(AHECs) as a national strategy to address the shortage of primary care physicians and the maldistribution of health professionals. With the impetus of the Carnegie report, the national AHEC program was established in 1972 to improve the supply, distribution, retention, quality, utilization, and efficiency of health professionals to provide primary care services in medically underserved areas. An important ingredient in the AHEC program structure is the formation of a partnership linking the academic resources associated with university-based health professions training with the clinical training opportunities inherent in the health services delivery systems of underserved communities.
Legislation and federal support since the 1970's has created 45 AHEC programs in 43 states that are dedicated to bridging the gaps that exist between primary health care and the population. The Pennsylvania AHEC program was established by the Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine in 1994.
Pennsylvania has seven AHEC regions. The Northeast Pennsylvania Area Health Education Center (Northeast AHEC) was incorporated as a 501(c) 3 in July of 1999 and is the sixth AHEC to be established in the state.
In 1970 the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education recommended establishment of Area Health Educations Centers
Keystone College 
Northeast AHEC History
