Illinois Area Health Education Centers - AHEC Network

01/14/2026

The National AHEC Organization has shared all the great work that was done from 2024 - 2025 through all the state AHECs. The IL AHEC Network is proud to be a part of the work!

12/18/2025

Please join the ENACT Project team from the
University of Illinois Cancer Center at the upcoming CHW Summit!

We look forward to learning and networking at the Illinois Community Health Worker Association CHW Summit on January 23, 2026, 8a.m. – 4:00 pm and we hope you can join us as well.

Topics include:
Men’s Health
Artificial Intelligence in Community Health
Disparity Challenges
Illinois CHW Certification
CHW Wellness

Featured speakers include:
Dr. LaMar Hasbrouck, former IDPH Director
Andrew Lerch, IDPH Men's Health Section Chief
Will Naughles, CHW, UI Health and Healthy Start
Molly Heflin, RN, & Mary Crawford RN, Genentech
Artinese Myrick, Deputy Director, LiveFree Illinois
Bruno Pereira Nunes, Associate Professor, U of I
Danielle Perry, VP of Policy and Advocacy, Greater Chicago Food Depository

Registration details: Fee – $60 until Jan. 1, 2026
CLICK HERE to reserve your seat TODAY: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/ztcvmk7

12/18/2025

We are always proud of our Illinois AHEC Scholars! Here's our AHEC Scholar of the Month for December: Jesenia Gonzalez! Thank you for sharing about your experience as an AHEC Scholar!

Get to know Jesenia Gonzalez, a second year AHEC Scholar studying Public Health at Illinois State University.

12/16/2025

If you are a student looking for an internship in the health field, register to attend a FREE virtual workshop on how to find internships and other career advice!

Youth Advisory Council Virtual Event

Health Careers Internship Search Strategies

Friday, December 19, 2025 at 4:00 pm, CT

Get the inside scoop on internship opportunities and hear about real, practical academic tips for driven students.

Take advantage of this FREE workshop!

Click this link to register: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfUT_PtGU7WTOtE8ie99n6P8xb7MJ8oG93ncZknHspQC5hCJw/viewform

11/17/2025

We are so happy to share our first monthly highlight on a South Central Illinois AHEC Scholar, Dirk II Tecson!

Dirk’s journey into healthcare began with nonprofit work that put him alongside families experiencing disability, poverty, and disaster. As a team lead with AmeriCorps and the Rockford Park District, he often stepped in “when support systems fell short.” Those experiences showed him how meanin...

08/22/2025

Join this webinar today, Friday, August 22, 2025 at 12:00 pm, CT! It's a great opportunity to learn more about communication strategies to build a supportive care team.

It is FREE! Here is the Zoom link to join the meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88698251286?pwd=HkS6HUwONbhzV8mCxbxOaIVtaPBrsJ.1

06/25/2025

Congratulations to our Program Office, the The National Center for Rural Health Professions, and our East Central Illinois AHEC Director, Christina Haag, for their oral presentation on the long-term outcomes of the Six-Week Interprofessional Preceptorship (SWIP) program. Thanks to this rural immersion program, begun in 2005, 94% of the students who completed the SWIP program are now working in healthcare.

The team presented at the 2025 National AHEC Organization Biennial Conference on Wednesday, June 18, 2025 in Lexington, KY.

06/25/2025

Our East Central Illinois AHEC is hosting four students in the 2025 Six-Week Interprofessional Preceptorship (SWIP) at Gibson Area Hospital in Gibson City, IL. This rural immersion program allows college students majoring in a health profession to live in a rural community while job shadowing multiple healthcare professionals during the six week program. In addition to the job shadowing, they also learn about rural health through weekly discussions with a faculty preceptor. Finally, the students complete a community service learning project for the local community based on feedback from community stakeholders. Check out what the 2025 SWIP students are doing this year for their community service learning project at Gibson Area Hospital and the East Central Illinois AHEC!

It’s summer which means our six-week preceptorship student's (SWIP) are back!! They are out this week at the Ford County Fair providing substance abuse education and creating a handprint garden with the local kiddos. Please stop by and see them if you get a chance!!

06/23/2025

The IL AHEC Network was very well represented at this year's National AHEC Organization Biennial Conference. The East Central Illinois AHEC and AHEC of Northwest Illinois outcomes of the Six-Week Interprofessional Preceptorship were shared at a presentation. Our Research Specialist, Dr. Zhi Li, and Post-Doctorate Fellow, Dr. Kiruthika Balakrishnan, completed data analysis of the long-term outcomes.

Congratulations to all for the presentation!

06/23/2025

The AHEC of Northwest Illinois is hosting four students as part of the 2025 Six-Week Interprofessional Preceptorship (SWIP), a rural immersion program for health majors interested in working in rural communities after graduation.

This year's students are fortunate enough to experience this immersion program held by OSF!

Thank you very much for this unique opportunity for our SWIP students this year!

04/30/2025

Limited space and scholarships remaining for the 2025 two-day Healthcare Summer Camp at Governors State University. High School Students will participate in hands-on learning activities, labs, basic CPR training , and listen to guest speakers speak about working in the healthcare field. Students interested in health careers can look forward to learning more about the Urban Health Experience from our special guest speakers in partnership with the Illinois AHEC Chicago Network https://ilahec.uic.edu/

Registration: https://www.govst.edu/youth-programs/ deadline to register is June 2.

04/22/2025

If you or someone you know is considering a career in Pharmacy, space is still available at the April 26, 2025 and May 10, 2025 Rural Pharmacy Camp!

Details are below as well as at this link: https://pharmacy.uic.edu/events/rural-pharmacy-camps/

Come learn about all the different careers available in rural pharmacy!

Are you a high school or college student exploring careers? Learn all about rural pharmacy careers at one of the Rural Pharmacy Camps being offered around the state!

Here is a link to learn more and to register: https://pharmacy.uic.edu/events/rural-pharmacy-camps/

Details are also in the attached picture. For questions, email jmclark7@uic.edu or call 815-395-5775.