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Inland Empire AHEC Scholars Program
IE AHEC Scholars is a program that enables students in the health professions to explore pri-
mary care with an emphasis on community health and interdisciplinary practice in medical-
ly underserved communities.

In June 2020, six scholars from University of California Riverside, School of Medicine success-
fully completed their first year of the two year scholars program. In September 2020, IE AHEC
established a partnership with UCR School of Medicine and they now offer the IE AHEC
Scholars program to their medical students as a designated emphasis in Community Health.
The IE AHEC is the first AHEC center in California to have an established curriculum with a
University! By December 2020, the IE AHEC Scholars program enrolled 12 new scholars from

UCR School of Medicine, California State University, San Bernardino, University of California,
Irvine and Loma Linda University, for a total of 18 scholars, growing by 300% in a year!

“I joined AHEC because it helps “The AHEC Scholars Program
me learn about the different encompasses my passion for
aspects of community-based access to healthcare and leans

medicine and gives me skills to on research proven practices.”
apply it to my own community.” - Wonder Edem, UCR SOM
- Cara Cusi, UCR SOM c/o 2023
c/o 2023

Other AHEC Activities:

 Hosted 3 interns, 2 interns were undergraduate students from California State University, San
Bernardino, and 1 graduate level intern from Benedictine University. Two interns were success-
fully hired at Community Health Association Inland Southern Region.
 Supported local pipeline programs, collaborated with the Inland Health Professions Coalition.

Medical Assistant UpSkilling Program

Continuing efforts to address the healthcare workforce shortage, the Association received funding
from Health Net to establish a medical assistant upskilling program. The Association coordinated
with California Primary Care Association, MacMan, and Medical Assistant+ to implement a Medi-
cal Assistant upskilling program for medical assistants working at our member health centers. The
goal of the MA UpSkilling program is to enhance the medical assistant’s skills, increase work satis-
faction with the aim of decreasing turnover, and increasing an opportunity for advancement. The
program initiated a cohort of seventeen medical assistants from the following member organiza-
tions: Health Service Alliance, SAC Health System, Unicare Community Health Center, Inc., DAP
Health, and ParkTree Community Health Center. The cohort meets on a monthly basis and upon
completion students will qualify for the state certification exam with fees covered.

Community Focused Membership Driven

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