The Center for Advancing Health Equity in Rural and Underserved Communities (CAHE-RUC) provides a central location for the comprehensive evaluation of the health issues and diverse healthcare needs of rural and underserved communities. CAHE-RUC is a partnership between the Asian Health Coalition and the Penn State College of Medicine that brings together the assets of a world class research institution and a respected non-profit organization to investigate health disparities that disproportionately affect rural and minority communities throughout the country. The Center takes a multidisciplinary, collaborative approach to addressing gaps in clinical medicine and public health through a comprehensive program for research, health education, training, community engagement, policy, and information dissemination. CAHE-RUC provides an innovative model of partnership that demonstrates how community-level coalitions bring value, community access, and deeper translational impact to academic institutions.