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.

The April Dining with Diabetes program is a no-cost, important opportunity for persons with diabetes and their family me...
04/01/2026

The April Dining with Diabetes program is a no-cost, important opportunity for persons with diabetes and their family members to learn about basic nutrition and how to prepare healthier meals that taste good. The sessions are led by registered nurses who are certified diabetes educators. The classes also include food demonstrations, simple exercises, and food tasting.
Contact the WVU Mineral County Extension Office to sign up TODAY by calling 304-788-3621 or emailing gloria.shreve@mail.wvu.edu

03/31/2026

🚐💙 HEAL Mobile is Bringing Health Services Closer to You!

Did you know the HEAL Mobile (Health Education & Access Link) from the Allegany County Health Department brings important public health services, education, and resources directly to neighborhoods across Allegany County?

The HEAL Mobile will be at nearly every Neighborhood Wellness Wednesday in Frostburg at the Housing Authority’s Community Center! This makes it even easier for residents to access health services right in the neighborhood.

Services may vary depending on need, location, and resource availability.

📞 Interested in hosting HEAL Mobile services in your area?
Call 301-759-5000 to learn more.

🌐 Learn more: myalleganyhealth.org/healmobile

We're doing another FREE food box giveaway, but this time it's at the Possibility Shop in Westernport. For those interes...
03/31/2026

We're doing another FREE food box giveaway, but this time it's at the Possibility Shop in Westernport. For those interested, please follow this link to sign up: surveymonkey.com/R/BLBQVDR

*NOTE: One food box per household.

Thank you to the Allegany County Health Department - Cumberland Maryland and Wholesome Harvest Co-op for helping to facilitate this!

Happy International Transgender Day of Visibility to the trans community! You are seen for who you are. Here are some re...
03/31/2026

Happy International Transgender Day of Visibility to the trans community! You are seen for who you are.

Here are some resources for those who may need extra support:
The Trevor Project‘s 24/7/365 Lifeline at 866-4-U-TREVOR (866-488-7386) or TrevorChat, their online instant messaging option, or TrevorText, a text-based support option.

The National Su***de Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255)

Trans Lifeline at 877-565-8860

03/30/2026

Director of Substance Use Programming, Shalynn Cline, is here to celebrate AHEC's 50th anniversary! Shalynn speaks on the impact that AHEC West has brought to the community and looks toward the future!

03/30/2026

Western Maryland Regional Spring Job Fair

📅 Wednesday, April 8 | 12 PM – 2 PM
📍 Country Club Mall, LaVale, MD

Looking for your next opportunity? Meet 30+ employers from a variety of industries, including construction, healthcare, retail, skilled trades, hospitality, public safety, and more!

This event is a collaborative effort between the Western Maryland Consortium, American Job Center, Maryland Veteran Employment Program, Allegany County Chamber of Commerce, and Country Club Mall.

Be ready to make a great impression—dress professionally and bring your resume.

📞 Questions? Call 301-777-1221.

03/30/2026

Send a message to learn more

03/30/2026

Every THIRD Monday we offer free, confidential STI testing at our Westernport location.

Garrett College and Garrett County Business Development are excited to host the 34th Annual Garrett County Job Fair on T...
03/30/2026

Garrett College and Garrett County Business Development are excited to host the 34th Annual Garrett County Job Fair on Tuesday, April 14th, from 1 PM to 5 PM.

Julie was at Smithsburg High School teaching students about dental health careers and the importance of oral health!
03/30/2026

Julie was at Smithsburg High School teaching students about dental health careers and the importance of oral health!

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.