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The New Hampshire AHEC Scholars Program brings together students from across the health professions who are interested in improving health and access to care in New Hampshire. Through interactive learning, community experiences, and opportunities to connect with students and professionals across the state, AHEC Scholars explore the challenges and opportunities facing rural and underserved communities—and the role they can play in creating healthier communities. The program complements your professional education while helping you build practical skills, meaningful relationships, and a deeper understanding of the communities you may one day serve. Register to Become an AHEC Scholar AHEC Scholars at a GlanceFormat: Interprofessional, year-long learning experience Participants: Students from multiple health professions Focus: Health equity, rural and underserved communities, interprofessional collaboration, and community engagement Experience: Winter–Spring–Summer learning model Recognition: NH AHEC Scholar upon successful completion |
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Health is shaped by much more than what happens in a clinic or hospital.
Where people live, work, learn, and access resources can all influence their health. The NH AHEC Scholars Program gives future health professionals an opportunity to explore these connections while learning directly from communities, healthcare professionals, and one another.
As an AHEC Scholar, you will have opportunities to:
- Learn more about health equity and disparities in New Hampshire
- Build skills for working as part of an interprofessional healthcare team
- Learn from communities and understand the strengths and needs of different regions of the state
- Connect with students and professionals from across New Hampshire
- Explore careers in rural health, primary care, public health, and underserved settings
- Better understand how healthcare systems, policies, workforce needs, and community resources affect health
AHEC Scholars is an interprofessional program.
Students from different areas of healthcare and public health learn with and from one another.
Participants may include students studying:
- Nursing
- Public health
- Medicine
- Physician assistant studies
- Other health professions (e.g. social work, psychology, pharmacy etc.)
Scholars connect across institutions including Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Franklin Pierce University, and the University of New Hampshire, while also learning from healthcare professionals and community partners throughout the state.
By the end of the program, AHEC Scholars will have opportunities to strengthen five key areas:
- Understand Health Equity in New Hampshire
Learn how geography, access to services, workforce availability, policy, and community resources can influence health. - Work Across Professions
Strengthen communication, teamwork, shared decision-making, and collaborative care skills by learning alongside students from other health professions. - Learn With Communities
Explore local strengths, priorities, challenges, and resources through community-based learning experiences. - Build Your Professional Network
Meet students, faculty, healthcare professionals, and community partners from across New Hampshire to build relationships that can support mentorship, collaboration, and future career opportunities. - Explore Your Career Path
Gain exposure to rural health, primary care, public health, community-based care, and other areas where the healthcare workforce is especially important.
AHEC Scholars follows a Winter–Spring–Summer model, allowing participants to build knowledge, connect with communities, and apply what they learn throughout the year.
Winter | January–Mid March
Build the Foundation
- Health equity and health disparities
- Health and healthcare in New Hampshire
- Rural and underserved communities
- Interprofessional learning and collaboration
Spring | Mid March–May
Connect With Communities and Systems
- Community engagement
- Healthcare systems
- Social and structural influences on health
- Workforce needs and opportunities
- Career pathways across New Hampshire
Summer | June–August
Put Learning Into Practice
- Community and experiential learning
- Applied experiences
- Reflection
- Professional networking
- Career development
To successfully complete the NH AHEC Scholars Program, participants complete:
- 2 interdisciplinary learning and networking events
- 2 New Hampshire-based community experiences
- 4 hours of didactic learning
- Reflection and integration activities throughout the program
Activities are spread across the Winter, Spring, and Summer terms so scholars can build their experience over time.
Participants who successfully complete the program earn recognition as an NH AHEC Scholar.
AHEC Scholars may be a good fit if you are interested in:
- Improving health and healthcare access
- Learning more about rural or underserved communities
- Working with students from other health professions
- Understanding health beyond the walls of a hospital or clinic
- Exploring careers that serve New Hampshire communities
- Building relationships with future colleagues across the state
You do not need to have your career path figured out.
AHEC Scholars is an opportunity to explore, learn, connect, and discover where your skills and interests might make a difference.
Ready to Become an AHEC Scholar?
Join future health professionals from across New Hampshire to learn, connect, and explore how you can help build healthier communities.
Register for This Year's Cohort
Questions about the program?
Contact the New Hampshire AHEC Program Office