What's New at NWAHEC

Andrew L. Brewer, MS, NBHWC

Instructional Technologist at Northwest AHEC, National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach
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Recent Posts

Beyond Skincare: Podcast on Inflammaging, Light Therapy, and Grounding

Jun 26, 2025 10:40:18 AM / by Andrew L. Brewer, MS, NBHWC posted in online learning, dermatology, podcast, aging

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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. 

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Migraine Headache and the Mind-Body Connection

Jun 18, 2025 7:21:23 AM / by Andrew L. Brewer, MS, NBHWC posted in treatment, mindfulness, headache, pain management

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

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Now with 1hr CE Credit! Addressing Mental Health in Primary Care with the Collaborative Care Model (CoCM)

Jun 17, 2025 9:03:55 AM / by Andrew L. Brewer, MS, NBHWC posted in mental health, behavioral health, Pediatrics, podcast, collaborative care

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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!

 

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Supporting the Unsheltered in Burke County, NC

May 27, 2025 9:46:34 AM / by Andrew L. Brewer, MS, NBHWC posted in mental health, Substance Use, human service, addiction, volunteering, communication, crisis, homeless, unsheltered

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In this episode of the Healthcare Insights podcast, you will hear the ground level experiences of two wonderful humans working directly with the unsheltered in Burke County, NC. Alice Horton, Director of the Burke United Christian Ministries and Karen Russell, Director of the HOPE Center share their stories of outreach and the importance of meeting people where they are.

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Insights on Headaches and Headache Treatments

Feb 21, 2025 10:05:23 AM / by Andrew L. Brewer, MS, NBHWC posted in learning, Wellness, Healthcare Insights, Medicine, stress, research, trauma, treatment, online learning, neuro, integrated care, patient care, access, medications, Medication assisted treatment, healthcare, headache

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Two recent guests on our Healthcare Insights in Northwest North Carolina podcast share their expertise, experience, and insights into headaches and headache research and treatment.

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Headaches, Healthcare Payments, Long-term Care, Free Clinics, and Dreaming Big

Feb 4, 2025 2:06:33 PM / by Andrew L. Brewer, MS, NBHWC posted in learning, Healthcare Insights, treatment, online learning, podcast, healthcare

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What do headaches, healthcare payments, long-term care, free clinics, and dreaming big have in common? They are all topics of recent episodes on the Healthcare Insights in Northwest North Carolina podcast.

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So Many Podcasts, So Little Time

Jan 8, 2025 10:50:40 AM / by Andrew L. Brewer, MS, NBHWC posted in learning, podcast

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If you don’t know already, 2024 was the year of the podcasts. Podcasts have truly democratized content on the internet as anyone with a microphone can record, publish, and easily distribute episodes to anyone interested in the topic. Whether it is sport, politics, science, health, medicine, cars…just about any topic you can think of probably has several podcasts discussing it at any given time. And the number of podcasts and listeners continue to grow exponentially. In fact, podcasts outnumber audio books by a factor of 6 to 1.

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New Podcast CE Learning Series Episodes Now Available

Dec 12, 2024 10:07:13 AM / by Andrew L. Brewer, MS, NBHWC posted in learning, mental health, health disparities, podcast

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Is there an easier way to learn and earn CE credits than to listen to a podcast while you are working out, cooking, doing yard work, or running errands? I can't think of one. In fact, I personally love listening and recording podcasts. And we've made it easy and cost effective to learn and earn with our Podcast CE Learning Series. So click to listen, register for credit, and pass the post-test to earn an hour of CE credits for your continuing educational development needs. All it costs is your time and attention; there is no fee!

We recently published two new timely and relevant episodes to our Podcast CE learning series where you can listen, learn, take a short post-test, and earn an hour CE credit for each episode.

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Using Artificial Intelligence at Northwest AHEC

Nov 12, 2024 3:10:51 PM / by Andrew L. Brewer, MS, NBHWC posted in technology, artificial intelligence

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By now, many of us have tinkered with artificial intelligence (AI) by chatting with a GPT. If you live in North Carolina and have renewed your vehicle registration online lately you interacted with an AI chat bot. At the very least you have heard about amazing things it is capable of or perhaps dark concerns surrounding its use and the potential for disruption.

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Highlights and Insights from Half a Century of Service to Healthcare Professionals and Our Communities

Nov 5, 2024 9:32:16 AM / by Andrew L. Brewer, MS, NBHWC posted in Healthcare Insights, podcast, history

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In this 50th anniversary special episode of the Healthcare Insights in Northwest North Carolina podcast, we take a moment to connect with former colleagues, faculty, and partners to reflect on the many ways in which Northwest AHEC has impacted the quality of health and healthcare education in the 17-county region of Northwest North Carolina over the past 50 years.

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