Preparing the Next Generation of Healthcare Leaders, One Community at a Time.
Empowering future health professionals and expanding access to care across urban, rural, and underserved communities.
OUR MISSION
The Illinois Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) Program is dedicated to improving healthcare access and outcomes by cultivating a diverse, community-based healthcare workforce and strengthening the connection between education and service.
At Illinois AHEC, we believe that meaningful change starts with measurable outcomes.
Through strategic partnerships, community engagement, and student-centered programming, we’re making a lasting impact on healthcare access and workforce development across Illinois.
Over
students engaged annually
Regional Centers serving all 102 counties
of participants go on to work in underserved communities
Our programs
Shaping the Future of Healthcare
From clinical training to leadership development, our programs provide real-world experience, mentorship, and pathways into high-need healthcare fields. We prepare the next generation of health professionals to serve where they’re needed most.
Local Centers, Statewide Impact
From urban neighborhoods to rural counties, our nine AHEC Regional Centers ensure statewide reach, each tailored to meet the unique needs of the communities they serve.
What’s Happening at Illinois AHEC
From training opportunities to local success stories, catch up on what’s happening across the Illinois AHEC network.
Explore, Learn, Discover Healthcare! South Central Illinois AHEC, in partnership with Pinckneyville Community Hospital, invites students entering 6th–8th grades to attend the Healing Hands Summer
Congratulations to our South Central Illinois AHEC at Pinckneyville Community Hospital for their inaugural Healing Hands Summer Camp for middle schoolers! This is a wonderful way to expose middle school students to various healthcare careers! Congratulations South Central IL AHEC and Pinckneyville Community Hospital! ... See MoreSee Less
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🎉 Congratulations to Rhonda Mott, 2026 South Central Illinois AHEC Healthcare Mentor of the Year! 🎉
The Illinois AHEC Network is proud to recognize Rhonda Mott, Lead Radiologic Technologist at Memorial Hospital, as the 2026 Healthcare Mentor of the Year for the South Central Illinois AHEC region, one of nine AHEC regions across Illinois.
This award honors healthcare professionals who go above and beyond to mentor, teach, and inspire students during their clinical training. For approximately 35 years, Rhonda has served as a clinical preceptor, helping students build the skills, confidence, and experience needed for successful careers in healthcare. As one of Southwestern Illinois College's longest-serving clinical preceptors, she has helped prepare nearly 100 students for careers in diagnostic imaging.
Known for creating a welcoming, supportive, and hands-on learning environment, Rhonda has made a lasting impact on both her students and the healthcare workforce across Southern Illinois. Her dedication to mentorship exemplifies the vital role clinical educators play in preparing the next generation of healthcare professionals, especially in rural and underserved communities.
The award was presented during a celebration attended by several of Rhonda's family members, Memorial Hospital leadership and administration, members of the radiology department, and a healthcare student—reflecting the many lives and careers she has influenced throughout her remarkable career.
👏 Please join us in congratulating Rhonda on this well-deserved recognition and thanking her for her outstanding commitment to healthcare education, workforce development, and student success!
📸 Pictured left to right: Autumn Gulley, South Central Illinois AHEC Student Intern; Rhonda Mott, R.T. (R) (M) (CT), Lead Radiologic Technologist at Memorial Hospital and 2026 South Central Illinois AHEC Healthcare Mentor of the Year; Gloria Przygoda, South Central Illinois AHEC Director; and Andria Zweigart, Director of Diagnostic Imaging and Health Information Management. ... See MoreSee Less
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Family Medicine Opportunities with Carle Health!
Carle Health is seeking an additional BE/BC Family Medicine Physician to join their Primary Care team in Mattoon, Illinois.
Interested residents may feel free to visit their website to learn more/apply: careers.carlehealth.org/jobs?categories=Physicians&page=1
Residents who are not yet actively searching but would like to stay connected are also welcome to complete their general contact form if they would like to stay in touch: careers.carlehealth.org/providers/talentcommunity/form
Attached is a flyer with more information. ... See MoreSee Less
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Our 2026 Six-Week Interprofessional Preceptorship (SWIP) program started this week on Wednesday, May 27, 2026. Our East Central Illinois AHEC host site, Gibson Area Hospital in Gibson City, IL, is overseeing the four students while they complete six weeks of job shadowing, study about rural health and how it is delivered while completing a service-learning project for the community.
The students, from left to right in the pictures, are Caitlyn Barbour (ISU), Jack Gentes (Illinois Wesleyan University), Jimmy Chavez (Lake Forest College), and Elizabeth Giroux (SIU-Carbondale). All are aspiring to become rural health physicians. Not only will they be observing first-hand about how rural healthcare is delivered; they are able to live in a rural community to experience rural life and all it has to offer.
This year's program runs through Thursday, July 2, 2026. Keep an eye out for pictures of the students while they complete their job shadowing and service-learning project in the coming weeks. We will be posting them here!
Many thanks to Gibson Area Hospital and the East Central Illinois AHEC for their continued support of the program. You all are amazing partners in helping to educate and prepare the future Illinois healthcare workforce in rural areas!
For more information about SWIP, please visit this webpage: ncrhp.uic.edu/programs/experiences/six-week-summer-preceptorship/ ... See MoreSee Less
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Earlier this month, the IL AHEC Network convened at the Program Office of the Network, the National Center for Rural Health The National Center for Rural Health Professions!
It was a great opportunity to connect in person about our programs and plan for the next year.
Many thanks to all the IL AHEC Network Directors and Program Coordinators for all that they do to prepare the Illinois healthcare workforce in rural and underserved areas!
West Central Illinois AHEC Central Illinois Area Health Education Center East Central Illinois AHEC Northeast IL AHEC at NIU South Central Illinois AHECRecently, the NCRHP welcomed the regional Illinois Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) Directors to the University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford campus for their annual retreat.
Illinois AHEC, a federally funded program of NCRHP, works to improve access to healthcare through workforce development, community partnerships, and educational opportunities across the state. NCRHP proudly serves as the Illinois AHEC Program Office.
The annual retreat provided an opportunity for regional directors from across Illinois to come together for program updates, collaboration, networking, and celebration of another successful year advancing rural and underserved healthcare workforce initiatives.
Thank you to all of our Illinois AHEC partners for your continued dedication to strengthening healthcare access and supporting future health professionals throughout Illinois!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOJMjJVPkKM ... See MoreSee Less
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The Northwest IL AHEC is out in the field today in Princeton, IL. The 4th Annual Career Fair is being held in the high school!
We are promoting healthcare careers to as many high school students as possible! ... See MoreSee Less
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