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.

The Northwest Area Health Education Center of Wake Forest University School of Medicine provides and supports educational activities and services with a focus on primary care in rural communities and those with less access to resources to recruit, train and retain the workforce needed to create a healthy North Carolina.  Northwest AHEC is one of nine regional centers of the NC AHEC Program.  We collaboratively partner to offer support across the continuum of health professions education.

Our Service Area: We serve the following counties: Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Davidson, Davie, Forsyth, Iredell, Rowan, Stokes, Surry, Watauga, Wilkes, and Yadkin.

Core Services: Our comprehensive programs include:

• Health Careers and Workforce Diversity: Initiatives like Camp Med and AHEC Scholars expose students to health professions, fostering a diverse and well-prepared future workforce.
• Student Services: We support health sciences students by facilitating teaching experiences in ambulatory settings, ensuring practical, hands-on learning.
• Graduate Medical Education and Patient Services: Through programs like The Community Plunge and Share the Health Fair, we support residency programs and provide valuable patient services.
• Continuing Professional Development: Our programs are designed to advance the skills of healthcare professionals across disciplines, promoting a comprehensive team approach to patient care.
• Practice Support Services: We offer on-site training and assistance on tools and systems necessary for high-quality care.
• Library Services: Our library provides resources, services, classes, and consultations to further our mission.

During National AHEC Week, we invite you to learn more about our programs and the impact we're making in our communities.

As we celebrate National AHEC Week, we reaffirm our commitment to strengthening the healthcare workforce in Northwest North Carolina. Together, we can ensure that all communities have access to quality healthcare services.