Big Country: A Partner Strengthening Rural Health

The Big Country Area Health Education Center (BCAHEC), housed within the West Central Texas Council of Governments (WCTCOG), the AHEC plays a vital regional role in strengthening rural health across West Central Texas. Through mentorship, training, and community-based learning, BCAHEC helps students, future providers, and local partners gain real exposure to rural healthcare. These efforts support both immediate community needs and long-term rural workforce development.

As a partner to the Texas Rural Health Association (TRHA), BCAHEC serves as the staff and managing arm of our organization supporting statewide collaboration and technical assistance. This partnership was instrumental in securing the Governor’s Proclamation declaring November 20 as Rural Health Day in Texas, elevating the visibility of rural health challenges and the people who serve rural communities across the state.

AHEC’s Community-Based Mission

AHECs operate with a simple but powerful mission: to improve healthcare in rural and underserved communities by connecting education, training, and local needs. In the Big Country, this mission is carried out through hands-on career exploration for students, rural engagement opportunities with healthcare partners, mentorship and workforce programs like AHEC Connect, and community-based initiatives that strengthen rural health access.

This community-grounded structure is only possible because BCAHEC is embedded within WCTCOG, where healthcare workforce development aligns naturally with larger community and economic development priorities. Together, we work to respond to rural community needs and build long-term solutions.

A Statewide AHEC Network

Although each AHEC region serves its own communities, across Texas, AHECs share a coordinated mission to promote health careers, support clinical training, and strengthen community-based health initiatives. This includes:

• exposing students to health careers early,
• supporting healthcare trainees in rural and underserved settings,
• helping providers and rural health systems access training and development opportunities, and
• promoting community health through education and outreach.

BCAHEC’s work fits into this larger Texas AHEC framework. While their programs reflect the needs of the Big Country region, they also contribute to statewide efforts to expand the rural provider pipeline, support health systems, and build a stronger, more connected rural health landscape.

Connected to a National Framework

Beyond Texas, AHECs across the Nation are committed to rural and underserved healthcare improvement. AHECs are a part of national conversations about rural training, community health, and workforce challenges facing small and remote communities.

Partnerships with organizations like the National Rural Health Association (NRHA) and the National AHEC Organization help strengthen this national impact, ensuring that local voices and regional needs inform national rural health priorities.

Learn More About the AHEC Network

See more about the Big Country AHEC and Visit: https://www.wctcog.org/ahec/

Learn about the National AHEC Organization: https://www.nationalahec.org/ 

Check out the AHEC Network and the Regional Centers that span across Texas.