Northcentral PA AHEC Regional Information

Geography and Demographics

Northcentral Pennsylvania is a geographically and economically diverse region that includes urban areas such as State College and Williamsport, as well as many charming small towns and suburban areas. The Northcentral PA AHEC encompasses the following ten counties; click on the county for the most recent health profile.

• Centre - Bellefonte, Centre Hall, Pleasant Gap, State College
• Clinton - Lock Haven, Mill Hall, Renovo
• Columbia - Berwick, Bloomsburg, Mount Carmel
• Lycoming - Montgomery, Montoursville, Muncy, Williamsport
• Mifflin - Belleville, Burnham, Lewistown, Mount Union, Reedville
• Montour - Danville
• Northumberland - Northumberland, Shamokin, Sunbery
• Snyder - Middleburg, Mt. Pleasant Mills, Shamokin Dam
• Tioga - Blossburg, Elkland, Mansfield, Tioga, Wellsboro, Westfield
• Union - Lewisburg, Mifflinburg, Milton

Northcentral Pennsylvania is primarily rural with more than one-half (51.5%) of its 638,653 residents in rural areas. Tioga County is the most rural of the 10 counties with 84% of the population defined as rural. Centre County is the least rural with 64% of its population defined as urban.

The population in Northcentral Pennsylvania tends to be older than in other parts of the state. Nearly 16% of residents in the Northcentral region are 65 or older. Northumberland county has the highest percentage of elderly residents in the region (19%).

The percent of people living below the federal poverty level in Northcentral Pennsylvania ranges from 8.6% in Montour county to 11.8% in Clinton county. Per capita income levels are lowest in Tioga county ($21,000) and highest in Montour county ($28,000).

Health status indicators reveal that many pregnant women in Northcentral Pennsylvania do not receive prenatal care (18.7%). However, the percent of low birth weight children is still lower than the statewide average (6.9% vs. 8.2%). The age adjusted death rate ranges from a low of 7.4 in Union county to a high of 9.8% in Montour county. Many of the areas within the 10 counties are medically underserved. Thirteen areas within the Northcentral region have been designated as primary care health professional shortage areas and 16 areas have been designated as medically underserved.

Clinical Training Opportunities

The Northcentral PA AHEC works with over 50 preceptors whose specialties range from family practice, internal medicine and pediatrics to emergency medicine and psychiatry. Training sites throughout the region include free clinics, federally qualified health centers and private practices. Placements range from urban and suburban areas such as State College and Lewistown to rural communities such as Snow Shoe and Shamokin. All of our preceptors are highly committed to teaching.

The Northcentral PA AHEC provides free housing to medical students. Housing ranges from rooms in private homes to rented apartments and houses. In some locations meals are also provided free of charge to students. Housing is located in:

• Lewistown
• Renovo
• Shamokin
• State College
• Wellsboro

Comments From Students Who Have Trained At Northcentral PA AHEC Affiliated Sites

• "My time in my rural clinical rotation was both beneficial and rewarding. My preceptor helped to build on my previous knowledge and increase my proficiency with procedures. It was amazing to see how much OB/GYN a family doctor does in the rural setting as well as some of the medical problems that come along with rural living. I was a little apprehensive about starting my rural rotation but I really enjoyed it and had an excellent experience." (Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine medical students, Elkland Laurel Health Center, Tioga County)
• "I was extremely satisfied with my preceptor. He made this rotation one of my best experiences ever. Not only was the medical teaching exceptional, but he also spent time teaching things that are extremely important but are no longer taught at medical school - billing, differences between insurance companies, how to keep patient care a number one priority in this area of health care crisis." (Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine medical student, Miller Family Health Center, Northumberland County)
• "My family medicine/rural rotation with Family Practice Center was one of the best rotations during medical school thus far. Great working relationships, combined with the opportunity for many procedures made this a month full of rewards. The staff at the Center was very courteous as well as professional. I would recommend this rotation to all my friends." (Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine medical student, Family Practice Center, Union County)

Scenic Attractions

Beautiful rural areas such as the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon highlight the northcentral region. There are many state and federal parks which provide ample opportunities for outdoor activities such as biking, boating, canoeing, rafting, horseback riding, and skiing. Nearby tourist attractions include Corning Museum of Glass, the Little League Hall of Fame and wine tasting at the Finger Lake Wineries in New York State. State College and Williamsport offer a variety of restaurants, shops, nightlife, and cultural activities and can be reached within a one or two hour drive from most points in the northcentral region. Northcentral Pennsylvania is also home to several colleges and universities offering many cultural and academic events. These include Penn State University, Mansfield University. Susquehanna University, Bucknell University, Lycoming College, Lock Haven University and Pennsylvania College of Technology.