DETROIT – The Michigan Area Health Education Center (AHEC), a program of Wayne State University that seeks to increase access to quality primary care providers in underserved communities, today announced that it has been awarded a one-year, $1 million grant from the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). The funds will be used to continue to strengthen Michigan AHEC’s statewide network of five regional centers and provide an unprecedented number of health care career preparation initiatives, clinical experiences and continuing education programs for health care professionals in communities throughout the state.

“The continued support by HRSA is a testament to the high-quality services provided by AHEC for the health of Michigan,” said Dr. Tsveti Markova, co-principal investigator of Michigan AHEC, endowed chair and professor in Wayne State’s Department of Family Medicine and Public Health Sciences, and associate dean for graduate medical education in the Wayne State University School of Medicine. “The interprofessional nature of our Michigan AHEC has been lauded by HRSA nationwide as a forward thinking AHEC program,” said Dr. Ramona Benkert, co-principal investigator of the Michigan AHEC, associate dean of academic and clinical affairs, and associate professor, College of Nursing. HRSA has awarded consecutive yearly grants to Michigan AHEC since 2010.

Michigan AHEC is funded by the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (Grant # U77HP26582) and Wayne State University. Partners include Wayne State University’s College of Nursing, School of Medicine, Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, and School of Social Work; Central Michigan University; Western Michigan University; Northern Michigan University; the University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry; Greater Detroit Area Health Council; and MidMichigan Community Health Services.

The Michigan Area Health Education Center (AHEC), a program of Wayne State University, was established in 2010. Through a statewide network of regional centers, Michigan AHEC works to improve community health and strengthen the state’s health care workforce by recruiting, training and retaining health professionals committed to increasing access to primary care in underserved areas. For more information, visit miahec.wayne.edu or call 313-577-5161.