AHEC West

AHEC West Mission: to improve access to and promote quality in healthcare through education and collaboration

Established in 1976, AHEC West is one of three Area Health Education Centers in Maryland, and 225-plus nationwide. A 501 c (3) non-profit, we work to reduce health disparities through a number of programs and initiatives, including:

The Clinical Education program, which hosts local rotations for upper-class University of Maryland health professions students to expose them to life in Western Maryl

and and encourage them to practice here. The Exploring Careers in Health Occupations (ECHO) program, which promotes health-career occupations to high school students in a bid to “grow our own” health professionals

The Health Insurance Program at AHEC West, whose staff of Navigators help area residents obtain health insurance through the Affordable Care Act. AHEC Scholars, a two-year program designed to increase health profession students’ knowledge and experience with rural and/or underserved urban populations

Healthy Together, the HERC grant, focuses on heart disease and Substance Use Disorder (SUD) in the Far West of Maryland. Supported by the Maryland Community Health Resources Commission. The views presented here are those of the grantee organization and not necessarily those of the Commission, its Executive Director, or its staff. True You Maryland, a collaboration with Healthy Teen Network, aims to prevent teen pregnancy in rural communities and bringing inclusive and comprehensive sex education to these areas. Additionally, AHEC West provides oral and behavioral health services through Community Health Workers (CHWs), trains CHWs and addresses unmet healthcare needs through collaborations and other cooperative efforts.

It's that time of year again! Stuff the Bus is coming soon - August 15th at Walmart and Staples in Lavale. Help United W...
08/08/2025

It's that time of year again! Stuff the Bus is coming soon - August 15th at Walmart and Staples in Lavale. Help United Way of Allegany County Stuff the Bus to provide school supplies for all students in Allegany County!

“It reaffirmed my true purpose in life.”'That’s how Pamela Hughes describes her experience in the Maryland Area Health E...
08/08/2025

“It reaffirmed my true purpose in life.”'

That’s how Pamela Hughes describes her experience in the Maryland Area Health Education Center (MAHEC) Community Health Worker (CHW) training program. After a successful career in finance, Pamela chose to pursue a more personally meaningful path — one rooted in service, advocacy, and community impact. With 10 years until retirement, she’s stepping into a role that aligns with her passion and values.

Pamela traveled from Baltimore to complete her fieldwork with AHEC West, joining our CHWs at events across Western Maryland. These hands-on experiences helped bring the training to life and confirmed her commitment to this work.

At AHEC West, we’re proud to train individuals like Pamela who are ready to make a difference. Our CHW training program provides a strong foundation in public health, community engagement, and patient advocacy. Whether you’re starting a new career or looking to build on your existing experience, CHW training can be a transformative next step.

We’re proud to support people like Pamela as they step into impactful roles across our region and state. We’re always inspired by the stories of those we help train, and we’d love to be part of your story, too!

Learn more and sign up for the next round of training:
https://ahecwest.org/community-health-workers-chws/

We're gearing up for our next Community Health Worker training. Register at this link if you're interested: https://ow.l...
08/06/2025

We're gearing up for our next Community Health Worker training. Register at this link if you're interested: https://ow.ly/gyBf50WrvvY
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The Maryland Area Health Education Center CHW training curriculum is accredited by the Maryland Department of Health. The program is designed for anyone wanting and wishing to work in the field of community public health, as well as those already established and looking to enhance skills. Individuals who complete all training requirements can apply for MD state certification.

Our mission is to train CHWs to help bridge the healthcare gap for our rural and/or underserved communities. These CHWs will be able to identify and facilitate access to resources, navigate the healthcare system and provide health education

August 6th - join UMPC Western Maryland to explore career and education options!
08/06/2025

August 6th - join UMPC Western Maryland to explore career and education options!

Autymn, Rachel, Karen, and Beth enjoyed joining the community last night in Cumberland for National Night Out!
08/06/2025

Autymn, Rachel, Karen, and Beth enjoyed joining the community last night in Cumberland for National Night Out!

Save the Date!
08/05/2025

Save the Date!

Free August classes for those who are interested in a supportive, autism-focused training series that will empower paren...
08/05/2025

Free August classes for those who are interested in a supportive, autism-focused training series that will empower parents and caregivers who have children on the autism spectrum!

07/31/2025

Learn the warning signs for su***de, help those in crisis, and change the conversation.
If you or someone you know needs help, call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.

Address

39 Baltimore Street
Cumberland, MD
21502

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Thursday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Friday 8:30am - 4:30pm

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Our Story

Maryland Area Health Education Center West, also known as "AHEC West," is a rural, community-based organization serving Appalachian counties in Maryland, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. To fulfill our mission to improve access to and promote quality in health care through education and collaboration, we partner with local, state, federal, and private organizations working toward mutual goals of a fair national distribution of health professionals and the elimination of health disparities due to rurality, poverty, race, and culture.

Programs 1. Clinical Education provides clinical rotations for health professions students to experience health care in a rural setting and to encourage them to practice in an under-served area. 2. Continuing Education Courses and Training Programs provide health professionals in the AHEC West service area with vital licensing and other educational opportunities. 3. Exploring Careers in Health Occupations (ECHO) is an AHEC West summer residential program designed to recruit tomorrow's health professionals today, and in an era of health professional shortages, to “grow our own.” ECHO provides high school students with educational support and job training skills to nurture an interest in health careers. 4. Mountain Health Alliance (MHA) is a Network of public health care agencies, hospitals, and community organizations that works to broaden access to health care, especially for low income and/or uninsured, under-served adults. MHA serves a three state, five county region that includes Allegany, Garrett, and western Washington County, Maryland; Bedford County, Pennsylvania; and Mineral County, West Virginia. 5. NAO HPV Prevention Project: Beginning her fourth year in a national effort to raise HPV immunization rates through provider education, Joy Taylor of AHEC West is one of four Project Specialists overseeing the nationwide campaign being coordinated by the National AHEC Organization (NAO). 6. Geriatrics and Gerontology Education and Research Program (GGEAR) is a collaboration with the University of Maryland, Baltimore on continuing education for health professionals and caregivers providing services to older adults and interdisciplinary geriatric team training (GAIT) for University of Maryland System health professions students.

7. Geriatric Assessment Interdisciplinary Team (GAIT) is an inter-professional geriatrics training program for University System of Maryland students. 8. Stretching To EmPower (STEP): The STEP program is one of 16 community initiatives nationwide approved in July, 2017 by the federal Office on Women's Health (OWH) to reduce opioid misuse among women. Offered at three public housing sites in Allegany County, Md., STEP educates, motivates and strengthens women, arming them intellectually, psychologically and physically against the risks and ravages of opioid misuse. 9. Health Right: Formerly an independent non-profit and now a program of AHEC West, Health Right provides emergency dental care to low-income, under-insured residents of Western Maryland and the surrounding region.