About Utah AHEC
Rachel M. Ceballos, PhD, MS
Executive Director
It is a tremendous honor to serve as the Director of Utah AHEC and to continue the important work of this remarkable organization. I want to begin by recognizing Dr. Ivette López for her exceptional leadership and unwavering commitment to strengthening Utah's health workforce. Her vision, dedication, and passion have left a lasting impact on our students, communities, and partners, and I am grateful for the strong foundation she has built.
Utah is one of the fastest-growing states in the nation. With that growth comes both opportunity and responsibility. Communities across our state—particularly in rural, frontier, and underserved urban areas—continue to experience shortages of healthcare professionals and barriers to accessing quality care. Addressing these challenges is one of the most pressing public health priorities of our time. At Utah AHEC, we believe that every individual, regardless of where they live, deserves access to high-quality healthcare delivered by a well-prepared, compassionate workforce.
The work of Utah AHEC has never been more important. By supporting students along the health professions pathway, fostering community partnerships, and preparing healthcare professionals to serve where they are needed most. The goal is to help build a healthier future for Utah. Ensuring access to excellent education and quality healthcare is not simply an aspiration—it is essential to the well-being and prosperity of Utah communities. Utah AHEC was created to help meet that need, and we remain committed to that mission. (Utah AHEC)
I look forward to working alongside our outstanding regional center directors, dedicated staff, community partners, educators, and students as we continue to strengthen Utah's healthcare workforce. Together, we will expand opportunities, develop innovative solutions, and prepare the next generation of healthcare professionals who will improve access to care across our state.
Thank you for visiting Utah AHEC. I invite you to explore our programs, partner with us, and join us as we work toward a future where every Utah community has access to the quality healthcare it deserves.
AHECs, or Area Health Education Centers, were established in 1972 by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) in response to the shortage of primary care physicians and inadequate distribution of health professionals in the country.
The purpose of the AHEC program is to enhance access to quality health care, particularly primary and preventive care, by improving the supply and distribution of healthcare professionals via strategic partnerships with academic programs, communities, and professional organizations.
To achieve this mission, AHECs are organized into program offices and regional centers. The program office coordinates and oversees AHEC’s statewide presence, whereas the regional centers implement programming tailored to their region-specific needs. Today, over 85% of United States counties are served by an AHEC program.
Phase 1
K-12 Outreach & Recruitment
Phase 2
Undergraduate/Pre-Professional Training
Phase 3
Medical/Health Professional Training
Phase 4
Residency/Practical Field Placement
Phase 5
Continuing Education/Professional Development
Vision
Utah AHEC facilitates education for current and future health professionals to prepare them for practice in not yet reached rural and urban areas in a health system transformed to lower costs, enhance quality, improve satisfaction of healthcare professionals, and improve population health outcomes.
Mission
Utah AHEC helps current and future health professionals acquire knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed to practice in a transformed health system for not yet reached rural and urban populations. It does so through strategic partnerships with academic programs and professional organizations to improve
- the geographic distribution of health professionals
- the demographic and professional outlook of health professionals, and
- transformation of health systems to enhance wellbeing, quality, and efficiency of care.
Pipeline
Utah AHEC fulfills this mission by engaging individuals at five phases of the health professions pipeline:
Phase 1: K-12 Outreach & Recruitment
Phase 2: Undergraduate/Pre-Professional Training
Phase 3: Medical/Health Professional Training
Phase 4: Residency/Practical Field Placement
Phase 5: Continuing Education/Professional Development