At Northwest Area Health Education Center (NWAHEC), we are proud to support nurses as they return to practice and reconnect with the profession they love. One recent RN Refresher Program participant exemplifies the impact of dedication, partnership, and regional collaboration.

This nurse set her sights on returning to a specialty that she loved: Endoscopy. Having worked in the field years earlier, she was eager to reenter nursing practice and continue serving patients in a role she was passionate about.

As part of her RN Refresher experience, she completed the online theory course through UNC Chapel Hill, then was placed for her clinical practicum at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist (AHWFB), where she refreshed her clinical skills and rebuilt her confidence in the healthcare setting. The placement provided valuable hands-on experience and helped prepare her for the next step in her professional journey.

Recognizing her desire to have her license reactivated and secure employment quickly and close to home, NWAHEC and South Piedmont AHEC (SPAHEC) coordinators worked together to explore opportunities that aligned with her goals. Through this collaborative effort, she successfully secured a position at Atrium Health Lake Norman, allowing her to continue her nursing career while remaining within her local community.

This success story highlights the power of partnership across North Carolina's AHEC network. By working together to support workforce development and nurse reentry, NCAHEC RN Refresher Coordinators help experienced nurses overcome barriers, return to practice, and fill critical healthcare workforce needs across the state.

We celebrate this nurse's determination and are grateful for the collaborative efforts that helped turn her goal into reality. Her journey demonstrates how the RN Refresher Program not only helps nurses regain their skills but also opens doors to meaningful career opportunities and a successful return to the profession.

Interested in returning to nursing practice? The NCAHEC RN Refresher Program provides the education, support, and clinical experience needed to help nurses confidently reenter the workforce and continue making a difference in patient care. For more information- contact Ellen Zimmerman Ellen.Zimmerman@Advocatehealth.org

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)

Northwest AHEC was proudly represented at the 2025 National AHEC Organization (NAO) Conference held June 17–20 in Lexington, KY. Northwest AHEC staff - Nedra Edwards Hines, Reed Burger, and Melanee Mills joined over 600 attendees from AHECs across the country to engage in meaningful dialogue, share best practices, and explore innovative strategies to strengthen the AHEC mission. 

On April 14, the sky wasn’t the limit — it was just the beginning — for A’nya Buckner, a senior pre-med student at Winston-Salem State University and one of our outstanding Northwest AHEC Scholars. While she stood on the ground in Van Horn, Texas, watching history unfold, her research was quite literally soaring into space.

Buckner was one of three WSSU students selected to participate in Blue Origin’s historic all-female space mission, where their research project, involving plant biology, was included on board. As a member of our AHEC Scholars Cohort 5, Buckner has demonstrated a strong commitment to hands-on learning, community service, and interprofessional education — values that are deeply woven into this unique opportunity.

“This experience means everything to me,” Buckner shared. “I’m looking forward to applying what I’ve learned from my labs and lectures to real-world research — and seeing our seedlings in space.”

For Buckner, who aspires to become an emergency room physician or anesthesiologist, this experience bridges her academic journey with a powerful glimpse into what’s possible through collaboration, innovation, and scientific exploration.

The project was part of a collaboration between WSSU and Blue Origin’s nonprofit, Club for the Future, which aims to inspire the next generation of scientists, engineers, and explorers. It’s an incredible milestone — not only for the students and faculty involved, but for women in STEM and future healthcare leaders everywhere.

We’re proud to support scholars like A’nya Buckner, who are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in science and medicine — even if that means launching it into orbit.

To learn more about our AHEC Scholars program and how we prepare students for impactful careers in healthcare, visit our website: https://go.northwestahec.wakehealth.edu/scholars

Read WSSU Article

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 AHEC Scholars participated in the 2nd Annual Emerging Leaders in Healthcare Conference on February 7th, marking a significant event in their educational journey and professional development.

This conference, now in its second year, is a pivotal part of the NC AHEC's broader mission to recruit, train, and retain a skilled and dedicated workforce essential for fostering a healthier North Carolina. By engaging in this mission, the NC AHEC Scholars are actively contributing to a brighter future for the healthcare workforce, ensuring that it is well-equipped to meet the evolving needs of the community.

 Impressively, 31 of our dedicated Scholars were present at the event, joining a total of 157 NCAHEC Scholars from various AHECs across the state. The conference featured a lineup of excellent speakers who shared valuable insights and knowledge, enhancing the learning experience for all attendees. Hosted by UNCC, the event included engaging speakers and interactive simulations on Saturday afternoon, providing a dynamic and immersive educational experience.

As a fun and memorable touch, students received NC AHEC Scholars cowboy hats during the Cultural Competency-Western event, which added a unique flair to the occasion. This was part of their visit to a requested number of vendors, further enriching their understanding and appreciation of cultural diversity within the healthcare field.

Learn more about the NC AHEC Scholars Program at Northwest AHEC

In November 2024 the NC Health Talent Alliance released new analysis of supply and demand data for key health care jobs in North Carolina. The data, which quantifies the depth and breadth of our talent challenges, is the cornerstone of the NC Health Talent Alliance’s efforts to develop a demand-driven workforce system tailored to North Carolina health care employers’ unique needs. The NC Chamber Foundation and the NC Center on the Workforce for Health formally launched the landmark NC Health Talent Alliance public-private partnership in 2023 to address the state’s critical health care workforce shortages.