Central Massachusetts Area Health Education Center, Inc.

The Central Massachusetts Area Health Education Center, Inc. (CM AHEC) DBA Center for Health Impact (CHI) is a 501(c)3 overseen by a Board of Directors and is a certified Massachusetts Women Business Enterprise W/NPO.

Established in 1982 by the University of Massachusetts Medical School as part of a statewide system of six regional offices (the MassAHEC Network) to “improve the supply, distribution, diversity and quality of the healthcare workforce,” CHI’s AHEC Scholars programming has continuously served all of Worcester County as part of a national AHEC network to improve health personnel training in medically underserved areas.

In 1986 CHI incorporated as a private, non-profit to offer broader services and programs to a larger geographic area with funds from state, federal, and local grants and program revenue. CHI’s mission to create health equity, disrupt racism and promote workforce development has remained focused as has its readiness to pivot in response to changing community needs, priorities and cultures.

Since 1982 CHI has recruited, inspired, and trained a diverse range of health professionals, medical students, and community members with often underrecognized essential lived experience and skills, e.g., CHWs, Interpreters, Recovery Coaches to provide primary community-based care for Worcester County’s most underserved vulnerable communities, reduce health disparities, disrupt healthcare bias, diversify the healthcare workforce, and increase access to culturally, linguistically responsive healthcare.