Founded in 2001, the Indiana AHEC program is coordinated by the Indiana University School of Medicine’s Department of Family Medicine. A statewide Advisory Board of more than 40 health care and health professions stakeholders guides program development. Seven AHECs have been established in communities around Indiana. Each regional AHEC is guided by a community advisory board. With more than 50 Indiana counties being underserved, AHEC is proactive in its efforts to address and establish rural medical education programs to meet current and future needs in these communities. Indiana’s regional AHECs accomplish their goals through several types of activities:

The Indiana Rural Health Association is the largest state rural health organization in the country based on a current membership of 1,500 health services providers. They have a paid staff of 10 full time professionals, and are primarily grant funded from federal, state and private sources. In June, they will be hosting their 13th annual Rural Health Annual Conference which typically attracts over 400 participants with an additional 100 exhibitors.     
                       
The Indiana Statewide Rural Health Network (InSRHN) has come a long way over the past 3 ½ years. In the past year alone they have initiated a membership dues structure, round table peer discussion groups, and negotiated many successful group purchasing opportunities for members. They have forged new partnerships with peer organizations, vendors and sponsors, creating synergies and collaborations that deliver even more value and benefits to members.

They have much to be proud of, but there is much still to do and more changes to come. This year the network created an advisory committee of key principal members to promote network development and provide vision for InSRHN continued success.