History

Located approximately 4 miles from the United States / Mexico border, the San Diego Border Area Health Education Center (SD Border AHEC) at Scripps Mercy Hospital Chula Vista plays a pivotal role in the training and education of health-care professionals in underserved communities of South, Central and Imperial Counties, California.

SD Border AHEC began as a community/university partnership at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine in 1979. The SD Border AHEC has conducted programs in both San Diego and Imperial Counties and has an excellent track record in developing, implementing and supporting programs that are ultimately institutionalized within universities and within communities. Some examples of these successful programs include: a wide variety of youth in health career activities, residency training in community medicine, geriatric training and education, prevention and wellness, continuing education programs, and other health and wellness education programs.

In 1996, Scripps Chula Vista received funding to establish the SD Border AHEC and to develop the Scripps Family Practice Residency Program in partnership with University of California, San Diego School of Medicine.  In 1998, the residency accepted its first students and today is a well-established program with more than 75% entering into underserved areas to practice medicine. The Family Practice Residency Program and the San Diego Border Area Health Education Center (AHEC) aims to increase access to health care, training, and education for the medically-underserved while building a more diverse workforce. This is accomplished by expanding the training capacity of the existing service network to include resident community rotations, student internships, health workshops and forums, youth mentoring and camps as well as a variety of other activities. SD Border AHEC includes a large geographic area including San Diego South, Central and Imperial County with a broad range of health care opportunities and activities.

As a part of the residency, medical students are recruited for their commitment to community medicine, cultural competency, and scholarship.  Recruitment of residents targets students who have shown a commitment to working with underserved populations.  Emphasis is placed on the care of the underserved, primarily Hispanic population of the San Diego border region. Applications are screened for the qualities of commitment to caring for the underserved and for experience with community outreach.  Interview evaluation forms include "Commitment to care for the underserved" as the first of seven priority areas evaluated.  This evaluation and selection process has been very successful in matching a diverse and committed resident group. Scripps Family Medicine Residency has filled 100% of its PGY 1 spots with U.S. graduates in all 9 Matches (1999-2007). Thirty-two percent of the family medicine residents grew up and attended high school in the San Diego area (17% in Sweetwater Union High School district).  Fifty percent of the entering residents are members of underrepresented minority groups (43% are Latino), reflecting the cultural and ethnic mix of the region. Three of the residents and two of our incoming class are National Health Service Corps scholars.