National, Brazos AHEC to celebrate special week

National Area Health Education Center Week begins March 24. Forty-two states nationwide hold AHEC offices, with three in Texas: East Texas AHEC, West Texas AHEC and South Texas AHEC.

Each program has regional centers that together provide a statewide network of 18 communitybased centers working to improve the health of the communities they serve.

Brazos AHEC is part of the East Texas AHEC program. It also is the community education and outreach division of the McLennan County Medical Education and Research Foundation in Waco.

Brazos AHEC has an 18-county service region in Central Texas which includes Lampasas County.

Its mission is to improve the health of its communities by developing a quality health workforce and helping address unmet health needs.

Programs include recruiting individuals into the health professions, establishing communitybased training for health professions students, supporting practicing health professionals, providing health education, and assisting communities to improve access to primary health care.

There are several ways in which residents can be involved with National AHEC Week:

• Contact Brazos AHEC to arrange a health-career promotion presentation with local school districts or civic organizations.

• Share with others knowledge of AHEC and the work that AHEC does in Central Texas.

• Contact Brazos AHEC to arrange a health-promotion presentation tailored to specific workplaces, organizations or educational settings.

For information on AHEC Week or additional programs available, visit www.bahec.org or phone (254) 753-4392.