Texas Area Health Education Center (AHEC) East – Waco Region is committed to improving the health of underserved and rural communities in our 18-county service area. Through health education and collaborating with the local health workforce, Waco AHEC works with the community and community partners to bridge the gap in care among the underserved. Waco AHEC works with medical schools, nursing and allied health schools to improve health for underserved and under-represented populations. The AHEC mission is to enhance access to quality health care, particularly primary and preventive care, by improving the supply and distribution of healthcare professionals via strategic partnerships with academic programs, communities and professional organizations. Waco AHEC is hosted at Waco Family Medicine. Waco AHEC develops activities that link community resources with AHEC and academic partners to: --help young people and career-changing adults obtain information about health career education so they can become health professionals in their communities; --provide real-life educational experiences in communities for medical and other health career students; --promote practice entry (recruitment), professional development and retention of health professionals in underserved areas through continuing education, information dissemination, support for professional networking; --promote healthy behaviors to children and adults through diverse programs tailored to meet communities needs.