High Sierra AHEC

Description

High Sierra Area Health Education Center

The High Sierra Area Health Education Center was established in Reno to reach the medically underserved areas of rural and urban northwestern Nevada. Incorporated in late 2002, the Center's vision is to facilitate the improvement of the healthcare service delivery systems in Carson, Churchill, Douglas, Lyon, Storey, and Washoe Counties. While the focus is on the healthcare and public health needs of northwestern Nevada, the Center works closely with the Area Health Education Center of Southern Nevada, the Northeastern Nevada Area Health Education Center, and other partners to improve the health and well-being of all Nevadans.

What the HECK is an AHEC?

Examples of recent and successful programming include:

• Implementing and participating in K-12 student programs designed to "prime the pipeline" of Nevada's future healthcare workforce, exposing them to the many health care career opportunities through innovative programming and hands-on experiences.
  
• Providing hundreds of continuing education credits to health care professionals through statewide trainings
  
• Partnering with Northwestern CT AHEC to implement the Youth Health Service Corps, a program designed to recruit diverse high school students into a career in health care. Students participate during a semester to implement a community health service learning project, filling a large community need for volunteer service while acquiring real life learning experiences under the guidance of professional role models and mentors. Each student is certified in CPR/First AID and presented a certificate of completion, a valuable recognition when furthering their education. This program has increased school attendance, improved students GPA and has increased community involvement.
  
• Coordinated the Nevada Statewide Evacuation, Mass Care and Sheltering Initiative and the National Incident Management System and the Hospital Incident Command System for hospital and health care personnel.
  
• Supported and coordinated a local event in honor of a national initiative for Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, raising advocacy and improving sexual behavior through education, risk reduction and outreach.
  
• Launched the first annual community volunteer effort in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., "Art as a form of Expression for the Memory Impaired", an event aimed at promoting patient and caregiver relationships, communication, companionship and expression through art.