Pennsylvania AHEC

05/10/2026

This month we're celebrating Pennsylvania's dental hygienists and the essential role they play in prevention, education, and patient care, especially as PA faces a dental workforce shortage. Thank you, PA dental hygienists, for all you do!

Know an amazing dental hygienist? Give them a shoutout or be sure to thank them personally for their dedication.

30/09/2026

📣 Calling all AHEC Scholar alumni!

Your AHEC journey continues beyond graduation! Join fellow alumni from across the country for the virtual **AHEC Scholars National Alumni Conference: “From Scholar to Leader.”**

📅 Thursday, November 12, 2026
🕐 1:00–4:00 p.m. Eastern Time
💻 Virtual

Reconnect with the AHEC community, grow your professional network, and explore:
✨ Leadership and career advancement
✨ Policy, advocacy, and community engagement
✨ Rural and underserved workforce pathways

**Seeking continuing education credit?** Application for CME credit has been filed with the American Academy of Family Physicians. Determination of credit is pending.

Learn more and register: https://www.nationalahec.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?group=&id=2083692

12/09/2026

Can you spot one of our statewide program managers (Laura Kline)? She had a great time in DC meeting with congressional representatives and sharing how PA AHEC is making a difference in our rural and underserved communities!

A stronger healthcare workforce begins with a stronger national voice.

When Area Health Education Center (AHEC) leaders come together, they bring local experiences and perspectives to a shared national mission: preparing tomorrow’s healthcare workforce and helping communities meet their workforce needs.

That collective voice was on display at this year’s NAO Leadership Forum in Washington, D.C., where AHEC leaders met with congressional leaders to share how AHECs are strengthening the healthcare workforce in their states and communities.

As Connecticut AHEC associate director Cecil Tengatenga reflected:
“The NAO Leadership Forum demonstrated the strength of a national network working toward a common goal: ensuring every community has access to a well-prepared healthcare workforce.”

The network’s impact speaks for itself.

In 2024-25, AHECs engaged more than 621,000 participants, introduced 272,000 students to health careers, supported nearly 30,000 clinical training rotations, and provided continuing education to more than 312,000 health professionals.

Through NAO membership, AHECs strengthen their collective voice, expand their connections, and advance solutions with nationwide impact.

09/09/2026

Are you an undergraduate junior or senior dreaming of becoming a physician? Pennsylvania AHEC Future Docs can help you take the next step!

Future Docs provides targeted support for students from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds who want to pursue medicine and serve rural or underserved communities.

Participants receive:
🩺 MCAT test preparation
📝 Interview and personal statement support
🎓 Insight into the medical school application process
👥 Physician job-shadowing opportunities
🤝 Networking and mentoring

Join our upcoming virtual information session on Friday, September 11, from 9–10 a.m. to learn more.

Spots are limited—apply today!

Link to join the information session & application can both be found here: https://www.paahec.org/futuredocs

02/09/2026

📣 Pennsylvania safety-net healthcare employers: strengthen your recruitment strategy with the 3RNET Academy!

This six-part interactive webinar series will explore modern marketing strategies to help organizations attract mission-aligned healthcare professionals in today’s competitive workforce environment. Participants will learn how to create compelling recruitment messages, strengthen job advertisements, market rural practice opportunities, use social media effectively, engage passive candidates, and communicate compensation and total rewards.

Best of all, you’ll leave the Academy with a draft 12-month recruitment marketing plan tailored to your organization!

📅 October 6–December 15, 2026
🖥️ Six virtual sessions held every other Tuesday
⏰ 2:30 p.m. Eastern

The Pennsylvania Association of Community Health Centers is offering this $500 Academy at no cost to Pennsylvania safety-net healthcare employers! Use coupon code **PENN26** when registering.

Register today: https://academy.3rnet.org/register.html

Complete the form below to registration for the 2026 Recruiting for Retention Academy Price is $500 After the form is completed, you will be prompted to complete your purchase via credit card If you...

31/07/2026

Earlier this year, PCOH conducted a survey of public health dental hygiene practitioners (PHDHPs). Check out the summary of results at the link below:

https://paoralhealth.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/PHDHP-Survey.pdf

29/06/2026

Now Hiring: Community Health Worker – Street Medicine Program

Penn State Health is seeking a compassionate and resourceful Community Health Worker to support the development and implementation of a new Street Medicine Program serving individuals experiencing unsheltered homelessness and other vulnerable populations.

This is a meaningful opportunity for someone passionate about health equity, community-based care, outreach, and connecting people to the resources and support they need.

📍 Location: Hershey, PA
💼 Position: Full-time
💰 Salary Range: $51,000–$74,000
🔗 Apply here: https://psu.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/PSU_Staff/details/Community-Health-Worker---Street-Medicine-Program_REQ_0000079447-2

Community Health Workers play a critical role in building trust, reducing barriers to care, and improving health outcomes in underserved communities.

Please share with anyone who may be a great fit!

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS: CURRENT PENN STATE EMPLOYEE (faculty, staff, technical service, or student), please login to Workday to complete the internal application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday. CURRENT PENN STATE STUDENT (not employed previously at the universi...

24/06/2026

📣 Interested in Becoming a Community Health Worker (CHW)?
Join us for a FREE CHW Training Information Session to learn more about this rewarding career and how you can make a difference in your community! 💙
🗓 When: Second Monday of every month
⏰ Time: 2:00 PM
💻 Where: Virtual
✨ CHW Training Program Details:
📅 Classes Begin: July 2026
🗓 Tuesdays & Thursdays
⏰ 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
📍 Live via Zoom
This training is a great opportunity to build skills, support others, and start or grow your career in healthcare, especially in rural and underserved communities! 🌱
👉 Interested? Fill out the form to get started:
https://forms.gle/XSJPRKp5PDTxPV2MA
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03/06/2026

The Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health is launching its 2026 Rural Health 360: Perspectives and Practices Webinar Series!
Join PORH for the next free webinar, Smiles for a Lifetime: Advancing Oral Health in Rural Communities, featuring Helen Hawkey, PDHDP, Executive Director of the PA Coalition for Oral Health.

This session will highlight projects and practices working to advance rural health and strengthen oral health access in rural communities.
📅 Tuesday, June 9, 2026
🕚 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
💻 Free Webinar

Register here: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/c63beh5?source_id=9882fd0c-59d5-4410-9968-fa024ee2bd5f&source_type=em&c=fgFH4x9WuMEJC_hUD5ddcslyJUcvzIMmW8ligy1iH5mtaG_xJ4Mqpg==

We hope to see you there!

03/06/2026

The 30th Pennsylvania Immunization Conference is a continuing education service of Penn State College of Medicine scheduled for June 18, 2026, in Hershey, Pa., and as an Internet Live Course.