Kentucky AHEC has been awarded $4.12 million in continued funding from the federal Health Resources and Services Administration to continue that mission through August 2022.

Administered by the University of Louisville School of Medicine in collaboration with the University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Kentucky AHEC has worked to improve Kentuckians鈥� access to health care since 1985. Kentucky AHEC is composed of eight centers that promote healthy communities and health care delivery in the state鈥檚 regional service areas by increasing the number of health care workers of all disciplines, particularly in underserved areas.

鈥淭he AHEC centers contribute to the education of health professionals at UofL and at other institutions throughout Kentucky. Having an adequate number of well-trained, dedicated health professionals is a vital component to reducing health disparities, increasing access to health care and improving the health of all Kentuckians,鈥� said Gregory Postel, MD, interim president of the University of Louisville. 鈥淭his renewed funding is assurance that these programs will continue to support health education in the Commonwealth.鈥�

Since its inception, Kentucky AHECs have facilitated the training of medical students in primary care, in many cases, introducing the students to issues faced by patients in underserved communities. All third-year students in the UofL School of Medicine complete a four-week clinical rotation in family medicine in rural or urban underserved communities throughout the state. The Kentucky AHEC program also provides education and rotations for nursing and dental students.

鈥淪tudents gain a deeper understanding of the needs of the patients by working in these communities. It encourages them to consider practicing primary care in rural or urban underserved communities,鈥� said Kelli Bullard Dunn, MD, vice dean for community engagement and diversity at UofL, Kentucky AHEC program director and the principal investigator of this HRSA award.

To facilitate training, AHEC staff work with the Schools of Medicine, Dentistry and Nursing to identify physicians and other professionals to coordinate students鈥� rotations in their communities. This provides a framework for the students to complete rotations in clinics, medical offices and community hospitals across the Commonwealth.

鈥淭his is a way for health professions students to come out and serve in rural and underserved communities where they are exposed to different cultures and the practice of medicine without the innovative technologies available at the health sciences campuses. They get to see real medicine, real people,鈥� said Brenda Fitzpatrick, director of the Northwest AHEC, based at the Family Health Center in Louisville鈥檚 Portland neighborhood.

In addition to educating health professional students, AHECs in each region develop programs that further their mission in ways best suited to their communities.

For Fitzpatrick, that is developing a true pipeline of health care professionals, from physicians and dentists to nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses, nurse鈥檚 aides, bioengineers and computer technology professionals.

鈥淲hile HRSA encourages AHECs to promote careers in the health professions to high school students, we take that a step further and work with middle school students,鈥� she said. 鈥淏y the time they reach eighth grade, it may be too late.鈥�

Fitzpatrick adds that the Northwest AHEC collaborates with several medical magnet schools in Jefferson County to help students obtain certifications during high school.

鈥淭his will get them in the workforce sooner and allow them to then continue their education and move on up the chain.鈥�

In the latest round of program funding, HRSA has instructed AHEC programs to encourage patient-centered medical homes, which coordinate patients鈥� care in a single office, improving overall health care delivery and reducing costs.

AHEC Scholars program

Another new directive from HRSA is the development of the AHEC Scholars program. Each center will instruct 15 to 25 health profession students from a variety of disciplines in interprofessional education, behavioral health integration, social determinants of health, cultural competency, practice transformation and current and emerging health issues. Interprofessional education fosters collaboration among physicians, nurses, social workers, allied health and other providers.

鈥淚n a time of significant federal cutbacks, we were pleased to receive funding under HRSA鈥檚 extensively revised criteria,鈥� Bullard Dunn said.

In addition to the federal funding, Kentucky AHEC is supported by Kentucky General Assembly appropriations, UofL and UK. AHEC is part of UofL鈥檚 Signature Partnership, a university effort to enhance the quality of life and economic opportunity for residents of West Louisville.

During the academic year, the School of Dentistry Outreach Scholars rotated to clinics in Henderson, Owensboro, Elizabethtown, Bowling Green, Paducah and Beverly. Fourth-year dental students Holly Bradford, Beth Bailey, Robbie Troehler and Cierra Sapp were selected for the competitive scholarships, based in part on their demonstrated community service.

Since September, the four have honed their general dentistry skills at dental offices operating within a variety of practice models. The clinics in Paducah and Henderson, for example, are operated by the Kentucky Area Health 成人直播 Centers program, while other clinics are non-profit, reduced-fee facilities providing general dentistry.

Sapp said her experience at the Red Bird Clinic in Beverly helped her build confidence and gave her a better understanding of life in private practice.

鈥淒uring my time there, I performed emergency visits, extractions, restorative procedures, and completed many new patient exams. It was evident there is great dental need in rural Kentucky,鈥� she said.

In addition to learning about clinical practice, the Outreach Scholar experience encourages students to continue giving back as they begin their own careers.

鈥淚t has been a blessing to work within the dental profession, and it is important for me to use my education to help fellow Kentuckians,鈥� said Troehler of Ludlow, Kentucky.

In addition to the Outreach Scholar efforts, the UofL School of Dentistry has a long history of helping serve the people in the rural part of the state, having participated in multiple Remote Area Medical events in Pikeville, where students and faculty provided free dental care to hundreds during each event. The school also continues to build a presence in Beverly, having formalized a relationship with the this year for student clinical rotation.