About Our Region
Because of the shortage of health professionals in this area, every health student and professional working in the Northern Highland region is needed and makes a huge difference in the health outcomes of the communities we serve.
Students in the Northern Highland region get the opportunity for hands-on experience in an extremely rural and underserved part of our state. Each health student and professional in the area is an essential part of the community. The small town, collaborative nature of our communities provides students with a connection to residents and colleagues unlike that in urban areas of our state. Students become engaged members of our communities by working together with local public health departments, community service centers, First Nations health care, and more!
Counties served
Serving Florence, Forest, Langlade, Lincoln, Marinette, Menominee, Oconto, Oneida, Price, Shawano, and Vilas Counties.
What makes this region memorable and different from every other
The many lakes and forests in the region make it a popular vacation destination for Wisconsin and Illinois residents in the summer months, and for cross-country skiers and snowmobilers in the winter. Outdoor enthusiasts will find plenty of room to roam throughout vast public lands including the Northern Highland State Forest, Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, and Vilas and Oneida county’s forests.
Some fun facts about this region
- The Northern Highland region is home to many First Nations communities: the Ho-Chunk, Lac du Flambeau, Menominee, Forest County Potawatomi, the Sokaogon Mole Lake Chippewa, and Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohican Indians. The Great Lakes Intertribal Council headquarters, serving tribes across the state, is located in Lac du Flambeau.
- Wisconsin’s highest elevation resides at Timms Hill in Price County at 1,951.5 feet. Climb the observation tower for a 30-mile view of the Northern Highland region!
- The World’s Largest Penny resides in Woodruff, Wisconsin, and although it isn’t an actual coin, it commemorates an extraordinary woman named Dr. Kate Newcomb, who in the 1950s, started the Million Penny Parade which encouraged the community to collect their pennies to fund a local, and much needed, hospital. The concrete statue weighs in at 17,452 pounds.
Programs
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High School Students
Future Oral Health Workforce Day
With large dental workforce shortages in northern Wisconsin counties, this program is designed to introduce dental health careers to high school students and explore education and workforce opportunities in our rural area. Wisconsin AHEC is partnering on this grant funded program with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services to offer FREE events throughout the state. Learn more here.
HOSA Chapter Support
Together, NH AHEC and HOSA are working to support future health professionals by collaborating on the development of a rural regional HOSA chapter in our 11 county region. Learn more about HOSA.
College Students
Rural SIM Labs
An innovative rural mental health simulation in northern Wisconsin. Bringing students, educators, and health and safety professionals together to engage in an in-person team-based experiential learning simulation. The event is in-person to give participants a “real-life” experience and highlight the importance of interprofessional communication when addressing rural access to care challenges, with a particular focus on co-occurring mental health, substance use, and physical health disorders. The simulation integrates both screening and treatment for mental health and substance use disorders into clinical care plans. Core topics covered include: interprofessional education, social determinants of health, practice transformation.
CHAMP
A new program coming to Northern Highland AHEC is the Community Health Assessment and Methods Program (CHAMP). Learners will explore how the social determinants of health and built environments impact community health by completing a ‘windshield’ survey in a rural or underserved community of their choice. Students will examine data to select a priority health concern, identify evidence-based interventions that address the selected concern, and disseminate their findings and make recommendations to the community. This program runs concurrent to the academic calendar.
Wisconsin AHEC Scholars
A two-year program designed to enhance and broaden your health training with a combination of didactic education and community-based field placement in a Wisconsin rural or underserved community. Learn more on our program page.
AHEC Community Health Immersion
A unique opportunity for undergraduate and graduate health profession students to connect with the diverse communities and cultures of Wisconsin, exploring health care delivery and public health in medically underserved areas. This well-known experience is integrated into our AHEC Scholars program, and we invite students outside of the program to join our sessions as room allows. Learn more on our program page.
Community Health Internship Program (CHIP)
College students who have an interest in community health, public health, and population health can apply for a paid 8-week summer internship. Students will have the opportunity to work with local health departments, tribal health centers, community health centers, and community service organizations throughout Wisconsin. Learn more on our program page.
Currently Practicing Healthcare Professionals
Providers and Teens Communicating for Health (PATCH)
The Providers and Teens Communicating for Health program improves adolescent health care experiences by offering peer-to-peer and provider interactive workshops. This continuing education opportunity for practicing professionals provides insight by young people on how to encourage young people to play an active role in their health and health care. Physicians teach a complimentary session about providing culturally competent LGBTQ healthcare from a primary care perspective and guidance for implementation into systems policy and personal practice. This yearly event occurs in the winter.
WeCOPE Provider Resiliency Training
A free evidence-based program that explores emotional awareness, gratitude, mindfulness, self-compassion and more. WeCOPE has been shown to reduce stress and depression, increase positive affect, and improve health behaviors. AHEC partners with the UW Extension to provide an opportunity for you to take some time to care for yourself! Participants will meet virtually for an hour a week for six weeks.
Questions?
Contact Northern Highland AHEC
Our Staff
Caitlyn Mowatt
Education and Outreach Coordinator
cmowatt@wnhahec.org
(608) 399-4177