Health Professions Recruitment and Retention

Local Opportunities

• Throughout the year, AHEC coordinates conferences and workshops that provide continuing education credits to health professionals. The availability of educational programming in local communities is an important key to provider retention. Partnerships with telehealth networks across the region have broadened the programming base.
• Click here for upcoming programs and conferences.

The Washington Recruitment Group (WRG)

The Washington Recruitment Group is a collaborative effort of seven non-profit agencies that works to improve recruitment and retention efforts in Washington's rural and urban underserved communities. The seven entities are:

• Eastern Washington Area Health Education Center, Washington State University Extension
• Washington State Department of Health/Office of Community and Rural Health
• University of Washington Department of Family Medicine
• Washington State Health Profession Scholarship and Loan Repayment Program
• Western Washington Area Health Education Center
• Washington State Primary Care Office
• Northwest Regional Primary Care Association

National Rural Recruitment and Retention Network (3RNet)

• The National Rural Recruitment and Retention Network is composed of forty-five State Offices of Rural Health, AHECs, Cooperative Agreement Agencies, and State Primary Care Associations.

Washington State Rural Locum Tenens Program

• Recognizing the critical shortage of health care providers in rural communities throughout the state, the state legislature created the Washington Rural Locum Tenens Program in 1991.
• This program, managed by the AHEC at WSU Extension on behalf of the state, matches qualified locum tenens with rural clinics, hospitals, and health care professionals in need of temporary assistance.
• AHEC serves as a clearinghouse and referral system that screens applicants, verifies licensure, and refers locum tenens to communities in need.
• Application for Locum Tenens Participant (PDF)

Retired Provider Program

A program for providers who would like to volunteer at rural and underserved clinic sites in Washington State. Contact: