The Tennessee Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) TN AHEC Scholars Program seeks to develop, prepare and sustain a culturally competent health care workforce that is prepared to deliver high quality care in a transforming health care delivery system, with emphasis on training rural and underrepresented minority and educationally disadvantaged students for practice in rural and/or underserved areas. The program prepares students for practice in primary care in rural and/or underserved areas in Tennessee. Participants receive didactic training and interdisciplinary, team-based clinical training experiences.

To be eligible, individuals must have at least two years remaining in health professions program and be in good academic standing in a graduate level health professions program (e.g., medicine, dentistry, nursing, social work, physician assistant, public health, psychology, nutrition and pharmacy).

Students will receive a $500 Participation Award upon completion of year one requirements and an additional $500 Participation Award upon completion of year two requirements. Other benefits include, but not limited to: opportunities to participate in training programs designed for clinic staff and providers; Increased understanding of attitudes, such as mistrust, subconscious bias and stereotypes which practitioners and patients may bring to patient encounters; Heightened awareness of the existence and magnitude of health disparities, including the multi- factorial causes and the many solutions required to diminish or eliminate them; Skills to effectively communicate and negotiate across cultures, languages, and literacy levels; Certification as a TN AHEC Scholar; Information about Loan Repayment Programs; and Opportunity to become part of a network of current and future leaders in health care. To learn more, contact Natasha Yokley at nyokley@mmc.edu.