Health Career Program


AHEC Health Career Program

A competitive, year-long academic enrichment program designed for students interested in health careers across Alabama

The AHEC Health Career Program Mission

Our mission at AHEC is to enhance access to quality healthcare, particularly primary and preventative care. We improve the supply and distribution of healthcare professionals via strategic partnerships with academic programs, communities, and professional organizations. By promoting healthcare careers during formative years, we hope to drive interest and deepen training in the healthcare workforce of tomorrow.

The Alabama Statewide AHEC Program covers all 67 counties in Alabama with five community-based AHEC Centers to serve healthcare needs at a hyper-local level. If you or a student you know has an interest in a healthcare profession, reach out to us today.

AHEC Health Career Program

DASPP is a year-long high school program that aims to establish a resource funnel for marginalized students through strategic partnerships with four-year institutions, community colleges, and non-profit organizations. All regional offices participate in this program to ensure a smooth transition into college for its students in hopes that they return to serve in their communities.

The Benefits

  • Improved scores on standardized tests
  • Individualized academic and professional support
  • Opportunities to network with healthcare providers in rural Alabama
  • Exposure to primary care practitioners in a rural Alabama community
  • Increased financial literacy
  • Minimized financial barriers
    • Free ACT prep and waiver
    • Free dual enrollment
    • Free mentoring and tutoring

What We Offer

AHEC Health Career Programs encourage rural students to see the healthcare career opportunities in their own communities. For many students, this is an important way forward and provides them with several resources to serve that purpose.

For this reason, we take high school students in grades 9-12 from rural and disadvantaged backgrounds and guide their entry into health careers through classroom presentations, free ACT prep classes, campus tours, career counseling, soft skills training, mock interviews, summer camps, and other health-related activities such as self-management skills to increase resiliency.

Additionally, our programs:

  • Provide exciting classroom presentations that promote and educate students on health careers
  • Offer hands-on activities and displays for on-campus events—college and career fairs, health fairs, etc.
  • Arrange professional related learning opportunities (e.g. job shadowing, hospital visits, college health program tours)
  • Promote and supports the local HOSA organizations and health science programs

If you’re a future healthcare leader and want to be inspired by some of the best, contact us today.

The Alabama Statewide Area Health Education Center is funded in part by the Health Resources and Services Administration, the federal agency charged with training health professionals and improving health care for people who are geographically isolated, economically disadvantaged or medically vulnerable. The contents of this website are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.