Are you a healthcare professional passionate about providing the best care for children? Don’t miss the opportunity to enhance your knowledge and earn contact hours with our Pediatric Pulse Live Webinars—a dynamic series designed to keep you informed on the latest in pediatric healthcare.

Each webinar offers 2 contact hours and delivers essential updates on timely topics in pediatric care. Whether you're a nurse, physician, or allied health professional, these sessions are crafted to support your clinical practice and deepen your understanding of complex pediatric issues.

🧬 August 12, 2025 | 11AM–1PM 

Caring for Children with Genetic Conditions & Their Families

This insightful session will explore:

• The incidence and pathophysiology of selected pediatric genetic conditions
• Clinical priorities in managing these conditions
• The ethical, legal, and social implications of genetic diagnoses
• Strategies for family-centered care and compassionate communication

You’ll leave equipped with evidence-based tools to support children and families navigating the challenges of genetic disorders.

👉 Register Now - https://northwestahec.wakehealth.edu/t3/courses-and-events/75876/pediatric-pulse-caring-for-children-w-genetic-conditions-their-families

💉 September 11, 2025 | 11AM–1PM

Vaccines and Immunizations: What Every Pediatric Provider Needs to Know

Stay current with:

• The latest vaccine recommendations and immunization schedules
• Clinical indications for various pediatric vaccines
• How to address vaccine hesitancy with empathy and evidence
• Tools for effective communication with parents and caregivers

This session empowers you to be a confident advocate for immunization in your community.

👉 Register Now - https://northwestahec.wakehealth.edu/t3/courses-and-events/75872/pediatric-pulse-vaccines-and-immunizations

🎓 Why Attend?

• Earn 2 contact hours per session
• Learn from expert presenters in pediatric care
• Gain practical strategies for real-world application
• Participate in live Q&A and interactive discussions

Don’t miss this chance to sharpen your skills and stay informed on the latest in pediatric healthcare. Register today and be part of a community committed to excellence in caring for children.

We’re thrilled to announce that registration is now open for the Moving Mountains and Community Conference, taking place October 13–14, 2025, with a preconference day on October 12, at Appalachian State University in Boone, NC.

Are you a clinical preceptor looking to sharpen your teaching skills and support the next generation of healthcare professionals?

Northwest AHEC is offering a FREE online Clinical Preceptor Training program designed just for you!

This self-paced training includes four 30-minute modules that cover:

✅ Foundational preceptor skills

✅ Integrating health equity into clinical education

✅ Communication strategies for diverse learners

✅ Recognizing and accommodating different learning styles and cognitive needs

Take advantage of this no-cost opportunity to grow professionally and enhance the learning experience for your students.

Learn more and register here

Northwest AHEC was proudly represented at the 2025 National AHEC Organization (NAO) Conference held June 17–20 in Lexington, KY. Northwest AHEC staff - Nedra Edwards Hines, Reed Burger, and Melanee Mills joined over 600 attendees from AHECs across the country to engage in meaningful dialogue, share best practices, and explore innovative strategies to strengthen the AHEC mission. 

Dr. Ebru Karpuzoglu is an immunologist and molecular medicine researcher, and the Chief Scientific Officer and CEO of Aveseena. Dr. "Ebru" discusses "inflammaging," a condition where inflammation and premature aging occur simultaneously, triggered by factors such as stress, diet, and harsh skincare practices. She elaborates on how environmental aggressors, including certain endocrine disruptors found in plastics, can mimic hormonal effects and disrupt the body's systems, emphasizing the importance of storing food in glass containers and avoiding plastic bottles left in heat. The conversation also covers the dangers of topical estrogen in skincare without medical supervision, contrasting it with physician-monitored hormone replacement therapy.

Dr. Ebru highlights the skin's role as the first line of immune defense, protected by its microbiome and immune system. She explains that while acute inflammation is beneficial, chronic low-grade inflammation (inflammaging) is undesirable. The discussion also touches on the balanced approach to sun exposure for Vitamin D synthesis, recommending early morning or evening sunlight with SPF for protection, and the benefits of red light therapy for skin health. Finally, she validates the scientific basis of grounding, explaining that the human body is an open system that reacts to environmental energies. 

Can those suffering from migraine get relief without medication? Find out in episode 116 of the Healthcare Insights in Northwest North Carolina!

On the most recent episode of the Northwest AHEC Healthcare Insights podcast, host Andrew Brewer speaks with Dr. Gretchen Hoyle. And, you can now earn 1 hour of CE credit after listening!

Dr. Hoyle returns to provide a post-launch update of implementing a collaborative care management model (CoCM) in primary care practice in a large health system. The model provides continuity of care for chronic conditions such as ADHD, anxiety, and depression. Learn how CoCM operates and insights on transforming care practices with a behavioral care manager, data registry, EHR workflows, and billing.

According to Dr. Hoyle, "This model allows us as pediatricians to use a team based approach for pediatric patients with mental health issues." Members of the CoCM team include the primary care provider who makes a diagnosis and referral, a psychiatric consultant who provides subspecialist level expertise and advice, and the behavioral health care manager (BHCM) who interacts most closely with the patient and their family. Dr. Hoyle finds it is the BHCM that is the "hero" of the CoCM team!

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the functions of each member of the Psychiatric Collaborative Care Team.
• Describe how mental health symptoms are measured and tracked in the Psychiatric Collaborative Care Model.

Register for CE Credit here: https://northwestahec.wakehealth.edu/t3/courses-and-events/75184

View a complete list of current episodes in the Podcast CE Learning series here: https://go.northwestahec.wakehealth.edu/podcastCE

Check out the latest episode of NW AHEC Healthcare Insights podcast!

This presentation will provide an in-depth update on the evolving landscape of robotic-assisted bronchoscopy, focusing on the latest modalities and their clinical applications.

Healthcare providers working with postpartum families play a crucial role in early care and intervention. Join us for a valuable live webinar, After Discharge: Maternal and Infant Assessment in the Home on Monday, September 9th from 9:00 AM to 2:15 PM to enhance your skills in providing home-based postpartum care.

On June 9th, Charlotte hosted the 7th annual Health Professions Education Institute (HPEI) Educator Conference, a dynamic event co-sponsored by Faculty Affairs and Medical Education. This year’s conference brought together faculty, staff, students, residents, fellows, physicians, and healthcare providers passionate about advancing teaching and training in the health professions - spanning medicine, nursing, physician assistant studies, graduate programs, and beyond.