The Virginia Statewide Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) Program was created in 1991 to help address the Commonwealth's need to expand access to primary care in medically underserved areas. Early leadership for establishing the program was provided by the Eastern Virginia Medical School, the University of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, the Virginia Primary Care Association, and the Virginia Department of Health. The initial partnership has since expanded to include a statewide system of eight community-based AHECs, each committed to developing collaborative educational programs that meet local health care and health workforce needs. South Central AHEC was incorporated in 1994.

South Central AHEC includes the cities of Bedford, Danville, Lynchburg and Martinsville, and the counties of Amherst, Appomattox, Bedford, Campbell, Franklin, Henry, Patrick and Pittsylvania. All twelve localities in the SCAHEC region are designated as full or partial health professions shortage areas (HPSA's), or medically underserved areas (MUA). Four localities have the HPSA and MUA designations.

South Central Area Health Education Center is committed to a smoke-free environment for staff and students.