View the 2024-2025 Annual Report

At Northwest Area Health Education Center (Northwest AHEC), our mission is clear: to improve health for all. This year’s Annual Report reflects that commitment, showcasing how we’ve responded to the evolving needs of our 17-county region and beyond. 

Adapting to Serve Our Communities

Every year brings new challenges—and new opportunities. In 2024–2025, our team and partners faced the ongoing health care workforce shortage head-on. Across disciplines and communities, we worked together to recruit, train, and retain the professionals who are essential to the health of our region.

We’re proud to highlight the resilience and dedication of health care professionals, students, educators, and community partners who stepped up with purpose and passion.

Spotlight on Impact

You may notice throughout the Annual Report that we chose to highlight a few counties from our 17-county region—Yadkin, Surry, and Stokes. These counties are featured not only in the stories we tell, but also in the artwork that brings the report to life. All the artwork throughout the report was created by local artists, with the cover art by Nick Bragg, titled Pilot Mountain Spring, capturing the spirit and beauty of our region.

In Ashe County, a group of newly trained physicians launched Seven Peaks Family Medicine in West Jefferson, filling a critical gap in rural health care. Northwest AHEC supported their journey from the start, helping them build a sustainable practice.

In Winston-Salem, the annual Share the Health Fair at the Downtown Health Plaza expanded its reach. With guidance from Northwest AHEC, medical students from Wake Forest University collaborated with physical and occupational therapy students from Winston-Salem State University to offer gait and balance assessments—bringing more comprehensive care to those in need.

Collaboration and Innovation

These stories are just a glimpse into the collaborative spirit that drives our work. By partnering with health care organizations and fellow AHEC colleagues across North Carolina, we’ve made our efforts more efficient and impactful—sharing resources, combining initiatives, and amplifying results.

Looking Ahead

We’re inspired by the initiative shown by the next generation of health care professionals. Their energy and commitment fuel our optimism for the future. But we know there’s more to do.

Together with community leaders, schools, universities, and organizations, Northwest AHEC remains dedicated to building a stronger, healthier region—for everyone.

Explore the full Annual Report to see how we’re making a difference across Northwest North Carolina: nwahec.org/annualreport2025

Michael P. Lischke, EdD, MPH
Richard Janeway, MD, Distinguished Director of Northwest AHEC

While you are exploring check out this statewide facts at a glance - North Carolina Area Health Education Centers Fiscal year 2025 (July 2024-June 2025)

Register Today to Join Us March 4th - 6th, 2026 in Greensboro, NC!

The NC "One Community in Recovery" Conference is a place where individuals working and involved in recovery as defined in its broadest terms can share their work and gain support from others involved in the recovery movement. The conference is primarily focused on promoting the growth of the North Carolina Recovery Movement, teaching participants how to get recovery programming up and running in their own communities, showcasing the most progressive recovery practices, and bringing individuals interested in the recovery movement together as students and partners.

Full agenda details have been posted - make sure to check it out!

Keynote Address: Robert Whitaker

Robert Whitaker is the author of five books, three of which tell of the history of psychiatry. In 2010, his Anatomy of an Epidemic: Magic Bullets, Psychiatric Drugs, and the Astonishing Rise of Mental Illness won the U.S. Investigative Reporters and Editors book award for best investigative journalism. Prior to writing books, he worked as a science reporter at the Albany Times Union newspaper in New York for a number of years. He is the founder of madinamerica.com, a website that features research news and blogs by an international group of writers interested in “rethinking psychiatry.”

Keynote Address: Revolutionizing Recovery: Turning Pain into Purpose - Devin Lyall

Devin Lyall is the Founding Executive Director of Wilkes Recovery Revolution, INC., dedicated to building a community where recovery is possible through hope, healing, and rebuilding lives. As someone with personal experience of substance use and mental health challenges, Devin brings invaluable lived perspective to her leadership. Wilkes Recovery Revolution leads eleven programs, including transitional housing, harm reduction, community outreach, workforce support, fresh food initiatives, thrift operations, crisis intervention, and post-overdose response. Devin has received multiple honors for her work, including the Great State Hero Award and the National Recovery Community Organization of the Year award. Her story and WRR’s impact have been featured in numerous media outlets, and she recently delivered a TEDx Talk. Devin is also a devoted dog lover who treasures time with her family.

Making Group Work, Work in Abuse Intervention Programs! Facilitating Change: Group Work Practices in Abuse Intervention Programs 

October 16-17, 2025 9:00 am – 4:30 pm 

LIVE WEBINAR

Are you ready to transform your approach to group facilitation in Abuse Intervention Programs (AIPs)? Join us for a dynamic two-day training designed to equip facilitators with the tools, strategies, and confidence to lead impactful, accountable, and engaging group sessions—no matter what curriculum you use.

Grounded in social work group principles, this training will help you:

• Create safe and structured group environments that promote engagement  
• Apply cognitive-behavioral and psychoeducational techniques to support change  
• Navigate resistance and conflict to strengthen group effectiveness 
• Incorporate mentorship and peer learning as tools for accountability  
• Collaborate with community and legal systems to enhance intervention efforts 

Whether you're new to facilitation or looking to sharpen your skills, this training will help you make group work, work.

👉 Registration open click here t

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), originally developed by Dr. Marsha Linehan to treat individuals with borderline personality disorder and chronic suicidal ideation, has evolved into a powerful, evidence-based approach for a wide range of mental health challenges. Today, DBT is effectively used to treat conditions such as depression, bulimia, binge-eating disorder, bipolar disorder, PTSD, and substance use disorders in both adolescents and adults.

This program offers a comprehensive overview of the essential assessments needed to ensure that behavioral health clients are receiving appropriate treatment. It will cover the clinical assessment requirements and the various screening tools used to determine the right level of care and make appropriate referrals. Additionally, the training will explore the different levels of care and available services for children, adolescents, and adults within the current behavioral health system.

Complete one or both of the interactive, self-paced eLearning modules on your computer or mobile device. Earn free contact hours!

PART 1 - About 1 in 10 Americans have diabetes, with 90-95% of those having Type 2 Diabetes. (CDC) The majority of these people receive health care in the primary care setting (Pilla et. al). Physiologically, diabetes affects multiple organ systems, as well as the emotional well-being of the affected person. Medicine regimens can be complex, especially for an older person with other chronic conditions. To enable the practice staff to support the person with Type 2 Diabetes, this course uses case studies of familiar patients seen in primary care. Practical office-based clinical assessment and patient education concepts are presented. Basic pharmacology of diabetes drugs, laboratory tests used to assess and monitor the disease and common physical exam findings are covered. Register online at www.nwahec.org/75805

PART 2 - Managing diabetes requires much more than taking medicines and visiting the primary care provider’s office---lifestyle changes at the heart of a person’s very self are needed. People with diabetes are 2-3 times more likely to have depression than those without diabetes (CDC). Typically considered a lifelong chronic condition, Type 2 diabetes requires the affected person to incorporate it into their self-image and work every day on difficult behavior changes. Mood disturbances may also be the result of physiologic changes caused by the illness, or from medication side effects. Building on the foundation of Part 1 of this series, this module focuses on the impact a diagnosis of Type 2 Diabetes can have on the mental health of patients they see in primary care. Register online at www.nwahec.org/75808

Part 2 builds on the case study presented in Part 1, so you are encouraged (but not required) to take both modules.

There is no charge for either online course. Course registration is generously supported by the Division of Health Benefits.

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.

Additionally, the session will explore the nuanced features. Designed for respiratory therapists and other clinicians involved in advanced bronchoscopy, this update will highlight how robotic-assisted techniques are transforming pulmonary diagnostics and intervention, ultimately improving patient outcomes.

Check out all the details and register now to reserve your spot.

Live Webinar

August 28, 2025 12 PM - 1:30 PM

• Explain the fundamentals of robotic-assisted bronchoscopy.
• Identify different modalities of robotic-assisted bronchoscopy.
• Discuss the impact on patient outcomes in pulmonary diagnostics and intervention.
   

Join us virtually on August 13th to explore the latest developments in sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevention, diagnosis and treatment. Registration Open!

2025 NC Annual STI Update
Live Webinar - August 13th 8:00AM - 4:00PM

Topics (subject to change):

• Let’s Talk About Sexual Health: Taking a History and Introducing Shared Decision Models Into Practice
• Sexual Health in Aging People
• Best Practices in STI Prevention Vaccination
• Leveraging Point of Care Diagnostics to Address STI Syndemics
• A Practical Guide to Implementing DoxyPEP
• Updates for North Carolina Providers: What’s New From the NC SLPH, the Role of NC DIS Teams in STI/HIV Case Investigation and Response, Complex Cases in STI Management

Get registered today