The Frontier Area Health Education Center (AHEC) is a longstanding partner in strengthening Nevada's healthcare workforce, particularly in rural and underserved communities. Based in Elko and affiliated with the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine (UNR Med), Frontier AHEC builds bridges between academic institutions and local communities to improve access to care and promote health equity. Through a continuum of pipeline programs, from K-12 outreach to undergraduate and graduate-level training, Frontier AHEC cultivates the next generation of healthcare professionals with a focus on rural experiences.
Pipeline Programs
ASPIRE Program: Students to Healthcare Careers
The ASPIRE Program is a 5-month, 50-hour high school outreach initiative supporting rural Nevada high school seniors exploring and preparing for careers in healthcare. It offers a mix of career exploration, shadowing, community service, and college readiness activities. Students engage with four core competencies designed to build professional skills, boost confidence, and guide them toward post-secondary education in health-related fields.
Eligibility Requirements:
- Student must be a high school senior at Elko High School (Elko, NV) or Albert M. Lowry High School (Winnemucca, NV).
- Student must be interested in pursuing a health-related career.
Next Program Start Date: January 2026
Frontier AHEC Student Ambassador Program (SAP)
The Frontier SAP is a leadership initiative for undergraduate students pursuing health-related careers. Student Ambassadors commit to a two-semester, 50-hour learning program focused on core competencies that support community engagement, professional development, and rural health advocacy. Through aspects of the program, students strengthen employability skills while making a meaningful impact on underserved Nevada communities.
Eligibility Requirements:
- Student must be a high school senior at Elko High School (Elko, NV) or Albert M. Lowry High School (Winnemucca, NV).
- Student must be interested in pursuing a health-related career.
Next Program Start Date: August 25, 2025
Application Deadline: August 15, 2025
Frontier AHEC Scholars Program
The Frontier AHEC Scholars Program is an 18-month, 160-hour initiative designed to prepare undergraduate and graduate level health profession students to serve rural and underserved communities in Nevada. Scholars commit to combined didactic and experiential learning, focusing on interprofessional education, behavioral health integration, cultural competency and humility, practice transformation, and current and emerging issues.
Eligibility Requirements:
- Student must be at an undergraduate or graduate level in the last two years of their degree or certificate program, or be in a health profession program that is at least two years in length.
- Student must be pursuing a health-related career.
Next Program Start Date: October 1, 2025
Application Deadline: September 26, 2025
Other Initiatives
Student Housing for Elko Rural Rotations
Frontier AHEC proudly supports UNR Med 4th year medical students completing rural rotations in Elko, NV—as well as health professions students from other institutions, including those studying physician assistant, sonography, nursing, and related fields. Free housing accommodations are available to eligible students for the duration of their rotations. To learn more or confirm availability, please contact Frontier AHEC directly.
Rural Outreach Clinics (ROCs)
Frontier AHEC supports the ROCs run by UNR Med 1st year medical students. These clinics offer free healthcare services to people in the communities of Yerington, Silver Springs, and Fallon. Medical students and other collaborating health professions students provide care such as general exams for all ages, vaccines, lab tests, and other basic health services. To learn more about the ROCs, visit their page.
Test Prep Opportunities
The Nevada AHEC Program partners with the Princeton Review to offer discounted prices for various health professional test prep materials.
ACT & SAT Prep
- Practice Tools & On-Demand Lessons
- Self-Paced
- 365-day online access
- 280+ expert created video lessons
- 21 full length practice tests
- 377+ online drills
NCLEX Prep
NCLEX-RN 90-Day Q Bank
- 3700+ practice questions with detailed explanations
- 2 directive self-assessments to guide prep
- 1920 practice questions purchased directly from NCSBN
- All of the Next Gen question types covered for your exam success
- NCLEX-RN LiveOnline Course Voucher
- 18 hours of LiveOnline instruction from certified subject matter experts
- 1000+ slides of Study Notes from NCSBN
- 3700+ Q Bank
- 200+ NGN Questions
- 2 directive self-assessments to guide prep
- 365-day access
MCAT & GRE Prep
MCAT Self-Paced Course
- Comprehensive study at your own pace online course.
- 365 days unlimited 24/7 access
- 17 full length practice tests
- 500+ hours of MedFlix videos + thousands of practice questions
- Set of 9
MCAT books MCAT Private Tutoring (3-hour blocks)
GRE Self-Paced Course