Ke Ãnuenue Area Health Education Center (AHEC) is a not-for-profit agency that has been operating in Hilo, Hawai'i since 1998. Its mission, "to improve the health of the underserved through education," is accomplished in a variety of ways including:

Health Career Recruitment for Hawai'i Island Youth K-12

• John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM) recruitment team visits with schools to introduce options in health careers with local health professionals in support of "Grow Your Own Healers" program encouraging those in health careers to return to their hometowns to practice.
• Tours are arranged at JABSOM for groups while visiting Oahu.
• Holoholo Science in partnership with Bishop Museum and Hawaii/Pacific Basin AHEC brings a traveling interactive program with hands-on science and medical activities.
• "Vitamin C" Program is one of several hands-on teaching tools geared to 4th - 8th grade Math & Science educations developed by the Great Explorations in Math & Science (GEMS), Lawrence Hall of Science, University of California at Berkeley

Huiana Internship Program
Ke Ãnuenue, along with the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations-Workforce Development, Hawaii Island Economic Development Board- Women in Technology Project, Department of Education, Hawaii Community College, Hawaii Electric Light Company, and other Hawaii Island Businesses, serves as a workplace for youth in grades 9-12 to apply knowledge and skills from the classroom to real life work experiences and also explore their interest in the health career pathway. At the end of the course, students earn school credit. This new program has been a win-win situation and we encourage students to contact your career counselor to get more information about this program.

Medical Academy of Science & Health (M.A.S.H.) Camp
A two-day camp is currently being organized in partnership with Ke Ãnuenue AHEC and Kona Community Hospital, which gives youth interested in health careers an opportunity to participate in hands-on activities with health professionals in the field. We hope to duplicate this new venture in the future to include all schools and medical centers island-wide.

Support of Medical Students
A federally funded subcontract allows a limited reimbursement (depending on level of funding each year) toward housing and/or mileage of 3rd and 4th year health professions students who choose to increase their educational experiences in underserved rural communities by participating in a 5 week (6B) or 5 month (6L) clinical rotation program on Hawai'i island. Visit the following links to get more information: Office of Medical Education at http://ome.hawaii.edu; John A. Burns School of Medicine at: http://jabsom.hawaii.edu; or Hawaii/Pacific Basin AHEC at: http://www.ahec.hawaii.edu.

Quentin Burdick Rural Health Interdisciplinary Program
A partnership with the University of Hawai'i School of Nursing & Dental Hygiene and other co-sponsors provide university students the opportunity to participate in a summer and spring practicum as part of an interdisciplinary health team with disciplines that include: Medicine, Social Work, Nursing, Psychology, Education, Nutrition, Medical Technology, Public Health, Dental Hygiene, and Speech. The teams are placed in rural communities throughout the state to develop and implement projects that address community needs. Participants provide services, learn to build on strengths of each community, and how to use appropriate methods to enhance the health of people who live and work there. Rural sites include: Pāhoa, and Honoka'a on Hawai'i Island; Hanalei/Līhue, and Waimea on Kaua'i; Maui, Lāna'i, and Moloka'i. Click on this link for more information on this program: http://www.nursing.hawaii.edu/qbabout-us.html.

University of Hawaii at Hilo's BSN Nursing Students
The Collaborative Health Care, Leadership & Management Practicum Course, Department of Baccalaureate Nursing at the University of Hawaii at Hilo places senior nursing students in community settings as part of their curriculum. They are assigned to a participating non-profit organization to develop a project that addresses the organizations needs to promote health for community. Ke Ānuenue AHEC serves as one of many organizations, and have accepted students for the last 3 years. Projects include:

• Free Blood Pressure and Glucose Testing
• Ke Ānuenue measure of awareness survey
• Legislative lobbying efforts
• Outreach at health fairs
• E Nīnau Aku I Ke Kauka VTC presentations with topics on Breast and Prostate Cancer, and Diabetes
• Poster development for diabetes education

Ke Ānuenue also supports students mileage and housing as they perform their clinical rotations in rural areas of Hawai'i island. Again, depending on funding received each year, support may also include airfare for graduating nurses to travel to 'Oahu to take their NCLEX exam.

Community Outreach Activities
Ke Ãnuenue AHEC participates in many outreach events that enhance and spread health education in rural areas island-wide. Collaboration efforts have placed us at many health fairs including: Nā Pua No'eau Family afFAIR, Pūlama I Ke Ola Health Conference, Alzheimer's: Reduce The Risk Fair, Kohala's 1st Health Fair; Kona's Father's Conference, Diabetes Screening at the PāhoaSacred Hearts Community Center, and many others. If you would like us to present information at your event, please visit our contact link located above.

Providing Accessible Education Opportunities
Ke Ãnuenue continues to develop programs that meet the health education needs of our island-wide communities and we are committed to provide a variety of resources whether it be special guest speakers, specific information of health issues you are interested in, or additional program development. As always, your suggestions are welcome. Please e-mail us by using our contact link above.