Healthcare professionals are invited to join Northwest AHEC's 28th Annual Diabetes Management Conference, a comprehensive educational event designed to provide current best practices in diabetes care and management.

As diabetes treatment continues to evolve, staying current on clinical advances, technology, communication strategies, and patient-centered care is essential. This year's conference will offer practical, evidence-based education that healthcare professionals can immediately apply in their practice.

November 13, 2026 8:15 AM - 4:00 PM 

The Conference Center at GTCC
7908 Leabourne Rd
Colfax, NC, 27235 

REGISTER NOW

One of the conference highlights is the opportunity to customize your learning experience through engaging breakout sessions tailored to a variety of disciplines and interests.

Morning Breakout Sessions

Troubleshooting Continuous Glucose Monitors: Heather Venoy, RDN, LDN, CDCES

Learn practical approaches to common CGM challenges and gain confidence supporting patients who use diabetes technology. This session is particularly valuable for nurses, CMAs, school nurses, clinic staff, and providers who are newer to diabetes technology.

The Future of Incretin Therapies: Balancing Today's Management with Tomorrow's Pipeline: Julie Pruitt, PharmD

Explore the rapidly evolving world of incretin therapies, including current treatment considerations and emerging developments that are shaping the future of diabetes care.

Afternoon Breakout Sessions

Words That Move Care Forward: Building Trust Across Visits, Messages, and Systems in Diabetes Care: Carrie Keyes, MMS, PA-C

Discover practical communication techniques that help build trust, improve patient engagement, and strengthen diabetes care across healthcare settings.

Understanding Ketones and DKA – Pathophysiology of Insulin Deficiency: Courtney Edwards, PA-C

Gain a deeper understanding of ketones, diabetic ketoacidosis, and the effects of insulin deficiency to improve clinical decision-making and patient education.

While all breakout sessions are open to conference attendees, recommended audiences have been identified to help participants select the sessions most relevant to their professional roles and learning goals.

Don't miss this opportunity to learn from experienced diabetes care professionals, explore emerging trends, and enhance your ability to provide high-quality patient care.

Registration is now open.

🔗 Register today: https://northwestahec.wakehealth.edu/t3/courses-and-events/78170/28th-annual-diabetes-management-conference

MindBridge Behavioral Health Launches with Northwest AHEC Support

When pediatrician Dr. Gretchen Hoyle opened the doors of MindBridge Behavioral Health in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, it marked the culmination of a vision to improve access to behavioral health services for children, adolescents, and young adults in her community. Northwest Area Health Education Center (NWAHEC) leaders and staff joined community partners, healthcare professionals, and supporters at the ribbon-cutting ceremony, including Lara Dickerson, Practice Support Coach; Dr. Michael Lischke, Director of Northwest AHEC; and Brooke Kochanski, Marketing & Communications Specialist, celebrating an important milestone in expanding behavioral health care access across the region.

During her opening remarks, Dr. Hoyle described MindBridge as "the realization of a promise" she made to serve the community she has called home her entire life. A Winston-Salem native and pediatrician with more than two decades of experience caring for children and families, Dr. Hoyle has witnessed firsthand the challenges families face when trying to access behavioral health services.

As she explained:

"For me, this is not just the opening of a medical practice. It is the realization of a promise I made long ago to serve the community I call home. This community has given me so much. And now it is my turn to give back and help address a need that can no longer be ignored."

Throughout her career, Dr. Hoyle cared for children experiencing anxiety, ADHD, depression, trauma, behavioral concerns, and other mental health challenges. She repeatedly encountered parents searching for answers and support, often asking the same question:

"Where do we go for help?"

MindBridge Behavioral Health was created to answer that question by providing timely, family-centered behavioral health care that integrates medical care, behavioral health support, parent guidance, and school collaboration into one coordinated approach.

Turning Vision into Reality

To transform her vision into a sustainable practice model, Dr. Hoyle partnered with Northwest Area Health Education Center (NWAHEC) and Practice Support Coach Lara Dickerson during the planning and implementation of a Collaborative Care program.

Working alongside the MindBridge team, Northwest AHEC provided technical assistance and guidance in:

• Workflow design
• Documentation requirements
• Compliance and regulatory considerations
• Billing and reimbursement processes
• Quality improvement strategies
• Operational planning and implementation

The partnership helped establish a strong foundation for long-term success while ensuring the practice could effectively meet the growing behavioral health needs of children and families.

Reflecting on that support, Dr. Hoyle said:

"I truly don't believe we would have been able to build a successful Collaborative Care program without the guidance of the AHEC team. They were with us every step of the way, from workflow design and documentation to compliance, billing, quality improvement, and implementation. They didn't just teach us the model; they helped us build a sustainable program that works for our patients and our practice."

Transforming Care for Children and Families

The Collaborative Care model has fundamentally changed how behavioral health services are delivered within MindBridge.

According to Dr. Hoyle:

"Collaborative Care has completely changed the way I practice medicine. Families tell us they finally feel heard because we have the time and the team to truly understand what they're going through. Instead of trying to solve complex behavioral health challenges in a single office visit, we're able to provide ongoing support and follow-up that meets families where they are."

The model provides a structured, team-based approach that includes a Behavioral Health Care Manager, patient registry, measurement-based care, and psychiatric consultation. These resources allow providers to proactively support patients rather than simply responding to crises.

"As a pediatrician, one of the most rewarding aspects of Collaborative Care is having the resources to care for children the way they deserve. Our Behavioral Health Care Manager, patient registry, measurement-based care, and regular psychiatric consultation allow us to provide thoughtful, coordinated care instead of simply reacting to crises. It has transformed some of the most challenging visits into some of the most meaningful."

Improving the Family Experience

For families, the difference has been profound.

Rather than navigating a fragmented behavioral health system alone, parents and children receive continuous support from a coordinated care team.

As Dr. Hoyle explains:

"Our families frequently tell us that they feel like someone is finally walking alongside them instead of handing them a list of referrals and wishing them luck. That continuity and partnership are incredibly powerful, especially for children with anxiety, ADHD, depression, trauma, or other complex behavioral health needs."

The model also empowers providers to deliver the care they have long wanted to provide.

"Before Collaborative Care, many pediatric providers knew what our patients needed but simply didn't have the infrastructure to deliver it. Today, because of this model, we have extended visits, proactive follow-up, and a dedicated team working together on behalf of each child. It's made caring for children with behavioral health conditions not only more effective, but genuinely enjoyable."

Lasting Impact Through Partnership

Dr. Hoyle credits Northwest AHEC's ongoing support as a critical component of MindBridge's success.

"I'm incredibly grateful to the AHEC Collaborative Care team for believing in practices like ours. Their expertise, encouragement, and willingness to answer every question gave us the confidence to build something that has fundamentally improved the care we provide. The impact they've had extends far beyond our practice. It reaches every child and family we serve."

Today, MindBridge Behavioral Health stands as an example of how practice transformation, community partnership, and evidence-based care models can improve access to behavioral health services for children and adolescents.

Looking ahead, Dr. Hoyle believes Collaborative Care represents the future of pediatric behavioral health.

"Collaborative Care represents what pediatric behavioral health should look like: evidence-based, team-based, measurement-driven, and centered around families. Thanks to AHEC's leadership and mentorship, we've been able to create a program that is sustainable for our practice and life-changing for our patients."

Impact Summary

Through collaboration with Northwest AHEC, MindBridge Behavioral Health successfully:

• Implemented a sustainable Collaborative Care model
• Established integrated behavioral health services for children and adolescents
• Created coordinated workflows for behavioral health screening, treatment, and follow-up
• Improved access to behavioral health resources for families in the Winston-Salem community and surrounding areas
• Enhanced provider satisfaction and care team collaboration
• Strengthened long-term sustainability through quality improvement, compliance, and billing infrastructure

As Dr. Hoyle told attendees during the ribbon cutting, "The real work begins after the ribbon is cut." With a strong Collaborative Care foundation and ongoing community commitment, MindBridge Behavioral Health is helping ensure that children and families no longer have to ask where to go for help. Instead, they have a bridge to the care and support they need.

Learn more: MindBridge Behavioral Health was recently featured by WXLV ABC45 for its innovative approach to pediatric-led mental health care for youth: https://abc45.com/news/local/mindbridge-behavioral-health-opens-offering-pediatric-led-mental-health-care-for-youth

Join us October 4-6, 2026, at Appalachian State University in Boone, NC, for the Second Annual Growing Well Conference: "Moving Mountains for People with Special Health Care Needs." This inspiring event brings together health care professionals, educators, researchers, advocates, policymakers, and families dedicated to improving outcomes for children and youth with special health care needs.

Register by August 1, 2026, for the early registration rate!

Registration Fees

• Preconference (Oct. 4): $100
• **Early Registration Rate for Oct. 5-6 (expires 8/1/26): $200**
• Main Conference (Oct. 5-6): $250
• Monday Only (Oct. 5): $200
• Tuesday Only (Oct. 6): $200

What to Expect

• Presentations from leaders in health care, education, research, and government
• Panel discussions featuring experts and individuals with lived experience
• Interactive demonstrations and practical tools to take back to your work
• Opportunities to connect and collaborate with others supporting children and families

This year's theme celebrates the resilience, creativity, and teamwork required to help families navigate complex health and social service systems. Whether you're a provider, educator, advocate, policymaker, or family member, you'll gain valuable insights, resources, and connections to strengthen your impact.

Don't miss this opportunity to join a growing community committed to creating stronger systems of care for children and youth with special health care needs.

👉 Register today:
https://northwestahec.wakehealth.edu/t3/courses-and-events/78353/2026-growing-well-conference-moving-mountains-for-people-with-special-health-care-needs

Healthcare professionals spend their days caring for others—but caring for yourself is just as important.

Join Northwest AHEC for Self-Care Monday: Approaches to Mindfulness, an interactive workshop designed to help caregivers slow down, reset, and build practical skills for managing stress and improving overall well-being. Participants will experience breathwork, meditation, gentle movement, and evidence-based strategies for emotional regulation in a supportive environment. A light lunch is included.[

Led by wellness coach Andrew Brewer, MS, NBCHWC, this hands-on session will provide techniques you can immediately incorporate into your daily routine to help reduce stress, improve focus, and support resilience. 

Whether you're a nurse, physician, therapist, educator, or caregiver in any role, this workshop is an opportunity to invest in your own well-being while earning continuing education credit.

Self-Care Monday: Approaches to Mindfulness
📅 September 21, 2026 | 11 a.m.–1 p.m.
📍 Winston-Salem Wellness Collective
🎓 2 Contact Hours Available

Space is limited. Register today and give yourself permission to pause, breathe, and recharge. 

🔗 https://northwestahec.wakehealth.edu/t3/courses-and-events/78063/self-care-monday-approaches-to-mindfulness

For many healthcare professionals, measles feels like a disease of the past. Yet recent outbreaks and declining vaccination rates in some communities have brought this highly contagious disease back into the spotlight. As cases continue to emerge across the United States, pediatric and primary care teams must be ready to recognize symptoms early, respond appropriately, and help protect vulnerable patients.

To support healthcare professionals on the front lines, Northwest AHEC is offering Pediatric Pulse: Measles Resurgence—Recognizing, Responding, and Protecting Your Patients on August 5, 2026, as a live, two-hour webinar. This timely program provides practical, evidence-based guidance for recognizing and managing measles in today's evolving healthcare environment. 

Why This Topic Matters Now

Measles remains one of the most contagious infectious diseases known. Early identification and rapid response can significantly reduce transmission, protect vulnerable populations, and support public health efforts. Healthcare professionals play a critical role not only in clinical management but also in patient education and vaccine confidence conversations.

As outbreaks occur, providers may encounter patients with symptoms they have never personally seen in practice. This makes ongoing education particularly important for pediatric clinicians, nurses, vaccine coordinators, and public health professionals.

What Participants Will Learn

This webinar is designed to equip healthcare providers with the knowledge and clinical tools needed to effectively recognize, respond to, and prevent measles. Participants will review current epidemiologic trends, identify early clinical signs and symptoms, and explore evidence-based approaches to diagnosis, isolation, and treatment.

Key learning objectives include:

• Recognizing the clinical presentation of measles, including prodromal symptoms, rash progression, and diagnostic indicators. 
• Applying evidence-based management strategies for suspected or confirmed measles cases, including isolation precautions, reporting requirements, and collaboration with public health agencies.
• Discussing prevention strategies, including vaccination recommendations and effective approaches for addressing vaccine hesitancy among patients and caregivers. 

Who Should Attend?

This program is especially relevant for:

• Registered Nurses
• Licensed Practical Nurses
• Healthcare professionals involved in vaccine administration
• Patient educators
• Public health professionals
• Pediatric healthcare providers and clinical staff who may encounter suspected measles cases 

Whether you work in pediatrics, family medicine, urgent care, school health, public health, or community-based settings, this webinar offers valuable information that can be immediately applied in practice.

Practical Education You Can Use Right Away

One of the greatest benefits of this program is its focus on real-world application. Participants will leave with a clearer understanding of how to identify measles quickly, implement appropriate infection-control measures, and confidently communicate with patients and families about vaccination and disease prevention.

In an environment where misinformation can spread as quickly as disease, healthcare professionals need both clinical expertise and effective communication strategies. This webinar addresses both.

Register Today

Pediatric Pulse: Measles Resurgence—Recognizing, Responding, and Protecting Your Patients will be held as a live webinar on August 5, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. EDT. Participants may earn 2 Contact Hours / 2 Nursing Contact Hours.

As measles continues to reemerge as a public health concern, now is the time to ensure your team is prepared.

Register today: https://northwestahec.wakehealth.edu/t3/courses-and-events/78399

Each activity has continuing education credits available and registration fee is $25.

• The 4Ms in Practice: Aligning Care for the Aging Well
• LGBTQ+ Aging: Aging Well Through Inclusion, Resilience, & Equity
• Deprescribing to Prevent Harm: Safer Medication Use Across the Lifespan
• Promoting Brain Health and Preventing Cognitive Decline
• Women's Health, Intimacy, and Sexual Wellness
• Polypharmacy, Pain, and Adherence
• Addressing Behavioral Health and Loneliness through Autobiography and Storytelling
• Aging with Intention: Integrating What Matters Most
• Updates in Dementia and Caring for the Caregiver
• Planning for Longevity
• Managing Complex Medications in Primary Care
• Advanced Care Planning and Family Conversations
• New Therapies in Alzheimer’s and Chronic Disease
• Technology and Movement – Using Wearables for Independence

👉 Browse and register here: Aging Well Enduring Materials

Maternal and infant health outcomes are shaped by more than clinical care alone—they reflect the complex interplay of medical, social, and emotional factors that affect patients every day. That’s why the 44th Annual Gravidas at Risk Conference, hosted by Northwest AHEC, is designed to equip healthcare professionals with the knowledge, tools, and compassion needed to care for pregnant individuals facing increased risk.

Taking place November 4–5, 2026 at the Hickory Metro Convention Center, this two-day, statewide conference continues a long-standing tradition of advancing perinatal care through interdisciplinary collaboration and evidence-based learning. 

Why Gravidas at Risk Matters

As the landscape of maternal-child health continues to evolve, providers are encountering increasingly complex challenges—from rising rates of high-risk pregnancies to the growing impact of social determinants of health. Gravidas at Risk brings together experts and professionals across disciplines to address these critical issues head-on.

This year’s conference focuses on delivering practical, real-world strategies that can be applied in both inpatient and outpatient settings, helping providers improve outcomes for mothers, infants, and families alike.

What You’ll Learn

The 2026 program offers a dynamic mix of clinical insights and holistic approaches to care. Attendees will gain valuable knowledge on topics including:

• Alcohol use during pregnancy and evidence-informed intervention strategies
• Cardiac conditions in pregnancy and early identification of risk factors
• The impact of social determinants of health on perinatal outcomes
• Recognizing and responding to intimate partner violence
• Emerging applications of artificial intelligence in obstetrics

In addition to clinical content, the conference emphasizes whole-person care, with sessions on mindfulness, resilience, and even therapeutic bedrest yoga to support both patients and providers. 

Designed for Interdisciplinary Care Teams

Gravidas at Risk is built for a wide range of professionals dedicated to maternal and child health, including:

• Nurses and nurse practitioners
• Nurse midwives
• Social workers
• Educators
• Other healthcare professionals working with childbearing families

By bringing these perspectives together, the conference fosters collaboration and shared learning across care settings. 

Earn Continuing Education Credits

Participants can earn valuable continuing education credits while expanding their expertise:

• Up to 10 contact hours for the full conference
• 5 contact hours for single-day attendance

Northwest AHEC is an approved provider of nursing continuing professional development through the North Carolina Nurses Association.

Register Today

Whether you’re looking to deepen your clinical expertise or expand your approach to whole-person care, Gravidas at Risk offers a unique opportunity to learn, connect, and grow alongside fellow professionals.

👉 View the agenda and register

Reaching more than four decades of service is a rare and meaningful milestone—one that reflects not only longevity, but deep commitment, adaptability, and lasting impact. Leigh’s journey with Northwest AHEC is a powerful example of all three.

 At Wake Forest University School of Medicine Office of Continuing Medical Education and Northwest AHEC, one of the things that sets us apart is the dedication and longevity of our team. The relationships we build—with each other, our partners, and the communities we serve—are strengthened by years of commitment and shared purpose.

We’re proud to continue our Quarterly Milestone Recognition, celebrating teammates whose years of service reflect meaningful contributions to our mission and impact across the region.

Celebrating 40+ Years: Leigh Watkins

Leigh’s 40+ years with Northwest AHEC reflect a remarkable journey defined by adaptability, dedication, and a deep commitment to both her work and her colleagues.

Beginning the career journey as a temporary program assistant, Leigh has grown alongside Northwest AHEC—transitioning into roles supporting leadership and now serving as an integral member of the finance team. Across each role, a willingness to learn new systems, programs, and processes has been a defining factor in long-term success.

Throughout the years, Leigh has embraced change with resilience—adapting to evolving responsibilities, advancing technologies, and shifting workplace environments. A strong sense of curiosity and determination has fueled the ability to master new applications and navigate complex systems with confidence.

Beyond technical expertise, what stands out most is the lasting impact of relationships. Leigh takes great pride in working collaboratively across teams and consistently highlights the supportive, family-oriented culture at Northwest AHEC. Colleagues have been present through both professional milestones and personal life moments—from early career days, to raising a family, and now enjoying time as a grandparent.

Leigh values the variety each day brings, appreciating that no two days are the same. Offering advice to newer team members, Leigh encourages others to “go with the flow,” recognizing the importance of flexibility and adaptability in a dynamic work environment.

Outside of work, Leigh enjoys spending time with family, relaxing with her husband, and staying mentally sharp through games and activities—bringing balance, perspective, and joy that extend into the workplace.

A Valued Member of the Team

“For the past 12 years, I’ve had the privilege of working alongside Leigh, and the dedication to Northwest AHEC is truly unmatched. Leigh’s ability to adapt to evolving roles, systems, and organizational changes over four decades speaks volumes about resilience and commitment. A trusted team player who consistently supports those around them, Leigh’s historical knowledge of the organization is invaluable—providing context, perspective, and continuity that simply cannot be replaced. Leigh exemplifies professionalism, reliability, and a genuine care for both the work and the people served. We are incredibly fortunate to have Leigh as part of our team.”

We are honored to celebrate Leigh’s 40+ year milestone and grateful for the lasting contributions that continue to shape Northwest AHEC. This journey is a testament to the power of dedication, adaptability, and the relationships that make our work meaningful.