The African-American Healthcare Alliance (AAHA) is a 501 (c) (3) organization of healthcare professionals located in Fort Wayne, Indiana. We are committed to the development and implementation of strategies to help address the lack of minorities seeking careers in the healthcare field. We believe that through professional mentoring and financial assistance we can help students achieve their dreams. The organization has more than fifty members which consist of dentists, registered dieticians, registered nurses, nurse practitioners, physicians (various fields), pharmacists, and health care administrators.
In 1995, Chi Eta Phi Sorority, Inc. (Zeta Eta Chapter) and the Fort Wayne Black Medical and Dental Association collaborated to present the first annual Healthcare Scholarship Ball. The goal was to raise money for scholarships for students interested in pursuing careers in the healthcare field. This became an annual event for the two organizations until 1999. In 2001, some members from both groups formed the African-American Healthcare Alliance of Fort Wayne. The mission of the African-American Healthcare Alliance is to promote, support, and enhance the education of the African American community regarding health care issues as well as assisting in the development of those individuals pursuing careers in health care.
The African-American Healthcare Alliance is committed to addressing health issues within our community. Our programs were developed out of a need within the community, with a focus on: health disparities, diabetes, obesity and health issues that arise from the latter two. The target population is the people most affected by these issues that are also living within the inner city
We have four signature programs: (1) The Annual Healthcare Scholarship Ball; this is an annual fundraising event to provide monetary fund’s to students seeking a degree in a health-related field. The event is supported through corporate sponsorships, donations, and ticket sales to a gala scholarship ball dinner with noteworthy speakers. (2) Annual Metro Football League Physicals; this program provides free physicals to the Metro Football League players between the ages of six to eighteen. Doctors and nurses volunteer their time and services to conduct over 600 physical exams each year. (3) Coalition for Diabetes; this program is a service initiative providing diabetes awareness information and resources for care to the community. The target audience is high-risk populations and those with less access to healthcare. (4) Mentoring Youth Program; this program focuses on mentoring and role modeling to encourage youth in middle schools and high schools to seek higher education with a focus on health-related fields.
In 2016, we developed the AAHA Infant Mortality Initiative. The high number of infant mortality in Fort Wayne’s African American community is troubling and endemic. As an organization of African American healthcare professionals whose mission is focused on combatting such deleterious health related circumstances, we at AAHA aspire to make a meaningful impact in decreasing these tragic instances of infant mortality in the community.