The Maryland Area Health Education Center (MAHEC) Program is a University of Maryland School of Medicine community engagement and impact initiative with funding from Health Resources & Services Administration and Maryland Department of Health. The AHEC Program began in the early 1970s when many areas of the United States were faced with severe shortages of health care professionals, including doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and public health workers. One of the Commission’s recommendations led to the development of Area Health Education Centers (known as AHECs). The Maryland AHEC Program and its first center, Maryland Area Health Education Center West (AHEC West), were established in 1976. The Eastern Shore Area Health Education Center (ESAHEC) was the second center established in 1995 and the third was the Central Maryland Area Health Education Center (CMAHEC) (formerly BAHEC) in 2002. The Mission of the Maryland AHEC Program is to improve the health of all Marylanders by recruiting, training, and retaining qualified and diverse providers, to serve rural and urban underserved areas. We envision a Maryland where every individual has access to a diverse and qualified health workforce who strives for equity in caring for all. Core Values: Respect, Integrity, Diversity, Collaboration, Interprofessionalism
