Missouri Area Health Education Centers celebrate 30-year anniversary
Posted: February 11, 2019
Missouri Area Health Education Centers (MAHEC), a partnership of A.T. Still University, Saint Louis University, University of Missouri-Columbia, and seven affiliated regional centers, celebrated its 30-year anniversary of enhancing access to quality healthcare by growing and supporting Missouri’s healthcare workforce. MAHEC representatives, friends, and supporters gathered on Feb. 4, 2019, in Jefferson City, Missouri, to mark the milestone and recognize those who have helped advance their mission.
During the evening program, attendees celebrated MAHEC’s mission and accomplishments, recognized legislative pioneers, and shared stories from AHEC’s Poster Children. Legislative pioneers recognized for their support included Charlie Shields, former member of the Missouri House of Representatives (1992-2002) and president pro tem of the Missouri Senate (2002-10); Chris Kelly, former state representative (1982-94 and 2009-15); Kurt Schaefer, former Missouri senator (2009-17); Dan Hegeman, current Missouri state senator (2015-present); and Deb Lavender, current member of the Missouri House of Representatives (2015-present).
MAHEC received two congratulatory proclamations to mark its 30-year anniversary, one from Michael Parson, governor of Missouri, and one from members of the Missouri Senate.
“Over 30 years, the MAHEC network has established extensive partnerships at the federal, state, and local levels to provide resources to help communities recruit, train, place, and retain needed healthcare personnel in the rural and underserved areas of Missouri.,” says Hong Chartrand, DPH, MPA, AHEC program director. “I look forward to continuing work with our MAHEC staff and partners for future growth of healthcare workforce in Missouri.”