AHEC West

AHEC West Our mission is to improve access to and promote quality in healthcare through education and collaboration.

Established in 1976, AHEC West is one of three Area Health Education Centers in Maryland, and 225-plus nationwide. A 501 c (3) non-profit, we work to reduce health disparities through a number of programs and initiatives, including:

The Clinical Education program, which hosts local rotations for upper-class University of Maryland health professions students to expose them to life in Western Maryland and encourage them to practice here. The Exploring Careers in Health Occupations (ECHO) program, which promotes health-career occupations to high school students in a bid to “grow our own” health professionals

The Health Insurance Program at AHEC West, whose staff of Navigators help area residents obtain health insurance through the Affordable Care Act. AHEC Scholars, a two-year program designed to increase health profession students’ knowledge and experience with rural and/or underserved urban populations

Healthy Together, the HERC grant, focuses on heart disease and Substance Use Disorder (SUD) in the Far West of Maryland. Supported by the Maryland Community Health Resources Commission. The views presented here are those of the grantee organization and not necessarily those of the Commission, its Executive Director, or its staff. True You Maryland, a collaboration with Healthy Teen Network, aims to prevent teen pregnancy in rural communities and bringing inclusive and comprehensive sex education to these areas. Additionally, AHEC West provides oral and behavioral health services through Community Health Workers (CHWs), trains CHWs and addresses unmet healthcare needs through collaborations and other cooperative efforts.

Join us on April 20!
02/20/2026

Join us on April 20!

Registration for our spring cohort of Community Health Worker training is now open! Register by February 27.
02/20/2026

Registration for our spring cohort of Community Health Worker training is now open! Register by February 27.

02/20/2026

RSV is a highly contagious respiratory virus that is still circulating in Maryland. It can be dangerous for infants and older adults. RSV immunization is available and effective. Talk to your doctor or learn more at health.maryland.gov/rsv.

02/20/2026

Join us for an afternoon of heart health fun! We'll be having chair yoga, walking, giveaways, recipes for healthy hearts, and more! 🩷 Featuring Theresa Stahl, author of "I’m Full: Remindful Eating Tips to Feel Great and Make Peace with Your Plate."

When: Next Friday, February 27, from 4 PM to 6 PM
Where: In-Between Cafe in the Country Club Mall

02/20/2026

It's Heart Health Month... and Did You Know... 🤔

There are many ways to fight heart disease. This includes:
🏋 exercising at least 30 minutes a day
🥦 prioritizing whole foods like fruits and vegetables
🚫🚬 not smoking
🍬 cut out sugars you don't need.. and more!

02/19/2026

RELEASE: Maryland is experiencing an increase in mumps cases with a total of 26 cases reported as of Feb. 19. While the overall risk to the public is considered low given Maryland's high vaccination rate against the disease, it’s important to stay up to date on your MMR vaccine. Learn more about mumps and Maryland updates: bit.ly/46flnW4.

02/19/2026

Teaching young people about healthy relationships empowers them to make informed choices. Discuss healthy relationships and the signs of dating abuse with your teen. Create a safety plan to prepare for and respond to possible scenarios. Learn more: loveisrespect.org.

02/19/2026

Emotional safety looks different for everyone.

It can show up as feeling heard without judgment, having your boundaries respected, or being able to express your feelings without fear.

Taking time to reflect on what emotional safety means to you can help guide healthier relationships with others and with yourself.

📝 You don’t have to share your answers. This space is just for you.

Archway Station's Women’s Recovery Housing provides nonclinical Level I and Level II services for women who are pregnant...
02/19/2026

Archway Station's Women’s Recovery Housing provides nonclinical Level I and Level II services for women who are pregnant, women with children, and those planning to reunite with their children.

This temporary living arrangement offers residents a secure atmosphere to rebuild their lives while developing the necessary skills to embark on a life of recovery. For more information, email them at womensrecovery@archwaystation.net or call 301-759-2928.

🚨 Women in the program have to have custody of their children when coming to the program but Archway Station offers other forms of assistance to other women in recovery if they complete an assessment. This includes bus passes and assistance with obtaining documents.

02/19/2026

Our behavioral health services team offers free syringe pickup services by request. Find the form here: https://washcohealth.org/health-services/harm-reduction/syringe-pick-up-request/ 📱

Please include your name and contact number in the event we are unable to locate the syringes at the location noted. This is not mandatory when filling out the form, though recommended.

For Your Awareness: Our team members will not pick up syringes on private property without the owner of the property being present.

02/18/2026

Address

39 Baltimore Street
Cumberland, MD
21502

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Thursday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Friday 8:30am - 4:30pm

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Our Story

Maryland Area Health Education Center West, also known as "AHEC West," is a rural, community-based organization serving Appalachian counties in Maryland, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. To fulfill our mission to improve access to and promote quality in health care through education and collaboration, we partner with local, state, federal, and private organizations working toward mutual goals of a fair national distribution of health professionals and the elimination of health disparities due to rurality, poverty, race, and culture.

Programs 1. Clinical Education provides clinical rotations for health professions students to experience health care in a rural setting and to encourage them to practice in an under-served area. 2. Continuing Education Courses and Training Programs provide health professionals in the AHEC West service area with vital licensing and other educational opportunities. 3. Exploring Careers in Health Occupations (ECHO) is an AHEC West summer residential program designed to recruit tomorrow's health professionals today, and in an era of health professional shortages, to “grow our own.” ECHO provides high school students with educational support and job training skills to nurture an interest in health careers. 4. Mountain Health Alliance (MHA) is a Network of public health care agencies, hospitals, and community organizations that works to broaden access to health care, especially for low income and/or uninsured, under-served adults. MHA serves a three state, five county region that includes Allegany, Garrett, and western Washington County, Maryland; Bedford County, Pennsylvania; and Mineral County, West Virginia. 5. NAO HPV Prevention Project: Beginning her fourth year in a national effort to raise HPV immunization rates through provider education, Joy Taylor of AHEC West is one of four Project Specialists overseeing the nationwide campaign being coordinated by the National AHEC Organization (NAO). 6. Geriatrics and Gerontology Education and Research Program (GGEAR) is a collaboration with the University of Maryland, Baltimore on continuing education for health professionals and caregivers providing services to older adults and interdisciplinary geriatric team training (GAIT) for University of Maryland System health professions students.

7. Geriatric Assessment Interdisciplinary Team (GAIT) is an inter-professional geriatrics training program for University System of Maryland students. 8. Stretching To EmPower (STEP): The STEP program is one of 16 community initiatives nationwide approved in July, 2017 by the federal Office on Women's Health (OWH) to reduce opioid misuse among women. Offered at three public housing sites in Allegany County, Md., STEP educates, motivates and strengthens women, arming them intellectually, psychologically and physically against the risks and ravages of opioid misuse. 9. Health Right: Formerly an independent non-profit and now a program of AHEC West, Health Right provides emergency dental care to low-income, under-insured residents of Western Maryland and the surrounding region.