Fri Aug 01 2025

This episode’s guest is Dr. Josina Romero O'Connell, Director of the Colorado Area Health Education Center (AHEC). Dr. Romero O'Connell highlights AHEC’s mission to improve healthcare access and education in rural and underserved areas of Colorado. She talks about AHEC’s focus to address workforce diversity, equitable provider distribution, and practice transformation by supporting students in rural clerkships, providing continuing education, and offering community health education events. Dr. Romero O'Connell also highlights how challenges in rural healthcare such as health center closures and obstetrics deserts are being addressed by fostering community integration for healthcare providers to improve retention. In addition, the discussion covers the HOPE program, which is designed to get high school students interested in healthcare careers; and the AHEC Scholars Program, which provides learners of all ages with experiential hours and educational modules focused on underserved care.