About Us
Our Mission
To eliminate health disparities through recruiting, training, sustaining and supporting health professionals from diverse backgrounds, community engagement, and advocacy.
Our History
The federal Area Health Education Center (AHEC) Program was established in 1973 as a way to encourage medical schools to increase the number of students and residents trained in rural communities. The Connecticut AHEC Program was established in 1995 by the Connecticut General Assembly and received initial federal funding in 1997. The program is based at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine in Farmington and implemented by regional AHECs with offices in Waterbury, Hartford, Bridgeport, Willimantic and Norwich.
Health Education Center Today
The Health Education Center (HEC) has continued the AHEC programs for eastern Connecticut, but has expanded to include many more programs and trainings that educate community members on health information and healthcare career building opportunities. HEC is focused on working to reduce health disparities and reflects that in each program.
Meet Our Team
Meet Our Board of Directors
Board Chairman
Physician, Community Health Center, Inc.
Professor Emeritus of Family Medicine,
Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University
Laurie Herring
Board Vice-Chairwoman
Chief Operations and Quality Officer
The Arc Eastern Connecticut
Glorimar Anderson, LCSW
Behavioral Health Clinician
Community Health Center, Inc.
Program Officer
Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut
Chief Medical Officer
Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation
Scott Kadey
Chief Information Officer
The Arc Eastern Connecticut
Joseph Zuzel
Manager Community Health for
Eastern Region of Hartford Healthcare
Debbie Phillips
Retired
Community Activist and Volunteer
