The application for 2026-2028 Cohort 9 is OPEN!.
2026 AHEC Scholars Application
The application is due October 15, 2026 at 11:59pm.
Please contact Katie Freeman at kmfreeman2@wisc.edu with any questions.
If you would like to be notified about the application opening in a future year, please fill out the form below.
"I would encourage students to sign-up because it has opened so many doors for me and allowed me to become more comfortable networking with individuals outside of my direct field and see the importance of interdisciplinary work."
AHEC Scholar, 2020 Cohort 3
ELIGIBILITY
- Be two years away from getting your degree (Fall 2026 Cohort must graduate spring, summer, or fall of 2028).
- Commit to active participation for two consecutive years while concurrently working toward your degree.
- Plan to enter the workforce or residency program upon graduation from your current degree program and have an interest in working in a rural and/or underserved area within Wisconsin.
- Be currently enrolled in or accepted to one of the approved degree programs that are at least two years in length.
- Be a US citizen, national, or permanent resident. International students are not eligible to apply.
Approved degree programs
- Advanced Practice Nurse (MSN, PhD, DNP)
- Dentistry (DDS, DMD)
- Medicine (DO, MD)
- Mental Health Counseling/Psychology (MA, MS, PhD)
- Occupational Therapy (MOT, OTD)
- Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA)
- Pharmacy (PharmD)
- Physical Therapy (DPT)
- Physical Therapy Assistant (PTA)
- Physician Assistant (MPAS)
- Public Health (BPH, MPH, PhD)
- Registered Dietitian (RDN)
- Registered Nurse (ADN, BSN)
- Social Work (BSW, MSW, PhD)
- Substance Use Disorder Counselor (AAS)
ANNUAL REQUIREMENTS
AHEC Scholars is a two-year program, and each of the components below must be completed in both years one and two, equating to 40 hours of didactic learning and 40 hours of a community-based field placement each year. For the Fall 2026 cohort, the first program year runs November 1, 2026 – May 31, 2027 and the second program year runs September 1, 2027 – May 31, 2028.
- Orientation
Attend a virtual orientation at the start of each year. In year one this includes an introduction to the program, the staff, and an overview of the core topic areas. - AHEC Connect
Choose four of the offered virtual AHEC Connect Sessions, which focus on current and relevant health topics and include the opportunity to participate in discussion with other Scholars. - Community Health Immersion
Select a Community Health Immersion to develop a deeper understanding of health challenges and cultural considerations affecting populations in Wisconsin. AHEC offers a mix of live in-person, live virtual, or virtual on-demand options to accommodate a variety of schedules and topic interests. - Field Placement
Get hands-on experience with a 40-hour community-based field placement. Clinical placements coordinated through your academic program may be counted toward this requirement. Your AHEC Scholars Advisor will work with you to approve an existing field placement/internship or to find a placement that matches your interests and career goals. - Program Evaluation
Participate in an end-of-year program evaluation.
As Wisconsin AHEC continues to update and enhance programming, the exact requirements of AHEC Scholars may change.
