AHEC Community Health Immersion

Spring & Summer 2026 AHEC Community Health Immersions

Learn first-hand from community members and health practitioners in these multi-day, in-person Immersions.

APPLY HERE starting Feb 16

The application is open February 16th through March 29th.

Culture Shock: From City Streets to Country Roads | Milwaukee or Ashland — April 16-19, 2026; April 14 & 21
Are you ready to explore a new perspective on healthcare? Whether you’re a rural student curious about how healthcare operates in a fast-paced urban environment, or an urban student interested in the unique challenges and strengths of rural healthcare, this immersive experience is designed for you. Culture Shock offers in-person opportunities to discover how geography and community shape healthcare delivery. Rural participants will travel to Milwaukee to explore healthcare systems in a densely populated city and engage with diverse urban populations. Urban participants will head to Ashland to gain insight into healthcare in a remote, rural community and connect with residents whose needs and experiences differ from those in metropolitan areas. This program is designed to challenge your assumptions, expand your understanding, and provide a firsthand look at the people and places that define healthcare across Wisconsin. This Immersion meets in-person in either Ashland or Milwaukee (depending on where you are assigned) on April 16-19th, with the first and last day being primarily travel days. There are also required virtual meetings on April 14th from 6:00-7:00pm and on April 21st from 6:00-7:00pm. Transportation is provided both to your immersion location if needed (Milwaukee or Ashland) and throughout the entire experience. Milwaukee students are required to stay at the City on a Hill dorms with the rest of the Milwaukee group. Ashland students will be staying at the Hotel Checquamgon (Best Western) right on Lake Superior! Both the pre- and post-sessions are virtual and mandatory as part of the Immersion requirements.

Rising Up: Paths to Healing in Rural Wisconsin | Rhinelander — April 30 – May 2, 2026
Join rural providers, Indigenous leaders, and community partners to explore innovative approaches to mental health and substance use treatment. Through a case study provided in advance, follow one family’s journey across both Western medicine practices and Indigenous healing traditions. The program features interactive learning—including equine therapy, simulation exercises, community partner roundtables, and cultural experiences—while highlighting the realities of provider fatigue, rural access challenges, and pathways to resilience. Designed to strengthen cultural humility and workforce development, Rising Up equips the next generation of healthcare providers to deliver more effective and compassionate care in Wisconsin’s rural and tribal communities. To deepen our collective experience, participants will be housed together in a nearby Northwoods cabin setting, using shared VRBO or Airbnb accommodations. This intentional co-housing model fosters connection, reflection, and dialogue. A virtual orientation will be held prior to the immersion, allowing time to meet one another and connect before our in-person event. This Immersion runs April 30 – May 2.

Housing IS Health | Menominee Nation — May 14-16, 2026
Menominee Nation welcomes you! Join us for an immersive, in-person experience exploring the deep connections between housing, health, and culture with one of Wisconsin’s 11 federally recognized Indigenous tribes. This full two-day program invites participants to engage directly with Menominee community members, tribal leaders, and local organizations to better understand how stable and affordable housing serves as a foundation for health and well-being. Together, we’ll examine housing as a critical social determinant of health—shaping access to care, chronic disease outcomes, mental health, and community resilience. To deepen our collective experience, participants will be housed together in a nearby Northwoods cabin setting, using shared VRBO or Airbnb accommodations. This intentional co-housing model fosters connection, reflection, and dialogue—mirroring the role of supportive housing in building healthy communities. There will be an optional stay the night before the immersion starts to accommodate learners who need to travel longer distances to our site in Keshena, WI.  A gas gift card will be provided to each driver to offset travel costs. We’ll also gather for a shared Indigenous meal, featuring locally sourced traditional ingredients and stories that nourish both body and spirit.  A visit to a local veteran’s pow-wow will be an additional program highlight. Through site visits, storytelling, and dialogue with content-expert presenters, you’ll gain insight into rural health care delivery, tribal health policy, and culturally grounded approaches to public health. Students from diverse health professions will learn side-by-side, building shared understanding and collaborative skills for addressing health disparities. We look forward to learning with you May 14–16, 2026.

VetsCare: Veteran Health and Wellness | Eau Claire — May 19-21, 2026
Witness firsthand the physical, mental, and social challenges veterans face in rural areas. Visit locations including a VA clinic, VA hospital, veterans home long-term care facility, rehabilitation facilities, and mental health clinics to learn about support systems and resources designed to improve veterans’ health and well-being and access to healthcare. By interacting with veterans and healthcare providers, you will gain a deeper understanding of the complexities of veteran care and be equipped with the knowledge, tools, and resources to provide compassionate, culturally competent care to veterans in your future career. This Immersion runs in-person on May 19-21 in Eau Claire.

From Roots to Routes: The Immigration Experience | Rock County/Beloit — May 19-22, 2026
Explore health disparities locally and globally while learning about health care programs and services available. With a focus on the immigrant/Latinx community, you will unearth barriers this population faces in rural and urban areas and gain a deeper understanding of the Latinx culture, history, and traditions. This Immersion begins on the morning of May 19th and concludes on the afternoon May 22nd.

Details:

• The program fee is $200. This includes housing, most meals, and transportation between locations during in-person portions of Immersions.
• Participants are responsible for transportation to and from the session’s location. Carpooling with other participants is common.

Credit Option for Summer Term:
We are offering a one-credit online course open to all students participating in May Immersions. The course will be administered through UW-Madison. Additional assignments will be given in addition to the regular AHEC Community Health Immersion programming to meet the 45-hour requirement for a credit.

Additional information:

• Taking this credit is required for UW-Madison Global Health students to count AHEC Community Health Immersion as their field experience.
• Accepted students will be given permission to enroll in NUTR SCI 421.
• Credit counts toward Summer 2026 term.
• UW-Madison tuition rates apply.
• Students at universities outside of UW-Madison need to apply to be a UW-Madison special student and have the responsibility of determining how to transfer credit back to their home institution.
• All coursework is administered asynchronously through Canvas, an online digital learning environment.
• The course includes your time spent participating in your selected Immersion and additional assignments running May 11 through June 7, 2026.
• This course is graded.