About Us


Who We Are

North Louisiana Area Health Education Center (NLAHEC) is a non-profit organization.

Our primary goal is to bring healthcare education and resources to rural and underserved communities throughout North Louisiana. Through community based initiatives, we implement programs designed to improve the health status of citizens, increase the supply and distribution of healthcare professionals, as well as, provide outreach to promote health care resources to the rural and underserved areas throughout our twenty-one parishes.

AHEC concept

Area Health Education Centers (AHECs) are special cooperative efforts among health career educators, community hospitals, health professionals, and local citizens. The AHEC concept was developed in the 70s to address the growing shortage of health care workers. Today, a network of AHECs work throughout Louisiana and across the nation to:

Address shortages of health professionals in underserved and rural areas;

Provide community-based services that assist practicing health professionals - doctors, dentists, nurses and other providers - to further develop and maintain their skills;

Encourage students, especially minorities or under-represented groups, to pursue health professions.

Louisiana AHEC regions

US AHEC region map