For the past 27 years, Northwest AHEC has been shaped in countless ways by the steady leadership, vision, and commitment of Dr. Michael Lischke, the Richard Janeway MD Distinguished Director of Northwest AHEC. From advancing healthcare workforce development to strengthening partnerships across the region, Michael’s career reflects both professional excellence and a deep dedication to community impact.
Michael joined Wake Forest University Bowman Gray School of Medicine in 1996 and was then appointed as director of the Northwest AHEC in April 1999 by Dean James N. Thompson. He brought with him a passion for improving access to high-quality healthcare through education, innovation, and collaboration. Over nearly three decades, he has helped guide the regional AHEC through periods of growth, change, and transformation - always with a focus on meeting the evolving needs of the communities we serve.
Throughout his tenure, Michael has been instrumental in strengthening Northwest AHEC’s role as a trusted connector between healthcare professionals, educators, and community partners. His leadership has supported initiatives that expand training opportunities, address workforce shortages, and improve health outcomes across our region - many of which continue to have a lasting impact today.
Beyond programmatic success, Michael is widely respected for his leadership style and commitment to people. One of the most telling signs of his impact is the remarkable tenure of those to whom he is responsible to and for – the Northwest AHEC staff. Team members stay because Michael is a leader who listens, supports growth, and builds trust. By fostering collaboration, stability, and a strong sense of purpose, he has created an environment where employees feel valued and motivated to build long-term careers at Northwest AHEC.
As Northwest AHEC continues to evolve, Michael’s legacy is reflected not only in the organization’s accomplishments but also in the strength and dedication of its staff. His 27 years of service represent more than longevity - they represent leadership defined by integrity, relationships, and lasting impact. His active engagement in many other community health local, regional, state, national and international organizations is unmatched.
We are grateful for Michael’s continued leadership and for the many ways he has helped advance Northwest AHEC’s mission over the past 27 years. Please join us in celebrating this significant milestone and thanking him for his enduring commitment to our organization and the communities we serve.
April is National Volunteer Month, a time to celebrate the power of service and the meaningful impact that happens when organizations and community partners come together to support those in need. This year, Northwest AHEC was proud to volunteer alongside Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center SERVES in support of the Forsyth Backpack Program, a local nonprofit dedicated to helping children facing food insecurity.
Thanks to the incredible generosity and teamwork of Atrium Health teammates, more than 11,000 food bags were assembled—each one filled with nutritious food to support students in Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools (WSFCS) Title I schools. Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist purchased and donated the food used in the packing effort, helping ensure students have access to meals outside of school hours.
Supporting Children Beyond the Classroom
The Forsyth Backpack Program is a volunteer-led, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Forsyth County. Its mission is simple yet impactful: to provide nutritious food in backpacks on weekends and holidays to local school children who have been identified by school personnel as being in need.
For many children, weekends and long school breaks can mean little to no access to food—healthy or otherwise. By receiving weekend food backpacks, students are able to return to school after breaks better prepared to focus, learn, and play, improving their overall well-being and academic readiness.
A Shared Commitment to Community Health
Northwest AHEC’s participation reflects a shared commitment with Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist to strengthen community health, support children and families, and address social drivers of health such as food insecurity. Volunteering side by side during National Volunteer Month reinforced the power of collaboration and the difference that collective action can make.
Moments like these remind us that giving back isn’t just about volunteering time—it’s about investing in the health and future of our communities.
Learn More or Get Involved
To learn more about the Forsyth Backpack Program or find ways to support their mission, visit:
👉 https://forsythbackpackprogram.org
Northwest AHEC is proud to stand with partners who are making a lasting impact, one backpack at a time.
Support Beyond Medications and Protocols: Expanding the Way We Care for High-Risk Maternity Patients
Caring for high-risk maternity patients requires more than clinical expertise and adherence to medical protocols—it calls for compassionate, whole-person support that addresses physical, emotional, and psychological needs. Rest & Renewal: Supporting Maternity Patients on Bedrest through Non-Pharmacological Clinical Approaches is an evidence-informed, in-person continuing education training designed to empower frontline healthcare professionals with practical, non-pharmacological tools that can be used right at the bedside.
This interactive program is ideal for nurses, doulas, CNAs, social workers, and allied health professionals who support pregnant and birthing individuals facing complex medical or psychosocial challenges. Participants will gain hands-on strategies to enhance patient comfort, reduce anxiety, and foster a sense of safety and connection during some of the most vulnerable moments of care.
What Participants Will Learn
Through guided instruction and experiential learning, participants will explore bedside-appropriate techniques such as:
- Gentle movement techniques to support comfort, circulation, and body awareness for patients with limited mobility
- Breathwork and relaxation strategies that help calm the nervous system, reduce anxiety, and support coping during prolonged hospitalization
- Practical approaches to enhance comfort and emotional safety, particularly for patients experiencing fear and uncertainty.
- Strategies for integrating mind-body techniques into interdisciplinary care, supporting consistent, patient-centered approaches across the care team
All content is grounded in clinical experience and evidence-informed practice.
Event Details
Rest & Renewal: Supporting Maternity Patients on Bedrest through Non-Pharmacological Clinical Approaches
Register here: https://northwestahec.wakehealth.edu/t3/courses-and-events/77918
- Date: June 26, 2026
- Time: 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
- Location: Novant Health – Forsyth Medical Center
3333 Silas Creek Parkway, Winston-Salem, NC - Credits:
7 Northwest AHEC Contact Hours / 7 Nursing Contact Hours - Speaker: Angela Gallagher, MHL
Learn from expert speaker Angela Gallagher, MHL, as she shares practical, evidence‑informed strategies to support maternity patients on bedrest. Earn 7 Nursing Contact Hours while gaining tools you can use right away. Space is limited—register now!
Support Healing at the Bedside
By integrating gentle movement, breathwork, and mind-body awareness into everyday care, healthcare professionals can make a meaningful difference in the experience of high-risk maternity patients. Rest & Renewal: Supporting Maternity Patients on Bedrest through Non-Pharmacological Clinical Approaches offers practical tools to support healing, resilience, and emotional well-being—right where it matters most.
On a beautiful spring day, staff, family, and friends gathered once again at Historic Old Salem to take part in the 6th Annual Walk in Memory of Nicole, held in conjunction with the March of Dimes March for Babies. As we walked the Strollway together, the setting offered a peaceful backdrop for reflection, remembrance, and community.
This annual walk honors Roderica “Nicole” McLaurin, a beloved Northwest AHEC staff member whose kindness, dedication, and spirit left a lasting impact on all who knew her. Nicole unexpectedly passed away in October 2020 following the delivery of her second son, Dylan. Her loss continues to be deeply felt, but her memory lives on through this meaningful tradition.
For the past six years, we have gathered alongside Nicole’s family and friends to walk in her honor—keeping her legacy alive while surrounding one another with support and love. Each step we take is a reminder of Nicole’s compassion and her commitment to caring for others.
By joining the March for Babies, our walk is also part of a broader mission to address America’s maternal and infant health crisis. This nationwide movement brings communities together to raise critical funds and awareness—ensuring more families have access to the care, education, and resources they need. It’s a mission that resonates deeply with our work and values at Northwest AHEC.
We are proud to play a small but meaningful role in this movement, honoring Nicole in a way that turns remembrance into action and hope. Thank you to everyone who walked with us, supported the cause, and helped continue a legacy rooted in love, service, and community.
Together, we walk to remember.
Together, we walk for healthier moms and babies.
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 Program to Enhance Relationship Centered Communication (PERCC) was launched at Legacy Wake Forest Baptist Health in November 2015 in response to growing evidence that physician communication is a critical driver of patient experience, quality outcomes and value-based reimbursement. Grounded in the principles of Relationship- Centered Communication (RCC), the development of PERCC was led by Peter R. Lichstein, MD and designed in conjunction with the Academy of Communication in Healthcare (ACH).
Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist physician educators were trained by ACH in facilitation skills and included Peter R. Lichstein, MD, Raghava Nagaraj, MD, Greg Waters, MD, Jennifer Helderman, MD, Andora Bass, MD, Marcia Wofford, MD and Billy Rice, MD, who established PERCC as a provider- led, skills based approach to improving clinician-patient communication across the continuum of care. Debbie Smothers, FNP later joined as a facilitator and became the first APP in the role.
PERCC 101 for clinicians is structured as an interactive, small group communication skills program, typically enrolling eight participants per session and intentionally mixing physicians, nurses, advanced practice providers and other clinical team members. The curriculum focuses on three core skill areas: beginning the visit by connecting and setting a shared agenda; building rapport through active listening, empathy, and understanding the patients’ perspective; and closing the encounter with clear explanations, teach back, and effective visit closure. Sessions emphasize brief didactic content paired with demonstration and facilitated practice, allowing participants to apply skills in realistic clinical scenarios.
As the program grew, Northwest AHEC became a key partner in supporting PERCC’s reach and sustainability by providing accredited continuing education credit and assistance with participant registration, ensuring clinicians could more easily access training while meeting professional requirements. PERCC eventually expanded to include Leadership PERCC, a program focused on developing practical communication skills for leaders and fostering stronger team connections. It enhances existing leadership strengths and is suitable for leaders at every stage.
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PERCC Participation and Reach
Since its inception, PERCC has engaged a wide and varied group of healthcare professionals. Through 2025, 2,296 people have completed PERCC training. This diverse group includes 779 attending physicians, 600 leaders and officers, 480 nurse practitioners and physician assistants, 80 registered nurses, and 357 resident physicians. These figures reflect the program’s ability to attract participants from multiple disciplines, underscoring its relevance and appeal across different roles within the healthcare team . Early data showed that overall physician communication scores increased and most of the individual communication measures (5 out of 6) also improved.
The current PERCC facilitators include Greg Waters, MD, Andora Bass, MD Marcia Wofford, MD, Billy Rice, MD, and Debbie Smothers, NP, who continue to deliver both foundational and leadership PERCC sessions.
Over the past ten years, PERCC has demonstrated that relationship-centered communication skills can be taught, practiced, and sustained in complex healthcare environments. From its 2015 launch to its broad adoption by 2025, PERCC has contributed meaningfully to patient experience, clinician development, and organizational culture.
As healthcare continues to prioritize human connection alongside clinical excellence, PERCC stands as a model for how intentional communication training—supported through strong partnerships like Northwest AHEC—can help shape safer, more compassionate care.
Article written by: Beth Hickman, Patient Experience Advisor at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center
Spring is a season of renewal, growth, and fresh starts—but life doesn’t slow down just because the days get brighter. Between meetings, patient care, family commitments, and everything in between, finding time for professional development can still feel like a tall order. That’s where Northwest AHEC’s enduring online learning comes in.
Designed with flexibility in mind, our self-paced online courses let you learn when it works for you—early mornings, quiet afternoons, or whenever you can carve out a little time. Available 24/7, these enduring activities make it easy to fit quality learning into even the busiest schedules.
Our course offerings cover a broad range of timely topics, including clinical updates, behavioral health, public health, and more—supporting growth across professions and career stages.
Whether you’re refreshing your knowledge, earning CE credit, or exploring something new this spring, Northwest AHEC’s enduring online learning is here to support your professional growth—at your pace, on your time.
👉 Browse the full catalog and register today: Northwest AHEC Enduring Education
Here are just a few highlights from our current catalog:
🩺 Clinical Preceptor Training
Available: May 15, 2025 – May 15, 2027
Perfect for new and seasoned preceptors looking to sharpen their teaching skills.
🧠 Behavioral Health Reverse Integration Series
Available through: September 1, 2026
Explore clinical, operational, and financial aspects of integrated behavioral health care.
🍭 Sweet Success: A Deeper Look at Diabetes in Primary Care (Parts 1 & 2)
Available: May 19, 2025 – May 7, 2027
A comprehensive look at diabetes management strategies for primary care providers.
🧒 Pediatric Obesity Management
Available: July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2027
Become the expert in your clinic with evidence-based strategies for pediatric obesity care.
🎧 Podcast CE Series
Topics include:
- Collaborative Care for Behavioral Health
- Migraine and the Mind-Body Connection
- Health Disparities in Kidney Disease
- Effects of Social Media on Mental Health
🛡️ Human Trafficking Awareness for Healthcare Professionals
Available: October 17, 2025 – November 1, 2027
Essential training for recognizing and responding to human trafficking in clinical settings.
💊 Opioid Use and Opioid Use Disorder Series (2024–2026)
Available: Until November2026
Topics include:
- New Strategies to Improve OUD Treatment Planning
- Reducing Barriers to OUD Treatment
- Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD): The Evidence is Compelling!
🧓Falls: Screening, Risk Assessment and Care Planning for Older Adults
Available: June 16, 2025 – June 16, 2027
Practical tools for reducing fall risk in community settings.
🧠 Discover Flexible Online Behavioral Health Courses at NWAHEC for Continuing Education
Northwest AHEC offers self-paced, online programs designed for behavioral health professionals who want flexibility without compromising quality.
Whether you're looking to earn CE credit, stay current, or explore new areas of interest, Northwest AHEC’s enduring online learning is here to support your journey—on your time.
👉 Browse the full catalog and register today: Northwest AHEC Enduring Education
Northwest AHEC is proud to partner with Wake Forest University School of Medicine (WFUSM) on two powerful community health initiatives: the Share the Health Fair (STHF) and its vision-focused spin-off, Project SEE. Together, these programs are making a meaningful difference by expanding access to essential preventive care—especially for individuals who may otherwise face barriers to services.
A Legacy of Community Impact
Now celebrating its 20th year, the WFUSM Share the Health Fair is a large annual event held at Downtown Health Plaza. Each year, the fair brings together 300+ medical students, residents, and faculty volunteers to provide more than 15 free health screenings, along with navigation and follow-up support for participants who need ongoing care.
Building on the success and community need identified through the STHF, Project SEE was developed to focus specifically on eye health. Offered multiple times throughout the year, Project SEE provides free vision screenings, prescription glasses, and access to ophthalmology expertise—services that can be life-changing for many community members.
Both programs are led by WFUSM medical students and made possible through the dedicated support of:
- Ms. Monica Brown, Administrator and Executive at Downtown Health Plaza
- Ms. Melanee Mills, Northwest AHEC Health Careers Coordinator
- Dr. Michael Lischke, the Richard Janeway MD Distinguished Director of Northwest AHEC & STHF Faculty Advisor
Their leadership and collaboration help ensure these initiatives run smoothly and continue to serve as vital resources in our region.
Strong Partnerships, Clear Vision
A key component of Project SEE’s success is its partnership with the local Lions Club, which generously donates prescription eyeglasses. WFUSM medical students take the lead in:
- Cleaning and repairing donated glasses
- Measuring and categorizing each pair
- Preparing them for distribution
All clinical activities are overseen by WFUSM Ophthalmology faculty, ensuring quality care and appropriate guidance. Glasses are then provided on-site to participants who are screened and identified as needing vision correction—often immediately improving quality of life.
Project SEE by the Numbers
(Tracking data since May 2025)
- 255 total participants received free vision screenings (239 adults / 16 children)
- 137 participants received prescription glasses (88 adults / 10 children)
- 49 new adult vision screenings were completed in February
- 19 new adult participants had prescription glasses ordered in February
- 11 new adults were referred for follow-up care in February
- 23 total participants have been referred for follow-up care to date (21 adults / 2 children)
- 37 medical students have been trained to date, including 6 new students trained in February
These numbers reflect not only community need, but also the hands-on learning experience Project SEE provides for future physicians—combining service, clinical skill development, and community engagement.
Join Us at the Next Project SEE Event
The next Project SEE Eye Health Screening Event will be held:
📅 April 18
⏰ 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
📍 Downtown Health Plaza
Services Provided at No Cost:
- Free eye health screenings
- Free prescription glasses (when available)
- Free consultation with an ophthalmologist
No insurance is required, and all community members are welcome.
Project SEE exemplifies what’s possible when academic institutions, community organizations, and passionate volunteers come together with a shared goal—helping our neighbors see healthier futures. Northwest AHEC is honored to support this work and looks forward to continuing these impactful partnerships for years to come.
At Northwest AHEC, service is an important part of who we are—not only in the work we do every day, but in the time we take to support our community together. Yesterday, Northwest AHEC staff gathered for the second year in a row to volunteer at Ronald McDonald House Charities® of the Piedmont Triad, continuing a meaningful tradition of giving back while strengthening connections as a team.
A Day of Service and Connection
Our staff once again rolled up our sleeves and focused their efforts on preparing lunches and baking homemade treats for families staying at the House—helping ensure families had one less thing to think about as they supported their children during medical care.
Just as impactful as the work itself was the opportunity to spend time together outside of our usual roles. Volunteering side by side allowed us to connect, collaborate, and reflect—reminding us of the power of teamwork and shared purpose.
Why Ronald McDonald House Matters
Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Piedmont Triad provides a “home away from home” for families whose children are receiving medical care nearby. By offering a supportive environment, meals, and a place to rest, the House helps ease some of the burden families face so they can focus on what matters most—being there for their child.
Spending time in the House and learning more about its mission reinforced just how meaningful even small acts of service can be. Whether it was preparing food, tidying play areas, or simply helping maintain a warm and welcoming space, each contribution made a difference.
Building on a Growing Tradition
Returning for a second year made this experience even more special. It was a chance to reflect on last year’s volunteer day and see how this opportunity has become a shared tradition for our team. Experiences like this strengthen our sense of community—not only with the organizations we support, but with one another.
We are grateful to Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Piedmont Triad for welcoming us back and for the vital work they do for families in our region.