The Southern Arizona AHEC (SAAHEC) was established September 1, 2021, at El Rio Health and is committed to serving Cochise, Pima, and Santa Cruz counties. SAAHEC is one of five (5) regional Arizona Area Health Education Centers (AzAHEC) focused on developing integrated, sustainable health professions workforce education and pipeline programs throughout the state.

Our mission is to improve access to comprehensive, affordable, quality, and compassionate health care in Southern Arizona’s rural and medically underserved communities by increasing the supply, diversity, distribution, and training of health care professionals serving these populations.