The North Central Area Health Education Center (NC AHEC)'s Scholars Program is part of a national initiative from the Health Resource Service Administration (HRSA)that aims to prepare future health professionals to become culturally competent leaders who serve in rural or urban underserved areas. This advanced opportunity is completed through online and experiential training in the community; which serves as a learning laboratory. The program is designed to be flexible, interesting, and add to your growth as a future health professional.

WHO CAN APPLY:
* Students who are currently enrolled in an accredited health professions degree or certificate program.

PROGRAM BASICS:
There are two parts to the program.
* The first part is approximately 5 hours of online trainings each month from September through April, covering six core topic areas (social determinants of health, behavioral health, cultural competency, practice transformation, interprofessional education, emerging diseases).

* The second part is the out-of-classroom, community-based activities. This takes place between January 1 and April 30th. You will learn about some of the health care challenges for people who live in rural and/or urban underserved areas by traveling to various sites in Kentucky. The second part of the program can, in most cases, count towards clinical hours that are required from your program.

PROGRAM FLEXIBILITY:
*We work around your busy academic, work, and life schedules when planning the community-based activities. The online trainings can be completed at  your own pace. However, you should complete at least 50% of the required trainings by January 1, 2020 to receive the first $250 stipend payout.

BENEFITS TO YOU:
*$250 stipend awarded after completing each semester's required coursework and/or community experiences (fall/spring)
*$100 award for license and exam fees upon graduating from your academic program
* Clinical and/or service opportunities
* Permission to use the AHEC Scholars Principal Organizer as a professional reference for one year after completing the
   program

ABBREVIATED PROGRAM:
*There is one year abbreviated program (half the hours) is available for select programs less than two years in duration. (To see if your program qualifies for the abbreviated program, please email Vivian Lockstead at: (vivian.lockstead@kctcs.edu)

APPLICATION TIMELINE:
* There is rolling admissions for this program.
* The program is limited to 15 students in the region, so apply early!
* The program begins each fall semester.