The Arizona Center for Rural Health and UA Zuckerman College of Public Health Rural Health Professions Program (RHPP) is a partnership with the Arizona Area Health Education Center (AHEC) and regional AHECs.
Partnerships with Arizona’s AHECs serve as the platform for active learning and reflection on assuring health equity and eliminating health disparities. The overall goal of our program focuses on increasing the numbers of public health students who practice in rural and underserved communities in the state of Arizona. The core of our program is our offering of Service Learning courses. Our program also administers the AHEC Scholars Program, which is interwoven with the other RHPPs at the University of Health Sciences, Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University, and with Arizona’s regional AHECs.
Service Learning
Service learning is built on the idea that experiential education, learning in the field instead of the classroom, builds a stronger understanding between students, faculty, and communities.
The overall goal of our program focuses on increasing the numbers of public health students who practice in rural and underserved communities in the state of Arizona.
» View our Service Learning Course menu
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To create opportunities for MPH and DrPH students at the College of Public Health to participate in service learning field experiences that provide them with direct exposure to and participation in public health programs that are implemented in rural and underserved communities in the state of Arizona
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To create opportunities for MPH and DrPH students at the College to participate in service learning courses for academic credit that increase their knowledge and understanding of public health issues in rural and underserved communities in Arizona.
- To create opportunities for MPH and DrPH students to have positive internship experiences and fellowship experiences in rural and underserved communities that will impact their career choices upon completion of their degrees.
- To create opportunities for faculty and academic professionals to partner with community based organizations to meet the public health needs of their communities.
- To support fellowship opportunities for MPH and/or DrPH students that will provide for participating in public health programs that are implemented in rural and underserved areas in the state of Arizona and will impact their career choices upon completion of their degrees.
Our Rural Health Professions Program provides students, faculty, and community partners opportunities to collaborate and learn to address real world rural and public health issues. It is the foundation for many community engagement activities, strengthens community partnerships, and builds new ones. Participants learn the knowledge and skills needed to build health equity, work for social justice in communities, address the social determinants of health, and improve health outcomes.
RHPP Contacts:
Service-Learning Courses
MILAGRO
Migration Inter-Professional Leading to Action and Growth
Community: Tucson and Southern Arizona
Participate in a collaborative humanitarian response to address migration in the borderlands of Southern Arizona and Northern Mexico. The course is taught by an interprofessional group of faculty and staff, in partnership with the Casa Alitas Migrant Welcome Center and community partners.
Community Engagement
Collaboratively respond to health disparities encountered by disadvantaged and marginalized communities. Learn along side different communities such as urban, rural, homeless, veterans, border region, immigrants, and farmworkers through community-based engagement and experiential learning in collaboration with the Primary Prevention Mobile Health Unit, Street Medicine.
Family and Child Health in Urban Settings
Community: Tucson and Nogales
Explore current health and social policy and programs affecting families and children as you are immersed in the diverse organizations and communities that reflect the US-Mexico borderlands.
Border Health
Community: Yuma, Arizona – San Luis Rio Colorado, Sonora, Mx.
Grab your passport and prepare for a binational, bicultural experience. Explore the role of public health advocacy in globalization, migration and health.
Urban Health
Community: Central Phoenix
Learn about underserved communities and needs within a large urban center. Explore public health policy and action; interact with state and community-based programs meeting the needs of this diverse metropolitan city.
Rural Health
Community: Safford
Explore environmental health and health promotion in Eastern Arizona rural communities through this immersion with community organizations serving the needs of this historical mining and cotton region.