AHEC SCholars Program

Indiana AHEC Scholars is a two-year program designed to improve a health professions student's practice readiness skillset. Scholars is intended for students who have a strong interest in providing care to those living in rural and medically underserved communities across Indiana in positions such as physicians, physician assistants, nurses, public health practitioners, respiratory therapists, physical therapists, and other allied health occupations.

Indiana AHEC Scholars will participate in a mix of online training and community-based learning in rural and underserved communities throughout the state. Through these experiences, students train side-by-side with healthcare professionals and community members. Obtaining these skills and practices in the field allows Scholars to increase knowledge, develop expertise, clarify values and develop their capacity to contribute to communities in need.

Each scholar receives a stipend of $1,800 to help offset travel and related expenses that is disbursed in several installments throughout the course of the program.

The AHEC Scholars program curriculum and experiential learning will expose health professions to topics including:

• Behavioral Health Integration
• Non-Medical Drivers of Health (SDOH)
• Interprofessional Practice
• Practice Transformation
• Virtual Learning and Telehealth

Commitment and Content

• The Scholars program runs from October - May of each academic year and requires a 2-year time commitment, approximately 80 hours of effort (40 hours/year).
• Didactic/Virtual Learning: Students complete 40 hours each year of online didactic training using online learning via Canvas.
• Field Experience: Students will participate in 40 hours of community-based learning in the field each year. Many students complete their community-based learning in a small rural community, but there are also options for working with urban underserved populations. Community-based learning components take place in clinics, hospitals, schools and community organizations (locations vary).

Eligibility

• Must be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States.
• Be in the final two years of an accredited health professions program (two-year degree programs are eligible to apply).
• Have reliable transportation – this program includes multiple site visits across the selected AHEC region(s).
• Be willing to submit to a criminal background check and drug screening.
• Be available to participate for two years.
• Be available to participate in 40 hours of online learning units and 40 hours of team-based community experiences per year (for two years).
• Be willing to complete evaluations related to activities.
• Be able to provide the necessary paperwork (such as W9 and direct deposit form) to receive the stipend.
• Be willing to respond to AHEC upon completion of the AHEC Scholars program on an annual basis for updates on practice location and activities.
• Students in an undergraduate prep program (e.g., Pre-med/ Biology) are not eligible unless they are concurrently enrolled in a health professions undergraduate program, such as nursing, ASN/BSN). Pre-nursing (ASN and BSN) are eligible to apply on the condition of successful matriculation into a selected program. 

Application Deadline: September 21, 2026

Cohort Dates: October 2026 - May 2028