The School of Osteopathic Medicine (formerly part of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey) has operated the New Jersey AHEC program for the past 40 years. New Jersey AHEC includes three centers and a network of over 80 community-based organizations located in medically underserved areas of New Jersey that provide education and training to medical students and other health professionals with the goal of increasing the diversity and distribution of health professionals in underserved areas who are prepared to deliver high quality, culturally competent care to vulnerable populations in a transforming health care system.

The NJ AHEC (Area Health Education Center) Scholars Program is a longitu­dinal, interdisciplinary program with a curriculum that implements a defined set of clinical, didactic, and community-based training activities in under­served areas. Our program is a unique collaboration between the NJ AHEC and Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine and the Departments of Nursing and Psychology at Rowan University.

 NJ AHEC Scholars, work in inter-professional groups providing services in underserved communities through AHEC sites in South Jersey. Our curriculum focuses on key topics that will prepare your group with the knowledge to develop projects that improve health care in those communities.

Our medical students are deployed to  underrepresented minorities, rural communities, and economically/educationally disadvantaged populations, we identify gaps in the educational pipeline and work to foster interest in health care careers.