National AHEC Week, from March 24 to March 28, 2025, offers an opportunity to recognize the significant contributions of Area Health Education Centers nationwide. At Northwest AHEC, we're proud to celebrate this week by highlighting our ongoing efforts to improve healthcare delivery in our 17-county region.

Each year, the Because We Care Workshop provides a meaningful space for healthcare professionals and caregivers to explore the complexities of grief and renewal. Now in its 28th year, this workshop, Honoring Loss, Renewing Strength: A Workshop on Keepsakes and Compassion Fatigue, offers valuable insights into bereavement support, sibling grief, and the impact of keepsakes in the healing process. Additionally, it addresses the challenges of compassion fatigue and burnout, equipping attendees with practical strategies for self-care and resilience. Join us on May 1, 2025, at Ardmore Baptist Church in Winston-Salem, NC, for a day of learning, connection, and renewal.

Register now

May 1-3, 2025 | Renaissance® Asheville Downtown Hotel
31 Woodfin Street, Asheville, North Carolina 28801

The goal of this conference is to enhance the health care professional's understanding of current management techniques in providing care to the high-risk infant. Program brochure is available here with all the details!

Topics

• Proactive Sepsis Management: Identifying and Addressing Early Symptoms
  
• Providing Specialized Care for Substance-Exposed Infants
  
• Optimizing Feeding Strategies for High-Risk Newborns
  
• Building Resilience: Supporting Nurses in Managing Stress and Trauma

Credit

• 4.0 Contact Hours from Northwest AHEC
• 4.0 Nursing Contact Hours

Northwest AHEC is approved as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the North Carolina Nurses Association, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.

Registration fee for the program will be $80 for Individual Rate and $70 for Group Rate (3 or more), please click here to register.

In today’s diverse world, effective communication is essential—especially in healthcare and community services, where language barriers can impact the quality of care and outcomes. If you’re an interpreter or looking to become one, our Interpreter Training Series at Northwest AHEC is the perfect opportunity to sharpen your skills and make a meaningful impact. Starts May 7th - Blended Format -​Spots are limited, register early!.

Are you looking for convenient and effective ways to advance your knowledge and professional skills? Northwest Area Health Education Center (Northwest AHEC) has you covered with our comprehensive online learning! Check out our full list of online learning available this Spring HERE

Why Choose Northwest AHEC Online Learning?

1. Flexible and Accessible 

2. Expert-Led Content 

3. Affordable Options - some no cost!

4. Certificates and CE Credits

Featured Courses You Don’t Want to Miss

• The Ethics of Spiritually Integrated Psychotherapy - As mental health professionals, we have an ethical duty to treat our clients with dignity and to respect cultural differences, including those based on religion and spirituality. In this module we will explore how taking an integrative approach to mental health therapy can improve outcomes for our clients. $35 registration cost for this activity.
• Opioid Use and Opioid Use Disorder 2024-2026:New Strategies to Reduce Barriers to Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) Treatment  - With a focus on what defines and frames low barrier care, this course reviews the spectrum of opioid use disorder treatment, from harm reduction, low barrier care, to comprehensive integrated care. There is a $20 registration fee for this program.
• Opioid Use and Opioid Use Disorder 2024-2026:‘New Strategies to Improve Opioid Use Disorder Treatment Planning’ - Strategies to improve OUD (opioid use disorder) treatment planning are discussed. Review of the overall role and scope of the Peer Support Specialist (PSS) and strategies to minimize and address diversion are highlighted. There is a $20 registration fee for this program.
• Opioid Use and Opioid Use Disorder 2024-2026: MOUD (Medication for Opioid Use Disorder): The Evidence is Compelling! - This course reviews the differences between Opioid Treatment Programs and Office-Based Opioid Therapy. The impact the opioid epidemic and COVID have had on treatment guidelines, and the strength of evidence behind treatment of the chronic condition that is opioid use disorder. There is a $20 registration fee for this program.
• Diabetes Performance Improvement in Primary Care - This educational activity aims to inform the learner about the status of diabetes and chronic kidney disease in primary care. This activity will explore barriers and facilitators to promote patient engagement in treatment. This activity will focus on performance improvement methods and activities which promote health among patients with diabetes. The first 100 registrations will be at no charge, supported by Division of Health Benefits grant funding. After that, registrations will be $10 each.
• Double Trouble: Diabetes and Falls - People with diabetes are at higher risk for falls. Etiologies include vision changes from retinopathy, damage to both peripheral and central nerves, side effects from medicines, and co-morbidities like osteoarthritis. Through use of a case study illustrating a familiar primary care patient encounter, learners will apply new knowledge, so they can anticipate and intervene appropriately in their work. An optional module on conducting the Diabetic Foot Exam is included. There is no charge for this online course. Course registration is generously supported by the Division of Health Benefits.
• Safe or Silent? This course presents the inter-relatedness of joy in work, burnout, safety, and silence in the healthcare setting, and the role that organizational 'just culture' has in optimizing clinician satisfaction and patient safety. This activity has no cost to participate.

Check out our full list of online learning available HERE

As we age, maintaining good health goes beyond just doctor visits—it’s about nurturing our minds, bodies, and overall well-being. That’s why Northwest AHEC is proud to offer the 2025 Aging Well Conference , a program designed to empower healthcare professionals with the knowledge and tools to support aging individuals in leading healthier, more fulfilling lives. Learn all about the program on our website.

This activity focuses on advancing the knowledge and skills of healthcare providers in rural western North Carolina, particularly in geriatric care, addressing the unique healthcare needs of older adults. With a blend of individual and group presentations, panel discussions, and demonstrations, the activity brings together diverse perspectives of healthcare experts, researchers, government officials, social service providers, as well as older adults and family caregivers.

Two options for Basic Fetal Monitoring - In Person in the Fall or Live Webinar in the Spring. These programs will introduce basic fetal monitoring principles to the new perinatal nurse.

Northwest AHEC invites you to our upcoming Spring Behavioral Health Webinars! Whether you're looking to enhance your clinical practice, support recovery, or deepen your understanding of trauma-informed care, we have valuable sessions for you. Click below for more information on each.

• Microaggression as an Ethical Issue in Clinical Practice - April 1, 2025 from 9AM- 12:15PM - Microaggressions are subtle, often unintentional exchanges that convey negative messages based on race, gender, sexual orientation, age, or disability. While clinicians aim to provide culturally sensitive care, unknowingly committing microaggressions can harm communication, erode trust, and disrupt the therapeutic process. Ethical guidelines call for minimizing these occurrences to support effective client relationships. This program explores the impact of microaggressions, their role in clinical practice, and strategies for reducing them. Note: This course may count toward ethics requirements for license renewal. Register Here
  
  
• Practical Suggestions for Facilitating SUD Recovery - April 9, 2025 from 1PM - 3PM - Health professionals often encounter clients or patients with substance use disorders (SUDs). Understanding how to effectively address these complex challenges is critical for providing optimal care. This workshop is designed to offer a comprehensive overview of practical approaches and evidence-based interventions for working with individuals affected by SUDs. Register Here
  
  
• Safety First: Trauma-Informed Care with People Experiencing Substance Use Disorders - May 16, 2025 from 9AM - 12:15PM - Widely demonstrated in the literature on substance use disorders, trauma experienced by the person is a common and primary part of the sequelae leading to addiction. Traumatic life experiences can unfortunately also be a part of a person’s time as a substance user.
  This training will present a brief overview of what constitutes single incident or developmental traumas; what it means to be a trauma-informed practitioner; awareness of vicarious or secondary traumatization and related social worker self-care. Participants will learn how to consider trauma in their approach to working with clients and in their ability to thrive as a practitioner.  Register Here
  
  
• Race-Based Traumatic Stress: Broadening Your Toolkit to Support Diverse Individuals - June 20, 2025 from 9AM - 12:15PM - This session explores race-based traumatic stress and its impact on clients of color. We’ll review the theoretical framework, trauma responses, and resilience strategies while identifying risk and protective factors. Clinicians will enhance cultural competence through interactive learning, self-reflection, and practical skills for sensitive, effective care. Register Here

The Northwest AHEC Scholars participated in the 2nd Annual Emerging Leaders in Healthcare Conference on February 7th, marking a significant event in their educational journey and professional development.

This conference, now in its second year, is a pivotal part of the NC AHEC's broader mission to recruit, train, and retain a skilled and dedicated workforce essential for fostering a healthier North Carolina. By engaging in this mission, the NC AHEC Scholars are actively contributing to a brighter future for the healthcare workforce, ensuring that it is well-equipped to meet the evolving needs of the community.

 Impressively, 31 of our dedicated Scholars were present at the event, joining a total of 157 NCAHEC Scholars from various AHECs across the state. The conference featured a lineup of excellent speakers who shared valuable insights and knowledge, enhancing the learning experience for all attendees. Hosted by UNCC, the event included engaging speakers and interactive simulations on Saturday afternoon, providing a dynamic and immersive educational experience.

As a fun and memorable touch, students received NC AHEC Scholars cowboy hats during the Cultural Competency-Western event, which added a unique flair to the occasion. This was part of their visit to a requested number of vendors, further enriching their understanding and appreciation of cultural diversity within the healthcare field.

Learn more about the NC AHEC Scholars Program at Northwest AHEC