the nc ahec program began in 1972 with federal funding and is administered by the university of north carolina school of medicine. it is a part of the national ahec program. in 1974, with funding from the general assembly, it became a statewide program. today, nine regional ahecs comprise the system and are supported primarily by state and local funds. the nine ahec regions in north carolina are: mountain, northwest, charlotte, greensboro, southern, wake, south east, area l and eastern.