San Francisco Area Health Education Center (AHEC) Scholar

How to Apply

All students interested in becoming California AHEC Scholars, regardless of the location they are applying to, must complete the statewide California AHEC Scholars Application here. Applicants will be contacted for a short, informational interview to determine their eligibility for the AHEC Scholars Program. 

Each San Francisco AHEC Scholars Program Year begins in July and ends in June of the following year. 

Scholars are advised to start the program 1-2 years before graduation unless students seek to complete the full program during breaks in instruction. Enrollment is open and applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

About San Francisco AHEC Scholars

The SF AHEC Program is run by the San Francisco Community Clinic Consortium (SFCCC), and is a free, flexible Certificate Program that reinforces health professions students' community health knowledge and exposes them to public health and social services initiatives in the San Francisco Bay Area. 

Through our 1-2-Year interdisciplinary curriculum designed by the University of California, San Francisco, our students supplement their classwork and community experiences through a community health lens. A one-year option is available for community health workers and medical assistants. See below for additional, eligible health profession majors and programs. 

SF AHEC Scholars places at least 15 Scholars each year.

Program Components

AHEC Scholars commit to complete 80-hours per year for 1-2 years to successfully complete the program. SF AHEC Scholars is a hybrid program, with quarterly virtual and in-person components.

During this time, Scholars complete 40-hours per year of community health online modules, case studies, and seminars using an online platform. AHEC Scholars will also attend 2 virtual, collaborative reflection sessions with their cohort to reflect on the content of the modules.

Scholars must also complete 40-hours per year of clinical, public health, or community engagement with a local community or health organization. Within these hours, Scholars complete a 10-Hour Minimum Special Community Project with their site(s) of choice based on the needs of the community they serve. 

The breakdown is as follows:

1. Community-Oriented Online Training Modules (Asynchronous Learning/Self-Paced) - 40 Total Hours per Year
   1. Module Topics:
      1. The Medical Neighborhood
      2. Team-Based Care in Primary Care
      3. Patient Engagement
      4. Quality Improvement in Primary Care
      5. Patient-Centered Medical Home
      6. Community Engagement
      7. Work-Life Balance
      8. Healthcare Reform in the Community
      9. Leadership and Advocacy
   2. 4 Case Studies per Year - 8 Total
   3. 1 Webinar per Year - 2 Total
2. Clinical/Public/Community Health Hours - 40 Hours per Year
   1. Community-Based Health Project – 10 Hours per Year of 40 Training Hours
   2. AHEC defines a Community-Based Health Project as a collaborative effort with a community clinic or other approved site to target and address a specific community health need by the population.
3. Virtual Components
   1. Scholars must participate in 2 of 2 Reflection Sessions (Mid-Year and End-of-Year).
4. In-Person Components
   1. Scholars must attend at least 1 In-Person Meeting with their AHEC Scholars Cohort (Fall or Spring). 

Program Eligibility

Students must be enrolled in one of the below programs during their tenure as AHEC Scholars. The major, school or certificate program determines the AHEC Scholars Program Track:  

1. 1-Year Program Track (80 Hours per Year)
   1. LVN
   2. CAN
   3. Medical Assistant
   4. Dental Assistants/Hygienists
   5. Pharmacy Assistants
   6. Community Health Worker (CHW)
2. 2-Year Program Track (160 Total Hours, or 80 Hours per Year)
   1. MSW
   2. Dentistry
   3. Medical School (MD, DO)
   4. Nursing (RN)
   5. Physician Assistant
   6. Psychology (Master’s Level)
   7. Public Health (Undergraduate or Graduate)
   8. Note: A 2-in-1 Year Track is available if the student is a rising senior or 2nd year graduate student and can commit to completing 160 Hours in 1 Year.
3. Interested in primary care and community health
4. Motivated to address health needs in under-served communities.

Benefits

• AHEC Scholars earn a Certificate in Community Health from the Statewide AHEC program endorsed by the California Primary Care Association and the Rural Health Association.
• AHEC Scholars receive a Letter of Recommendation signed by the CA AHEC Statewide Program Director and the Local Director. 
• AHEC Scholars receive a $200.00 - 1000.00 USD Award Stipend per year upon completion of their AHEC Scholars requirements.
  • Stipend Amount varies based on the number of enrolled students and the year that the Scholar is completing in the program.
• AHEC Scholars capitalize on their AHEC experience when applying for healthcare workforce opportunities or health care professions degrees/certification programs.
• AHEC Scholars build their public health and social services networks through their placements and with other AHEC Scholars and staff.
• The AHEC Scholars Program is a flexible program, making it accessible to working students or students with families.

Where AHEC is Located

The AHEC Scholars Program is available in the following locations in Northern California and recruits from the following counties:

• San Francisco (San Francisco, San Mateo, Alameda, Contra Costa)
• North Bay (Solano, Sonoma, Marin, Yolo, Napa, Mendocino)
• South Bay (Santa Cruz, Santa Clara)
• Central California (Sacramento, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Merced, Fresno, and more)
• Northern California (Shasta, Siskiyou, Modoc, Lassen, and more)
• AHEC Programs are also available throughout Southern California

Scholars may study in a different county than the county in which they will complete their experiential requirements. 

Please contact the SF AHEC Program Director, Alan Arroyo-Chavez, at aarroyo-chavez@sfccc.org for more information or to determine which AHEC Office may be best for you.