The Mountain Area Health Education Center (MAHEC) is advancing rural health across Western North Carolina through its Rural Health Initiative (RHI)—a comprehensive effort focused on strengthening the healthcare workforce and improving access to care in rural communities.

RHI addresses the region’s critical provider shortages by expanding interprofessional health sciences education, fostering collaboration with community partners, and developing innovative, sustainable models of care tailored to rural settings.

A key component of this initiative includes targeted training and development opportunities across the educational continuum—from high school students to graduate and professional learners—helping build and sustain a pipeline of healthcare professionals committed to practicing in rural communities.

Through programs like the Primary Care Training Enhancement (PCTE) grant, MAHEC is equipping future clinicians with the skills needed to address complex challenges such as the opioid epidemic, mental health care access, telehealth integration, and community-based care delivery.

For NC STAR Network, MAHEC’s Rural Health Initiative represents a strong partner in advancing shared goals—expanding access to evidence-based care, supporting workforce development, and strengthening community-centered approaches to substance use disorder treatment across North Carolina.