SEARCH Academy is a program offered by the Pennsylvania Area Health Education Center (AHEC). Its goal is to help students identify and pursue career paths in healthcare.  In doing so, AHEC aims to increase, improve, and diversify the healthcare workforce in Pennsylvania.

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The mission of the Pennsylvania AHEC program is to help communities meet their primary health care needs by creating a statewide infrastructure bridging community and academic resources in order to:

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• Facilitate the recruitment and retention of primary care providers in underserved communities through educational and training programs

• Develop an information and communication network to provide consultation, technical assistance, education and other professional support for community-based primary care practitioners.

• Increase the number of individuals from minority and underserved communities and populations who enter primary care and allied health professions.

• Evaluate and assess the public health needs of communities within and among the regions and provide innovative, multi-disciplinary responses to those needs.