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Panhandle Area Health Education Center (AHEC)

Panhandle Area Health Education Center (AHEC), located in the Harrington Academic Hall of the West Texas A&M University Amarillo Center, is one of six West Texas AHEC regional centers supporting the rural and underserved areas of West Texas. 

Panhandle AHEC serves the top 20 counties of the Texas Panhandle: Armstrong, Carson, Collingsworth, Dallam, Deaf Smith, Donley, Gray, Hansford, Hartley, Hemphill, Hutchinson, Lipscomb, Moore, Ochiltree, Oldham, Potter, Randall, Roberts, Sherman, and Wheeler.

map with Panhandle service area

Mission

The mission of Panhandle AHEC is to address the healthcare provider shortage and improve healthcare access in the top 20 counties of the Texas Panhandle through education and development of the healthcare workforce.

 To accomplish this mission, Panhandle AHEC focuses on the following strategies:

  • Promote and educate high school students on health careers through a variety of educational materials and training equipment.
  • Support health professions students and programs with supplemental education and training of materials to enhance students' knowledge and experience in providing care to rural and underserved communities.
  • Provide accredited and affordable continuing education opportunities for healthcare professionals.
  • Collaborate with community health providers and local organizations to address community healthcare workforce needs affecting recruitment and retention.

AHECs work closely with high schools, community colleges and universities, community-based health care professionals, and community leaders who share the same interests in addressing the health care provider shortages in the rural areas of West Texas.

Some of these organizations and partners include:

  • Texas Rural Health Association
  • National Rural Health Association
  • Panhandle Behavioral Health Alliance
  • Coalition of Health Services