Mountain Area Health Education Center (MAHEC) Company Profile
Background
Established in 1974, the Mountain Area Health Education Center (MAHEC) is a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing healthcare training and retention across Western North Carolina (WNC). As the largest of the nine state Area Health Education Centers (AHECs), MAHEC addresses national and state concerns regarding the supply, retention, and quality of health professionals, particularly in rural areas. The organization's mission is to recruit, train, and retain the workforce needed to create a healthy North Carolina, with a focus on primary care in rural communities and those with less access to resources.
Key Strategic Focus
MAHEC's strategic objectives encompass:
- Clinical Care Excellence: Providing compassionate family medicine, internal medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, dental, and psychiatric care through approximately 250,000 annual patient visits.
- Health Professions Education: Training physicians, pharmacists, and dentists through residency and fellowship programs, with over 800 graduates as of June 2024, more than 80% of whom practice locally in WNC.
- Healthcare Innovation: Implementing patient-centered healthcare, population health initiatives, and educational excellence, including practice support services to ensure high-quality care in rural areas.
Financials and Funding
In the fiscal year ending June 2023, MAHEC reported:
- Revenue: $115,591,737
- Expenses: $114,116,353
- Net Assets: $76,808,089
The organization's revenue sources include contributions, program services, and investment income.
Pipeline Development
MAHEC offers a range of residency and fellowship programs, including:
- Residency Programs: Dentistry, Family Medicine, Rural Family Medicine, General Surgery, Internal Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ambulatory Care Pharmacy, Geriatric Pharmacy, Psychiatry, Rural Psychiatry, and Transitional Year.
- Fellowship Programs: Addiction Medicine, Addiction Psychiatry, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry, Critical Care Surgery, Maternal-Fetal Medicine, and Sports Medicine.
These programs aim to address healthcare workforce shortages, particularly in rural areas.
Technological Platform and Innovation
MAHEC is committed to healthcare innovation through:
- Practice Support Services: Ensuring that medical practices, especially in rural areas, have the support needed to deliver high-quality care.
- Department of Program Evaluation and Research: Focusing on healthcare workforce development, academic medicine, clinical research, and practice transformation to improve patient, community, and population health.
Leadership Team
MAHEC's leadership team includes:
- William R. Hathaway, MD: Chief Executive Officer
- Jeff Pigg: Chief Operating Officer
- Zach Levin: Chief Financial Officer
- Anne McClintic: Chief Talent Officer
Leadership Changes
Dr. William R. Hathaway assumed the role of CEO, succeeding Dr. Jeffery Heck.
Competitor Profile
Market Insights and Dynamics
MAHEC operates within the healthcare education and services sector, focusing on rural health workforce development and patient care in WNC. The organization addresses critical healthcare needs in underserved regions, contributing significantly to the local economy and community health.
Competitor Analysis
While MAHEC is a unique entity within its region, other Area Health Education Centers (AHECs) in North Carolina and similar organizations nationwide serve comparable missions. For instance, the Maryland Area Health Education Center (MAHEC) Program focuses on recruiting, training, and retaining a qualified and diverse health workforce in underserved areas.
Strategic Collaborations and Partnerships
MAHEC collaborates with:
- UNC Health Sciences at MAHEC: Hosting branch campuses of the UNC School of Medicine, UNC Adams School of Dentistry, and UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health.
- UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy: Engaging research faculty to promote interprofessional education and practice.
Operational Insights
MAHEC's strategic considerations include:
- Rural Healthcare Focus: Addressing healthcare disparities in WNC's rural communities.
- Educational Excellence: Providing comprehensive training programs to develop a skilled healthcare workforce.
- Community Engagement: Collaborating with local organizations to enhance health outcomes.
Strategic Opportunities and Future Directions
MAHEC's future directions involve:
- Expanding Educational Programs: Developing new residency and fellowship programs to meet evolving healthcare needs.
- Enhancing Healthcare Services: Implementing innovative care models to improve patient outcomes.
- Strengthening Partnerships: Collaborating with academic institutions and healthcare organizations to broaden impact.
Contact Information
- Website: www.mahec.net
- Headquarters: Asheville, North Carolina
