Northeast PA Area Health Education Center

Northeast Pennsylvania is facing a critical shortage of healthcare workers—one that is already delaying care and limiting access across Lackawanna, Luzerne, Wayne, Pike, Monroe, Wyoming, Bradford, Sullivan, and Susquehanna counties. Many of these communities are federally designated shortage areas by the Health Resources and Services Administration, meaning there are simply not enough providers to meet local needs.

The Northeast PA Area Health Education Center (NE PA AHEC) is working to close this gap by building a strong, local healthcare workforce pipeline—connecting students to careers, supporting training, and creating pathways into high-need professions. These efforts directly address the barriers identified by the NEPA Health Care Foundation, including cost, access, and awareness.

Investing in NE PA AHEC means investing in real solutions: training local talent to stay, serve, and strengthen healthcare access across our region—ensuring care is there when our communities need it most.