Milwaukee AHEC

What Milwaukee AHEC does

Milwaukee AHEC (Milwaukee Area Health Education Center) is a non-profit health education and workforce development organization founded in 1992 and headquartered at 1609 W North Ave, Suite 202, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The organization operates across five counties in Southeastern Wisconsin (Kenosha, Milwaukee, Walworth, Waukesha, and Racine) and focuses on increasing the diversity and distribution of health professionals in underserved communities. Its programmatic surface is organized as a continuum from K-12 through professional careers: High School Pathways (including the Youth Health Service Corps with Messmer High School and HOSA chapters in multiple Milwaukee Public Schools), Career Exploration Days, the AHEC Scholars two-year program for health-profession students, the Community Health Internship Program (CHIP) eight-week summer internships, Community Health Immersion experiences, and the signature Community Health Worker (CHW) Training Program — a fee-based certification course priced at $3,000 per participant that includes virtual coursework, weekly sessions, six months of one-on-one post-training coaching, and an employer-endorsed Certificate of Completion. Adjacent offerings include a CHW Registered Apprenticeship and ongoing CHW Advanced Training (monthly sessions on topics such as Motivational Interviewing and Culturally Responsive Mental Health).

The organization is not a technology company and has no proprietary software platform; its "technology" consists of structured curricula, virtual session delivery, and coaching workflows. Its revenue mechanics are a hybrid of (a) participant fees from CHW Training ($3,000 one-time per participant), (b) grant funding from federal sources (HRSA), state-level bodies, and health system partners (Medical College of Wisconsin Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Endowment, Marshfield Clinic Health System, etc.), (c) in-kind support and partnership contributions from approximately 13+ regional health systems (Advocate Aurora, Ascension Wisconsin, Froedtert Health, UW Health, Children's Wisconsin, Bellin Health, Aurora Walker's Point Community Clinic), and (d) AmeriCorps program placement via Public Health AmeriCorps members who serve as pathway coordinators and mentors. Its customer and beneficiary base is hybrid: underserved community members in Southeastern Wisconsin (primary), college and graduate health-profession students (CHIP and AHEC Scholars), practicing and aspiring Community Health Workers, high school students exploring healthcare careers, and institutional partners (health systems, local health departments, tribal health centers, community health centers). Distribution is direct (organization-delivered programs) and via partner channels (health system and educational institution partners). Staffing is approximately 14, led by Executive Director Suzanne Letellier.

Name

Milwaukee AHEC

Legal name

The Milwaukee Area Health Education Center

Website

https://milahec.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Milwaukee AHEC is a non-profit health education center founded in 1992 that trains Community Health Workers and builds healthcare career pathways for underserved communities across five counties in Southeastern Wisconsin.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Health Workforce Education

NAICS

Apprenticeship Training (611513), Other Technical and Trade Schools (611519), Technical and Trade Schools (61151)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAAAOAC

Apprenticeships, Pre-Apprenticeships & Work-Based Learning

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Workforce Development Initiatives

SECONDARYBPAHAJAL

EHS Training, Competency & Culture Programs

Business & Public Services/Professional Services (Legal, Accounting, Consulting)/Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS) Consulting

Keywords

• Community health worker training
• Healthcare workforce development
• Health education programs
• Community health internships
• Rural health initiatives

Headquarters

HQ city

Milwaukee

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Community Health Worker Training: Fee-based training program for community health workers with virtual coursework, weekly sessions, coaching, and certification. Cost is $3000 per participant.
2. Grant Funding and Partnerships: Funded through partnerships with health systems, healthcare organizations, and funders including Marshfield Clinic Health System, Medical College of Wisconsin, and HRSA.
3. AmeriCorps Program: Hosts AmeriCorps members who serve as pathway program coordinators and health career mentors in high schools.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Milwaukee AHEC delivers fee-based Community Health Worker (CHW) training and certification, a two-year AHEC Scholars program, eight-week Community Health Internships (CHIP), High School Pathways (YHSC and HOSA), CHW Registered Apprenticeship and Advanced Training, and Career Exploration Days. Programs are designed to develop a diverse healthcare workforce across Kenosha, Milwaukee, Walworth, Waukesha, and Racine Counties in Southeastern Wisconsin.

Product overview

Milwaukee AHEC offers a portfolio of interconnected educational programs designed to develop and diversify the healthcare workforce in Southeastern Wisconsin. The core offerings include the Community Health Worker (CHW) Training Program with its associated Registered Apprenticeship and Advanced Training modules, the two-year AHEC Scholars Program for healthcare students, the Community Health Internship Program (CHIP) for college students, and High School Pathways featuring Youth Health Service Corps and HOSA partnerships. Community Health Immersion experiences are integrated into the AHEC Scholars program. These programs work together to bridge students from high school through professional careers into healthcare roles, with particular focus on underserved communities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Community Health Worker Training Program A comprehensive training program that prepares individuals to serve as community health workers who bridge community members and the healthcare delivery system. The program includes virtual coursework, weekly sessions, 6 months of 1-on-1 coaching, a textbook, and culminates in a Certificate of Completion from Milwaukee AHEC. Cost is $3,000 per participant via check or ACH.
• AHEC Scholars Program A two-year program designed to enhance and broaden healthcare students' training through a combination of didactic and community-based experiential training in Wisconsin rural communities and/or with underserved populations.
• Community Health Internship Program (CHIP) An eight-week summer internship program that enables college students interested in community health, public health, and population health to work with local health departments, tribal health centers, community health centers, and community service organizations throughout Wisconsin.
• High School Pathways Programs including Youth Health Service Corps (YHSC) partnership with Messmer High School and UW School of Medicine & Public Health TRIUMPH Program, and HOSA Future Health Professionals chapter partnerships with Milwaukee Public Schools to inspire teens to explore health careers.
• Community Health Immersion A program (formerly WI Express) since the mid-1990s giving undergraduate and graduate health profession students the opportunity to connect with diverse Wisconsin communities, exploring healthcare delivery and public health in medically underserved areas. Integrated into the AHEC Scholars program.
• CHW Registered Apprenticeship A pathway for Community Health Workers to gain hands-on experience supported by structured mentorship from seasoned professionals, combining real-world practice and guided learning to strengthen skills and build confidence.
• CHW Advanced Training Monthly advanced training sessions for Community Health Workers to deepen skills, expand knowledge, and support continued growth. Topics include Compassion Fatigue, Motivational Interviewing, and Culturally Responsive Mental Health. Free monthly bonus sessions.
• Career Exploration Days Programs including Future Oral Health Workforce Day where high school students learn about dental health professions through hands-on activities, prerequisites information, and admissions preparation.

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Advocate AuroracoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor health system partner supporting Milwaukee AHEC programming and community health initiatives in Southeastern Wisconsin.
• Aurora Walker's Point Community CliniccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partner with Steve Ohly, RN providing continuous support throughout Milwaukee AHEC's history. Clinic serves immigrant and refugee communities.
• Medical College of WisconsincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey educational partner providing AHEC Scholars program connections, research opportunities, and Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Endowment funding.
• University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTRIUMPH program partnership connecting medical students with Youth Health Service Corps programs in Milwaukee high schools.
• Marshfield Clinic Health SystemcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAmeriCorps Community Corps Program host providing pathway program coordinators and recognition as Outstanding Partner in Community Health (2022).
• Milwaukee Public SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHOSA Future Health Professionals chapter partnership with James Madison Academic Campus, North Division High School, South Division High School, Riverside University High School, and Milwaukee Marshall High School.
• Messmer High SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth Health Service Corps partner with Bess Prichard, science teacher instrumental in program implementation since 2008.
• Milwaukee Area Technical CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDental Assisting, Dental Hygiene and Dental Technician programs supporting career exploration and workforce development.
• Ascension WisconsinminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealth system partner supporting community health programming.
• Froedtert HealthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealth system partner supporting community health initiatives.
• UW HealthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealth system partner supporting healthcare workforce development.
• iCareminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity health partner with Ricky Santos and Lisa Brooks helping expand CHW training programs.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Wisconsin AHEC: Statewide coordinating center for the Wisconsin AHEC system that oversees Milwaukee AHEC and other regional AHECs. Directly comparable as a Wisconsin-based healthcare workforce development non-profit operating under the same national AHEC framework with overlapping program types including CHW training and health career pathways.
• Northeast Wisconsin AHEC: A regional Wisconsin AHEC delivering CHW training, health career exploration, and health profession student programs in northeastern Wisconsin. Operates the same federal AHEC model with the same partner structure, federal HRSA funding, and program portfolio.
• MHP Salud: National non-profit implementing Community Health Worker programs with training, apprenticeship, and employer-endorsed pathways. Directly comparable because MHP Salud operates a CHW training and apprenticeship model serving underserved communities, similar in mission and curriculum structure.
• Penn Center for Community Health Workers: University-based center that designs, tests, and disseminates CHW interventions with training curricula and employer partnerships. Comparable as a CHW training organization with credentialed programs and health system integration similar to Milwaukee AHEC's CHW Training and Registered Apprenticeship.

Broad incumbents

• National AHEC Organization: National umbrella organization representing the AHEC system of more than 300 centers across the U.S. Broader incumbent as the federally supported network within which Milwaukee AHEC operates, providing policy advocacy, federal funding coordination, and program standards.
• National Association of Community Health Workers (NACHW): National membership organization for community health workers that supports CHW training, policy, and professional development. Comparable as a CHW field-builder with similar focus on training standards and employer recognition, though operating at a national advocacy level rather than direct program delivery.

Emerging players

• Health Leads: National non-profit addressing social determinants of health through workforce programs and community health partnerships. Comparable in mission around diversifying the healthcare workforce and addressing health inequities, though Health Leads focuses on social needs navigation rather than CHW training directly.
• City College of San Francisco Community Health Worker Program: Community college-based CHW certificate and training program preparing community members for healthcare careers. Comparable as a CHW training provider with employer-aligned curriculum, though operating within a community college academic structure rather than as an independent non-profit.
• Sinai Urban Health Institute: Urban health research and program organization addressing health inequities in underserved Chicago communities. Comparable in community-led approach to building a diverse healthcare workforce and addressing health disparities through CHW-style programming in a Midwestern urban context.

Others

• Boys & Girls Clubs of America Workforce Programs: National youth development organization with healthcare and workforce pathway programs for teens including health career exploration. Compares as a high-school pipeline organization serving underrepresented youth into healthcare-adjacent careers, though operating nationally and across industries.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/MKEAHEC
• Instagraminstagram.com/milwaukeeahec

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Milwaukee AHEC