As we step into 2026, we’re looking back with gratitude on all that Erie Niagara AHEC accomplished in 2025. This past year brought meaningful progress in our work and growth across our programs. Here are some of the highlights: 

January – March 

AHEC Scholars Annual Interprofessional Case Study Competition 

Erie Niagara AHEC collaborated with WNY Rural AHEC again for the Annual Interprofessional Case Study Competition. This competition helps Scholars exercise their interprofessional collaboration skills, learn more about other health professions, and strategize patient-centered care. This year, five groups worked together to create a patient care plan for an army veteran with PTSD. Mental health professionals, Dr. Takesha Leonard and Dr. Ursuline Bankhead, judged the competition and crowned Team 3, consisting of public health student Najlah Habeeb, pharmacy student Abigail Tarun, and occupational therapy student Leah Cavagnaro, the winners.  

Career Pathways Training Program (CPT) 

This year, the CPT case managers at Erie Niagara AHEC, in collaboration with Finger Lakes Performing Provider System (FLPPS), accepted over 300 students into the program! These students were provided full tuition to their educational programs, textbooks, supplies, and tutoring.  

Health Ambassadors Program 

This year, we had 77 students from Health Sciences Charter School participate in the first cohort of the Health Ambassadors Program. Throughout this program, students learned about different health topics that affect them and their community. Topics covered include mental health, infectious disease, chronic disease, health literacy, maternal health, sexual health, and substance abuse.  

Imagine Nonviolence 

In collaboration with BRAVE (Buffalo Rising Against Violence at ECMC), Erie Niagara AHEC hosted a three-part domestic violence series. This series discussed what domestic violence is and what it can look like, how to assess and screen for it, and resources and safety planning. In partnership with the Edgy Gazelle, Erie Niagara AHEC offered community self-defense classes for women in the city of Niagara Falls. There were three community classes held, and one class was held specifically for doulas, birth workers, and home visitors.  

April – June 

Students Athletes with Academic Goals (SWAG) 

This year, we had 30 junior and senior student athletes from Niagara Falls High School join Cohort 1 of the SWAG Program. Throughout the 6 weeks, students learned about different sports medicine careers, effective communication techniques, the transition to collegiate sports, and mental health coping strategies.  SWAG concluded with a graduation ceremony surrounded by friends and family, highlighting their growth and achievements.  

Black Maternal Health Week 

Black Maternal Health, annually scheduled from April 11-17, was celebrated on April 12. This celebration was a webinar that included two keynote speakers as well as raffle items. One speaker was Brianna Burt of Catholic Health, who discussed maternal health and diabetes. The other speaker was Dr. Ashanda Saint Jean, who discussed doulas bridging the gap between providers and the community.  

AHEC Scholars Cohort 6 Graduation 

Ten students from Cohort 6 graduated from the AHEC Scholars Program this year. They celebrated their graduation from their academic programs, reflected on their time in AHEC Scholars, and received sweatshirts, t-shirts, and graduation cords to commemorate their hard work at the End-of-Year Celebration. 

July – September 

Empowering and Mentoring in Medicine 

Year 4 of the Empowering and Mentoring in Medicine Summer Internship Program welcomed 11 new high school students. Throughout the 6 weeks, they participated in clinical demonstrations with health professions students, explored local colleges, rotated at Jericho Road clinics, and gained mentorship from medical students. At the end of the program, they celebrated their achievements surrounded by loved ones at the graduation ceremony, where they presented on their experience and received white coats as a symbol of their dedication to medicine.  

Maternal Health End of Program Picnic 

The end of year picnic took place on Saturday, July 12 at MLK Park. Moms, children, and doulas came together to reflect on the year, connect with one another, and recognize the journeys completed through the program. It was a meaningful and uplifting way to close out the programmatic year while celebrating the supportive community they built together. 

PATCH Orientation  

The Providers and Teens Communicating for Health (PATCH) program welcomed seven newly hired and trained Teen Educators, along with three returning Teen Educators who re-applied and were accepted for their second year, maintaining a strong team of ten youth leaders. Throughout the program year, PATCH delivered impactful workshops for both teens by providing education, discussion, and skill building opportunities related to adolescent health and advocacy, as well as for healthcare providers, with a focus on strengthening communication, engagement, and overall service delivery for adolescent patients. 

Teen Educators also participate in monthly enrichment sessions designed to build their knowledge, confidence, and skills. These sessions cover topics such as addiction, body image, teen rights in healthcare, identity and health, mental health, sex positivity and sexual health services, healthy relationships, and public speaking, which are subjects that are often stigmatized or difficult to discuss. By addressing these important areas, PATCH helps ensure that young people are empowered, informed, and better able to access the care they need to be healthy and well. 

October – December 

AHEC Scholars Cohort 8 

The AHEC Scholars Program welcomed 21 new students to Cohort 8! Our new students from mental health counseling, medical, pharmaceutical sciences, public health, social work, physician assistant, medical assisting, and nutrition programs are eager to learn about interprofessional collaboration, the social determinants of health, quality improvement, and more to better serve Erie and Niagara Counties. Our Scholars actively work to overcome both medical and non-medical barriers to care by participating in online modules, internships, clinical rotations, and volunteer opportunities over the course of two years. 

AHEC Future Docs 

In October, Erie Niagara AHEC launched the AHEC Future Docs program! This new program is designed to support undergraduate pre-medical students as they prepare to apply to medical school. Orientation began in October, and throughout the academic year students will be provided with a variety of experiences designed to strengthen academic and professional skills needed for medical school. The program includes access to a MCAT test prep course, monthly enrichment sessions (including topics on health literacy, asking for letters of recommendation, application advice, and interview preparation), shadowing providers with Catholic Health System, and connection to near-peer mentors.  

Postpartum Support Groups 

In partnership with Sherrell McLean, LMSW, Erie Niagara AHEC has offered three community postpartum support groups. This group is a safe space for moms to mingle, expand their support network, and discuss any challenges and achievements they are experiencing in motherhood. These monthly classes will be continuing into 2026, so stay tuned! 

We’re excited to continue to move forward towards our mission of advancing health opportunities and creating a brighter future for healthcare in the Buffalo-Niagara region in the coming year. Thank you for supporting our organization throughout 2025, and we can’t wait to see what 2026 has in store!