“The student ambassador program was a great way to develop my community service and leadership pillars that focused on the Reno community. Through AHEC I volunteered at vaccination clinics, helped with implementation in Title 1 schools in Reno, and networked with community organizations and events. AHEC was great to work with because the volunteering was specific to you, allowing me to focus on the causes most important to me. AHEC is what you make of it, and I am very fortunate to have been a part of the program for the last three and a half years.”

"High Sierra AHEC took a chance with me, hiring a high schooler to fill a program coordinator role during the pandemic. My experiences with AHEC have stuck with me and permanently changed my perspective on public health, access to nutrition and healthcare, and healthcare disparities in rural areas—including Nevada, AHEC opened my eyes to the wide disparity in American healthcare across geography and socioeconomic status. It was surprising to me that, despite being one of the most advanced countries in the world, we have incredibly low access to medical care"

"The High Sierra AHEC Student Ambassador Program has strengthened my skills, expanded my network, and deepened my impact in healthcare. As an Ambassador, I have built valuable connections and gained critical healthcare experience through hands-on community outreach. AHEC enabled me to earn my Community Health Worker (CHW) certificate, allowing me to assist rural communities through Rural Outreach Clinics (ROC), supporting underrepresented and uninsured populations. Through the ROC, I improved my communication skills and built strong ties with rural communities. AHEC also awarded me the ARPA scholarship, giving me the opportunity to focus on a key healthcare issue in Nevada: advocating for individuals with intellectual disabilities to make independent health decisions. I currently serve as an Ed Coach for the Path to Independence (P2I) program under the Nevada Center for Excellence in Disabilities (NCED). AHEC has also connected me to physician shadowing opportunities through Community Health Alliance, where I observed various departments including the food pantry, dental office, medical clinic, and call center. After completing the program, I continued shadowing Dr. Agatep, a pediatrician with over 11 years of experience. These experiences have expanded my education, sharpened my skills, and helped me make a lasting difference in the healthcare field."