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.

What do sleep, homelessness, electroconvulsive therapy, and Alzheimer's have in common? They are all part of our Podcast CE learning series. Listen to a podcast, pass the post-test, and earn an hour of continuing education credits for your professional development, and there is no cost! Get the details here: https://go.northwestahec.wakehealth.edu/podcastce 

Why a Podcast Learning Series? 
Podcasts have emerged as a popular learning tool for adult learners, offering flexibility and accessibility. Recent research has explored the effectiveness of podcasts in educational settings, focusing on how they contribute to knowledge acquisition, engagement, and retention among adult learners.

Studies suggest that podcasts can be effective in enhancing knowledge acquisition and retention. Adult learners appreciate the convenience and ability to learn on the go, which fits well with their often busy schedules. Podcasts have been shown to improve understanding and retention, especially when paired with supplementary materials such as transcripts or quizzes.

Podcasts are highly engaging due to their conversational style, which often makes complex topics more accessible. Research shows that learners are more likely to stay engaged with the material when it is delivered in an audio format, especially if the content is structured in a narrative or storytelling format.

The ability to listen to podcasts at any time and place is particularly beneficial for adult learners who may struggle to find time for traditional learning methods. This flexibility can lead to higher levels of motivation and self-directed learning.

See our current podcast course offerings here: https://go.northwestahec.wakehealth.edu/podcastce 

Sleep is one of the foundational pillars of our overall health and wellness. Not getting enough can leave you sleep deprived and can result in downstream negative health consequences. Sleep hygiene, sleep strategies, sleep aids, and sleep medications can help get us back on the path to rest and recovery through sleeping well.

Discover a world of top-notch continuing education at your fingertips! This summer, healthcare professionals can access high-quality courses and earn valuable credits from the comfort of their own computer or tablet.

The North Carolina Annual STI Update was held on March 22, 2023, as fully remote for presenters and attendees for the third year in a row. Hosting it virtually allowed Northwest AHEC and partners to offer the longstanding and reputable continuing professional development activity to a larger audience.

The North Carolina Annual STI Update was held on March 22, 2023, as fully remote for presenters and attendees for the third year in a row. Hosting it virtually allowed Northwest AHEC and partners to offer the longstanding and reputable continuing professional development activity to a larger audience.

To meet an identified gap for clinical team members in ambulatory / primary care, Northwest AHEC developed an interactive, online, self-paced accredited program on the topic of Falls Screening, Risk Assessment and Care Planning.

The North Carolina Annual STI Update was held on March 23, 2022, as fully remote for presenters and attendees for the second year in a row. Hosting it virtually allowed Northwest AHEC and partners to offer the longstanding and reputable continuing professional development activity safely during the ongoing pandemic. The event is also provided at no cost to attendees thanks to the partners involved.

Falls Prevention Awareness Week is a national health campaign observed on the first day of fall to increase awareness around falls health and injury prevention. Join us September 20-24, 2021 for Falls Prevention Week, a nationwide effort to raise awareness that falls are preventable. Read more on our blog and check out our online Falls Prevention activity!

As a clinician working in an outpatient setting, are you confident in how and when to appropriately screen patients for falls?