Alaska Center for Rural Health and Health Workforce
The Alaska Center for Rural Health & Health Workforce (ACRH-HW) is dedicated to strengthening
Alaska’s health workforce, with a focus on rural communities and addressing workforce
shortages. The Center oversees various programs, including the Alaska Area Health
Education Centers (AHEC), which operate through six regional community-based centers
across the state. As part of the University of Alaska Anchorage's role as the state's
health campus, the Center supports health program planning, community partnerships,
and intercampus collaboration. It provides a statewide framework to support health
workforce development, from career exploration and training to continuing education.
Rodger Lewerenz, an assistant professor in the UAA School of Nursing, is dedicated to mentoring future nurses and nurse educators, with a special passion for the MSN Leadership in Education offering.
Alaska 529 has awarded its 2024 $25,000 scholarship account to Matalyn Dart, an adult student and long-time Alaska resident. Dart was selected from the nearly 13,000 Alaskans who chose to direct half of their Permanent Fund Dividend to their Alaska 529 accounts.
College of Health students (Master of Social Work graduate Autumn Merrill, School of Nursing graduate Artie Gorash, Radiologic Technology graduate Agnes Brown, and dental program graduates) take part in Sunday’s ceremony.
Earlier this year, Megan Eilers, a health occupations teacher at Hutchison High School in Fairbanks, was named a 2023-24 Milken Educator Award recipient, an honor considered to be the “Oscars of teaching.”