydia Sand, deputy director and program manager for the Nebraska AHEC program. “The program focuses on working to connect them to employment, making sure we can get them back to those communities where they want to practice — and where Nebraska has workforce shortage needs.
“Ultimately, it’s a program designed to get students excited about rural and underserved areas of Nebraska.”
See more about the AHEC Program.
Geoffrey Talmon, MD, associate dean for medical education in the college, is a big fan of the AHEC Program.
“In keeping with the college’s mission, these students’ time as AHEC scholars will provide them with the competencies to enhance patient outcomes, particularly in rural and underserved areas,” he said. “They are not only advancing their own education but also building a strong foundation for impactful, community-centered health care.”
One medical student, set to graduate this year, said the AHEC Program was an important part of the medical education journey.
“The Nebraska AHEC Scholars Program exposed me to various scenarios, cultural practices and
current health care professionals in rural areas I was not familiar with. Since my school is located in Omaha, it can be difficult to gain hands on rural experience and the AHEC program allowed me to stay involved with rural communities during my time in an urban area.”
“Building the health care workforce across Nebraska is a key part of UNMC’s mission,” said H. Dele Davies, MD, interim chancellor. “We’re excited by the success of this program at UNMC, and we congratulate this year’s impressive cohort of AHEC Scholars.”
Dr. Davies also welcomed the new students to the next step in their future career. “UNMC is privileged to be a part of your health profession journey, and we look forward to the impact you will have, in your communities, in Nebraska and beyond,” he said.