While a four-year degree is adequate preparation for many health careers, often graduate or professional education is required. Medicine – physicians and physician assistants – requires professional school as does physical therapy and dentistry. Most public health professionals attend graduate school, earning a master’s in public health; doctoral level programs are also available for those seeking research roles or faculty positions.

Graduate programs can increase opportunities for health care workers who entered the workforce with a bachelor’s degree. As an example, many registered nurses choose to obtain a master’s degree in order to become an advanced practice nurse, midwife or nurse administrator.

AHEC programs help guide these career decisions and offer enrichment to ensure that students are fully prepared to enter the workforce.

AHEC Scholars – A national program that offers in-depth longitudinal career preparation and experiential learning opportunities (offered to undergraduate, community college and graduate-level health professions students). This competitive, two-year cohort program for college students pursuing a health profession in Illinois supplements the student’s education with job shadowing, career coaching, seminars, and experiences in underserved areas. Participants also receive additional training on practice transformation, behavioral health, social determinants of health, cultural competency and interprofessional education and training. Learn more / apply

Rural Medical Education program (RMED) – RMED is a program option of the UIC College of Medicine. Participants study on the Rockford campus in an interprofessional setting. As part of the program, students complete a community-based rural medical curriculum with extensive clinical experience, a 16-week rural preceptorship, and a community-oriented primary care project. Since 1993, over 200 students have participated in RMED; 80% chose primary care residencies and over 70% are practicing rural primary care medicine in Illinois. RMED is housed in the National Center for Rural Health Professions. Visit website

Rural Pharmacy Program (RPHARM) – RPHARM is an interprofessional program with the goal of preparing pharmacy students with rural backgrounds or interests to provide pharmacy services in rural communities. RPHARM shares many of the characteristics of RMED and the curricular requirements are similar. RPHARM is also housed in the National Center for Rural Health Professions. Visit website

Urban Medicine (UMed) – UMed focuses on the social determinants of health and the needs of Chicago’s most underserved communities. The curriculum, which includes both online and in-person modules, is organized around four main themes: disparities in healthcare access and outcomes; community-based participatory research; diversity and intercultural communications; and policy and advocacy. Working in teams, UMed students partner with a community organization and complete a four-year community rotation, addressing non-clinical issues that impact health outcomes. In their fourth year, students present their projects and make recommendations for improvement. UMed graduates are equipped to serve urban communities, regardless of which specialty they enter. UMed is housed in the Chicago campus of the UIC College of Medicine. Learn more about UMed • Visit website

(Shown above, UMed students Ellen Barry and Nirmal Desai presenting their research on excoriative acne.)