The Arizona Area Health Education Centers Program at the University of Arizona received $7.2 million in federal funding to continue growing the health professions workforce in the state.
Funding will be distributed over five years and focuses on rural and urban medically underserved communities. Arizona has one of the highest health professional shortage rates in the country, particularly in rural communities, according to an Oct. 3 news release from the university.
University of Arizona President Robert Robbins, MD, said residents in rural and medically underserved areas experience unique challenges in accessing healthcare.
"The work being done by the Arizona AHEC Program and Regional Centers is more important than ever as we seek to identify and eliminate health disparities in the state," Dr. Robbins said.
The Arizona Area Health Education Centers program was initiated 39 years ago and is now one of the top 56 programs in the U.S.