New Mexico Area Health Education Centers

The New Mexico AHEC includes the Program Office at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque NM, and two Centers: Montanas del Norte AHEC in Las Vegas NM (located at Luna Community College), and Southern AHEC in Las Cruces NM (located at New Mexico State University).

Many established community partnerships, including public educational institutions, healthcare facilities, and professional organizations are key to the success of the New Mexico AHEC.

Purpose

Thirty-two of the 33 counties have at least one type of Health Professions Shortage Area (HPSA) classification. Specifically, primary care has 39 HPSAs (including 18 entire counties) dental care has 35 HPSAs (21 entire counties), and 29 counties are designated as mental health shortage areas.

Professional shortages also exist for emergency medical personnel, pharmacists, laboratory technicians, behavioral health professionals, nurse practitioners, nurses, and many allied health professionals such as physical and occupational therapists.

Rural, geographically remote Hispanic and Native communities in New Mexico are in areas with the most significant shortage of health professionals in the nation. Studies have shown that students who participate in programs that encourage rural and undeserved community involvement are more likely to eventually work in these communities.

Goals

• Increase the ethnic diversity of healthcare professionals in New Mexico
• Encourage professional practice in under served communities
• Encourage students to explore careers in healthcare and provide them with health career information
• Provide support for health professions students to gain clinical and life experiences in rural New Mexico
• Provide continuing education to health professions residents and practitioners in order to improve the quality of healthcare services to New Mexicans

Our strategies to fulfill these goals...