The AHEC Mission is to improve primary health care for the underserved through education and health careers development among underrepresented populations.

Initiated by a federal grant in October 1991, the Illinois AHEC Program accomplishes its purpose by:
  • Supporting community-based education for health professions students, primary care medical residents and local providers
  • Sponsoring initiatives that increase the number of persons from minority or other underrepresented populations who enroll in health careers academic programs
  • Contributing to the development of learning resource networks that support the needs of providers and students
  • Consulting with community leaders on successful ways to recruit and retain health professionals
  • Advancing cooperation and collaboration among education institutions, health care organizations, providers and communities
AHEC's accomplish these purposes by adhering to Ten Core Functions, which are:
  1. Health Professions Student Training
  2. Health Careers Recruitment
  3. Medical Residency Education
  4. Continuing Education (including faculty development)
  5. Assessment of Health Workforce Needs
  6. Health Education Service Training (for health professions students and medical residents)
  7. Learning Resource Development
  8. Cooperate/Collaborate with Related Efforts
  9. Evaluate Outcomes
  10. Raise Funds for Project Support

The Ten Core Functions serve as the basis from which each of the Illinois AHECs derive their major Objectives.

For more information about the Illinois Health Education Consortium, please visit their website at: