Blue Ridge Area Health Education Center (Ahec)

blue ridge area health education center (ahec) is a 501(c)(3), not-for-profit charitable organization based in rome, georgia. blue ridge ahec is a partner with the georgia statewide ahec network, a partnership coordinated by augusta university. our mission is to support the recruitment, education, training and retention of a diverse health professions workforce in the 20-county northwest georgia region. we accomplish this by “growing our own” health professionals. studies show that students are more likely to practice in the communities where they were trained. this begins by creating a “pipeline” of students in grades k-12 who are interested in healthcare, informing them about health careers and helping them to explore opportunities to serve, particularly in rural and underserved communities. blue ridge ahec supports college students in advanced health professions programs as they undergo their clinical training, by providing housing, travel support, credentialing and assistance