Today East Central IL AHEC is proud to honor Dr. Dragu, interventional radiology specialist from Gibson Area Hospital, as our Preceptor of the Year 2025. This is no small feat. In addition to his already full patient load he has dedicated over 60 hours to educating our rural focused health professions students. Thank you Dr. Dragu for all you do for rural health and our organization as a whole!
The Central Illinois AHEC is located at Illinois State University in Normal, IL and serves sixteen counties across the central Illinois region. Illinois State University is home to a strong collection of undergraduate and graduate health professions programs, including the Mennonite College of Nursing, the Health Sciences Department, Family and Consumer Sciences, Psychology, School of Social Work, Kinesiology and Recreation, and the Communication Sciences and Disorders Program. The Central IL AHEC partners with a variety of internal and external partners to support healthcare career exploration for high school students, foster the professional development of current health professions students through interdisciplinary and experiential programs, and support the healthcare workforce through workforce development efforts.
The West Central Illinois AHEC is part of a facility that encourages leaders to lead, physicians to practice, staff to have a career, and patients to expect the highest quality care with the highest level of respect. The center builds on a continued reputation of helping students throughout the region and supporting professionals with preceptorships and learning experiences. Memorial Hospital in Carthage, an affiliate of UnityPoint Health, is a vital force in establishing and maintaining the well-being of residents in western Illinois and eastern Iowa. The hospital is the second-largest employer in the county, with a workforce of more than 300, and is known for its friendly, qualified health professionals and state-of-the-art technology. It is also one of the few small hospitals in the state that still provides obstetrical services. Memorial Hospital is passionate about caring for all stages of life while integrating amazing opportunities for students. It also encompasses the Hancock Village, which offers supportive living and memory care.
The Northwest Illinois (IL) AHEC is dedicated to advancing health care education and supporting communities throughout the northwest IL region. The Northwest AHEC provides hands-on learning opportunities for individuals from high school through medical school and beyond. By partnering with local schools, colleges, and health organizations, students gain real-world exposure to careers in nursing, medicine, administration, behavioral health, and more. From classroom presentations and job shadowing to health career camps, the Northwest AHEC connects future health professionals with the people, experiences, and resources they need to pursue meaningful careers in rural and underserved communities.
South East AHEC (Area Health Education Center), hosted by Wabash General Hospital in Mount Carmel, serves a broad region by connecting students with meaningful educational opportunities that inspire and prepare the next generation of health care professionals. Through hands-on experiences such as job shadowing, mentorship, and exposure to real-world health care settings, South East AHEC helps students explore a wide range of medical careers. By partnering with hospitals, clinics, schools, and community organizations across the region, South East AHEC plays a vital role in addressing rural health care workforce needs and supporting students as they discover their path in health care.
The Chicago AHEC’s approach to workforce development focuses on preparing Chicago’s youth and emerging health professionals to meet local health challenges – in the clinic, the community and policy circles. Chicago AHEC is uniquely situated in the Health and Medicine Policy Research Group, a policy research, social justice minded organization that carries on the city’s rich and diverse tradition of healthcare advocacy and promotion of health equity. In 1981, as the national political climate shifted to one that put less emphasis on the needs of marginalized populations, Chicago social justice advocate Quentin D. Young, MD with a group of fellow health justice activists, decided to form a health policy think tank to research, educate and convene stakeholders to challenge health disparities. Chicago AHEC carries this perspective into its work. Our participants receive mentorship and inter-professional training to provide them with essential skills and promote best practices in primary care, health promotion, and system reform. The things that we care about and grapple with on a daily basis in our on-the-ground work give our AHEC a distinctive perspective that we bring to our programs
East Central Illinois AHEC, hosted by Gibson Area Hospital & Health Services—the largest critical access hospital in Illinois—serves students across the region by connecting them with hands-on experiences and career exploration opportunities in the health care field. Through partnerships with area hospitals, clinics, public health departments, schools, and colleges, East Central Illinois AHEC offers programs that promote rural health careers, support students in becoming future health professionals, and provide continuing education for those already in the field. With access to respected institutions like the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Carle Illinois College of Medicine, Eastern Illinois University, and regional community colleges, students benefit from a wide range of academic and clinical training options. By working closely with dedicated health care professionals and community partners, East Central Illinois AHEC helps prepare the next generation of providers to serve rural and underserved communities with skill, compassion, and commitment.
The Chicago South AHEC incorporates a public health approach that emphasizes the importance of a workforce that understands the social determinants of health. We aim to prepare individuals in health careers gain an increased understanding of health that elevates community member in their physical, mental, social, economic and spiritual well-being. Project Brotherhood began as a health clinic and community-outreach effort for black men on south side Chicago communities. Developed as a community-based prevention program for African American men to have a safe place to seek services, it opened its doors in the Woodlawn neighborhood in 1997 as part of the Cook County Health and Hospitals System. Our multidisciplinary team of medical staff and social workers developed a vision to address the causes of low participation and poor health by creating a safe, respectful place where African American men felt comfortable seeking health care and were served by black male health professionals. In persuading reluctant men to seek care, we have had success using unconventional methods, including spreading the word through the people black men trust, such as their barbers. The organization, which has served and improved the health of over 30,000 men, was honored with the James Wright Award by the National Association of Public Hospitals and recognized by the CDC as an outstanding program that can help reduce health inequities. It was featured in an installment of CNN’s 2009 documentary, “Black in America 2: Today’s Pioneers.”
Northeast Illinois AHEC serves a region that is rich in career opportunities. This region includes some of Illinois’ richest communities, many cities and towns facing economic hardship, and a significant amount of farmland. Northern Illinois University is a public research university in DeKalb. The College of Health and Human Sciences’ accredited programs include majors in medical laboratory science, nutrition, public health, health sciences, rehabilitation and disability services and nursing. Numerous external practicum sites that provide excellent opportunities for students to learn, participate in research and work in the community.
South Central Illinois AHEC, hosted by Pinckneyville Community Hospital, is dedicated to advancing health care education and supporting communities throughout the region. With a strong focus on student engagement, South Central AHEC provides hands-on learning opportunities for individuals from high school through medical school and beyond. By partnering with local schools, colleges, health organizations, and emergency services—including Rend Lake College, SIU Edwardsville, Pinckneyville Community High School, and regional health alliances—students gain real-world exposure to careers in nursing, medicine, administration, behavioral health, and more. From classroom presentations and job shadowing to health career camps and internships, South Central AHEC connects future health professionals with the people, experiences, and resources they need to pursue meaningful careers in rural and underserved communities.
