About Us

Mission and Vision

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We increase the distribution of the healthcare workforce to address healthcare disparities in this state.

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We support practice
transformation throughout
Colorado to ensure
high quality healthcare
delivery for everyone.

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We serve as the
link between Coloradans,
state resources, and the
resources of Anschutz
Medical Campus to help
healthy people thrive
in healthy communities.

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We envision every
person in Colorado
having the opportunity
to attain their full
and best health potential.

About AHEC

The Area Health Education Center (AHEC) program was developed by Congress in 1971 to recruit, train, and retain a health professions' workforce committed to rural and underserved populations in the US. The Colorado AHEC system was established in 1977 by Dean Richard Krugman. All AHECs are funded by HRSA AHEC Model grants which are renewed in 5-year grant cycles to attend to the overall mission of AHECs in the US.

Today, AHECs serve 85% of the counties in America including American territories. This Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) funded network provides health education services to students, faculty, and local practitioners, ultimately improving healthcare delivery link between university health science centers and rural and underserved areas of our nation.

 

 





National map of all Area Health Education Centers

Colorado AHEC's Six Regional Centers

The state of Colorado is divided into six regions (Centennial AHEC, Front Range AHEC, San Luis Valley AHEC, Southeastern Colorado AHEC, Southwestern Colorado AHEC, and Western Colorado AHEC). Each state Program Office must be affiliated with a public school of medicine.

The individual Colorado regions attend to the HRSA Model specifications as well as the Anschutz Medical Campus Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs’ direction for service in the support of both entities.

The state office, Colorado AHEC (COAHEC), is located on the Anschutz Medical Campus.

 


Color coded regional map of the six Colorado AHEC regions

Colorado AHEC

Colorado AHEC connects the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus with current and future health professionals in rural and urban medically underserved areas. COAHEC and its regions do this by providing programs for students who are interested in healthcare, events to improve community health, continuing education for health professionals, and housing for students who are on clinical rotations more than 40 miles from the Anschutz Medical Campus.

COAHEC Location

The Colorado AHEC Office is located on the Anschutz Medical Campus, Building Education 2 North on the fifth floor

Summer 2020 photo of the Anschutz Medical Campus and Education 2 Building

Colorado AHEC Program Office Team

Josina Romero Oconnell Headshot

Josina Romero O'Connell MD

Program Director
Fran

Mariafrancisca Zabalaga-Haberman

Program Manager and Education Specialist
Patti Jo Wagner Headshot

Patti Wagner

Senior Administrative and Program
Elizabeth Jungkind Headshot

Elizabeth Jungkind

Grants Manager and Evaluator
Marcos Maldonado Headshot

Marcos Maldonado

Business Services Coordinator
Catherine Senior Headshot

Catherine Senior

Finance and HR Administrator
Joseph Martinez Headshot

Joseph Martinez

Administrative Assistant III
Bryan Less Headshot

Bryan Less

Digital Media & Communications Director

More Information

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Colorado AHEC Facts and Figures

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COAHEC Program Office Organizational Chart

Colorado AHEC Program Office

CU Anschutz

Education II North

13120 East 19th Avenue

5th Floor

Aurora, CO 80045


303-724-0348

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