In partnership with AppWell, the second annual Growing Well Conference brought together 160 participants in Boone, North Carolina, October 4–6, 2026, for three days of learning, collaboration, and connection focused on strengthening support for children and youth with special health care needs and their families.

Centered on the theme “Moving Mountains for People with Special Health Care Needs,” the conference highlighted the resilience, innovation, and collaboration needed to improve outcomes for families navigating complex health, education, and social systems, particularly in rural western North Carolina. The conference began with a preconference day on October 4, featuring focused learning opportunities on the HINE and resilience for parents and clinicians. The main conference on October 5–6 offered a dynamic mix of presentations, expert discussions, breakout sessions, networking opportunities, and practical strategies participants could take back to their communities and organizations.

Programming addressed four key areas: Physical Health, Mental Health and Wellbeing, Communication and Behavior, and Advocacy and Empowerment. Topics ranged from Medicaid waivers, health care transitions, caregiver needs, emergency preparedness, and oral health to autism interventions, trauma-informed care, complex communication needs, psychotropic medication management, developmental milestones, disability and aging, and transdisciplinary care. Speakers represented a wide range of expertise and perspectives, including health care providers, researchers, educators, government and community leaders, and individuals with lived experience. Participants represented multiple disciplines, including Allied Health, Medicine, Mental Health, Nursing, and Public Health, creating valuable opportunities for interdisciplinary learning and partnership.

Throughout the conference, participants were encouraged not only to expand their knowledge but also to build relationships across disciplines and communities. Networking opportunities and shared learning helped strengthen connections among professionals and partners working toward a common goal: ensuring that children and youth with special health care needs and their families have access to informed, coordinated, compassionate care and support.

The success of the 2026 Growing Well Conference reflects the commitment of our presenters, planning partners, sponsors, exhibitors, and participants who contributed their expertise, resources, experiences, and enthusiasm. Together, they demonstrated that moving mountains requires collaboration and that meaningful progress is possible when communities come together around the needs of children, youth, and families.

Save the Date for 2027

We look forward to continuing the momentum at the 2027 Growing Well Conference, October 10–12, 2027. We hope you will join us for another opportunity to learn, connect, collaborate, and continue moving mountains for people with special health care needs. 

The 2026 North Carolina Annual STI Update was held virtually on March 25, 2026, providing an evidence‑based update on sexually transmitted infections, HIV prevention, and viral hepatitis trends affecting North Carolina and the region. The activity drew 889 participants from Allied Health, Behavioral Health, Health Careers, Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Public Health, and related disciplines, demonstrating strong interdisciplinary engagement. Participation spanned 98 of North Carolina’s 100 counties and included attendees from Alabama, Kentucky, Maryland, New York, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia, reflecting broad statewide and regional reach.

The 40th Annual Northwest AHEC Respiratory Care Conference brought together more than 140 respiratory care professionals from 12 states in a fully virtual learning environment. On February 25-26, participants logged in from across the country to engage with expert presenters, explore emerging trends, and connect with colleagues. This milestone year showcased an exceptional lineup of expert speakers discussing some of the most pressing issues and emerging trends in respiratory care.

Topics this year included:

• Respiratory effects of vaping and e-cigarettes on lung disease and younger populations
• Employee engagement and the importance for employees, patient safety and outcomes
• COVID ILD
• Pediatric Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia
• Patient and Respiratory Therapist experience with long-term intubation
• Sleep Solutions at home hypoventilation and sleep apnea
• Pediatric emergency medicine
• Lessons from Duke’s clinical education model
• Pediatric/Neonatal ECMO
• Personalizing inhaler therapy in COPD
• Neonatal and PICU respiratory advancements
• Exercise limitations in the pulmonary rehabilitation patient

With outstanding participation, strong interstate representation, and a robust agenda of timely and clinically relevant topics, the 40th Annual Northwest AHEC Respiratory Care Conference marked a memorable year of shared learning.

Stay tuned for details about next year’s conference—we look forward to welcoming you again!

The 2025 North Carolina Annual STI Update was held on August 13, 2025, in a fully virtual format for both presenters and attendees—marking the fifth consecutive year of remote delivery. This approach continues to empower Northwest AHEC and its partners to deliver this longstanding, reputable continuing professional development activity to a broader and more diverse audience.

This year’s event was the largest since Northwest AHEC began managing the activity in 2013, with 992 attendees representing a wide range of disciplines including Allied Health, Behavioral Health, Health Careers, Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Public Health, and more. Within North Carolina, 98 of 100 counties were represented, and the activity expanded its reach to 12 additional states: Alabama, California, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Virginia.

The program featured expert presenters from respected institutions and organizations such as UNC Chapel Hill, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Mid-Charlotte Dermatology, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, the Fenway Institute, local health departments, and the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Medicine.

Participants were eligible for 6.25 hours of continuing education credit, including Contact Hours, CHES/MCHES, ACPE, and AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ through collaboration with UAB’s Office of Continuing Medical Education.

Featured Topics Included:

• Sexual Health Considerations for Aging Populations
  
  The focus on aging populations was seen as timely and essential, with many attendees planning to apply this knowledge in their practices.
  
  
• Taking a Sexual Health History and Introducing Shared Decision Models into Practice
  
  Participants valued the sessions that emphasized patient-centered communication and sexual health history-taking, noting that learning how to ask thoughtful, open-ended questions enhanced their confidence and effectiveness in clinical practice.
  
  
• Genital Dermatology
  
  The dermatology session was praised for its clinical relevance and clarity, especially the use of visuals and case studies.
  
  
• Leveraging Point-of-Care Diagnostics to Address Syndemics
  
  Buncombe County’s mobile unit success, as well as the rapid testing strategies discussed, inspired attendees with practical, real-world applications.
  
  
• Practice Guide to Implementing DoxyPEP
  
  Attendees reported increased confidence in prescribing or advocating for DoxyPEP, citing compelling data on its safety and effectiveness.
  
  
• Updates from NC Local Public Health Providers
  
  The panel session delivered timely updates for North Carolina providers, offering practical guidance on STI/HIV case investigation, the evolving role of NC DIS teams, and strategies for managing complex STI cases. Participants found the content highly relevant to their clinical work and appreciated the clarity and depth of the information presented.

To extend the event’s impact, all sessions were recorded and will be available online as enduring material beginning August 22, 2025, allowing continued access for professionals who could not attend live or wish to revisit the content. The sessions can be found here.

The 39th Annual Northwest AHEC Respiratory Care Conference, held February 19-20, 2025, brought together 127 respiratory care professionals from six states (CA, FL, NC, SC, TN, TX) and 46 North Carolina counties for two days of education and professional development.

This year’s conference featured expert-led sessions on critical and emerging topics in respiratory care, including AI Use in Respiratory Care, Advancing Respiratory Therapy Practice and Professional Advocacy, Conundrums in PFT Interpretation, Pharmacology Updates for RTs, Pediatrics for RTs, ECMO Perspectives from Patient and Provider, HFNC, Long COVID and Pulmonary Fibrosis, Update in Advanced Diagnostic Bronchoscopy, From Primary Care to Sleep Medicine: The Expanding Role of Respiratory Therapists, and GOLD 2025 Updates.

With a strong emphasis on advancements in technology, clinical practice and interdisciplinary collaboration, the conference provided respiratory therapists with valuable insights and practical applications to enhance patient care.

The event continues to be a resource for professional development, offering respiratory therapists opportunities to expand their knowledge and stay at the forefront of the evolving field.

We can't wait until next year!

Special thanks to our planning committee members and NWAHEC staff who work to make this conference a success!