High Sierra Area Health Education Center

High Sierra Area Health Education Center (AHEC) is a nonprofit organization with a mission to address Nevada's healthcare workforce shortages through recruiting, training, and retaining health professionals committed to increasing access to primary care in underserved urban and rural communities. For over 20 years, we have been dedicated to connecting students to careers, professionals to communities, and communities to better health.

Our Mission

Since our inception, High Sierra AHEC has been steadfast in its commitment to ensuring a culturally compassionate pathway of diverse healthcare workers through innovative and intentional workforce initiatives. We strive to build strong, representative partnerships in our community to facilitate understanding and cohesion towards addressing community needs. Through a variety of valuable partnerships, we develop and place future leaders within healthcare practice settings, starting as early as 5th grade.

Our Vision

Our vision is to serve as a critical convener between academic and employer-based partners to ensure workforce distribution and diversity. We aim to inspire young students to pursue a career in healthcare, providing them with a paved and equitable pathway to their continued success. Upon completion of our pathway, our students are highly trained, highly skilled, and employable assets to our partners.

Our Values

At High Sierra AHEC, we prioritize values that align with our mission and vision. We believe in inspiring, engaging, and supporting future healthcare workers in Northern Nevada to ensure they are equipped to provide quality and comprehensive healthcare services; meeting the diverse needs of their communities. We commit to deliver innovative education that prioritizes health equity for minority communities and advocates for conscientious care delivery by professionals.

Our Programs

Our programs focus on developing a culturally compassionate pathway of diverse healthcare workers through innovative and intentional workforce initiatives. We offer a variety of programs, including:

• Pathway Programs: K-12 Intiatives, Classroom Curriculum, Ambassadors (undergrad) Scholars (graduate) Certification Programs CHW Certification Program Nevada Cultural Competency Resources Graduate Test Prep ACT/SAT NV Healthcare Workforce & Pipeline Special Projects

Our Team

Our team is comprised of dedicated professionals who are passionate about improving healthcare outcomes in Nevada. With a leadership team that includes Andrea Gregg, Chief Executive Officer, and Sarah Daniel, Director of Programs and Operations, our team is committed to ensuring that our programs meet the highest standards of quality and excellence.

Recognition and Awards

High Sierra AHEC has received recognition for its innovative approaches to healthcare workforce development. Our commitment to health equity and cultural competency has earned us recognition as a leader in the field of healthcare workforce development.