Let’s face it—life is busy. Between meetings, patient care, family responsibilities, and the occasional moment to breathe, finding time for professional development can feel like a challenge. That’s why Northwest AHEC’s enduring online learning is designed to meet you where you are—on your schedule, at your pace, and when you’re ready to “endure” it.

Whether you're sipping coffee at 6 a.m. or winding down after a long day, our self-paced online courses are available 24/7, offering flexibility without compromising quality. These enduring activities span a wide range of topics, from clinical updates to behavioral health, public health, and more.

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

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.

🧬 2025 NC Annual STI Update Series

Available: August 22, 2025 – August 22, 2026
Includes sessions like:

• The Art of Taking a Sexual History
• Genital Dermatology
• DoxyPEP Implementation
• STI Syndemics and Point-of-Care Diagnostics

🍭 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)

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.

🤝Managing Difficult Patient Situations

Available: January 31, 2024 – January 31, 2026
Learn strategies to navigate challenging interactions with confidence.

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

Summer is the perfect time to sharpen your skills, explore new topics, and earn continuing education credits - all from the comfort of your home. Whether you're a healthcare professional looking to deepen your expertise or simply passionate about improving patient care, our self-paced online programs are here to support your growth.

Dr. Ebru Karpuzoglu is an immunologist and molecular medicine researcher, and the Chief Scientific Officer and CEO of Aveseena. Dr. "Ebru" discusses "inflammaging," a condition where inflammation and premature aging occur simultaneously, triggered by factors such as stress, diet, and harsh skincare practices. She elaborates on how environmental aggressors, including certain endocrine disruptors found in plastics, can mimic hormonal effects and disrupt the body's systems, emphasizing the importance of storing food in glass containers and avoiding plastic bottles left in heat. The conversation also covers the dangers of topical estrogen in skincare without medical supervision, contrasting it with physician-monitored hormone replacement therapy.

Dr. Ebru highlights the skin's role as the first line of immune defense, protected by its microbiome and immune system. She explains that while acute inflammation is beneficial, chronic low-grade inflammation (inflammaging) is undesirable. The discussion also touches on the balanced approach to sun exposure for Vitamin D synthesis, recommending early morning or evening sunlight with SPF for protection, and the benefits of red light therapy for skin health. Finally, she validates the scientific basis of grounding, explaining that the human body is an open system that reacts to environmental energies. 

Are you looking for convenient and effective ways to advance your knowledge and professional skills? Northwest Area Health Education Center (Northwest AHEC) has you covered with our comprehensive online learning! Check out our full list of online learning available this Spring HERE

Why Choose Northwest AHEC Online Learning?

1. Flexible and Accessible 

2. Expert-Led Content 

3. Affordable Options - some no cost!

4. Certificates and CE Credits

Featured Courses You Don’t Want to Miss

• The Ethics of Spiritually Integrated Psychotherapy - As mental health professionals, we have an ethical duty to treat our clients with dignity and to respect cultural differences, including those based on religion and spirituality. In this module we will explore how taking an integrative approach to mental health therapy can improve outcomes for our clients. $35 registration cost for this activity.
• Opioid Use and Opioid Use Disorder 2024-2026:New Strategies to Reduce Barriers to Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) Treatment  - With a focus on what defines and frames low barrier care, this course reviews the spectrum of opioid use disorder treatment, from harm reduction, low barrier care, to comprehensive integrated care. There is a $20 registration fee for this program.
• Opioid Use and Opioid Use Disorder 2024-2026:‘New Strategies to Improve Opioid Use Disorder Treatment Planning’ - Strategies to improve OUD (opioid use disorder) treatment planning are discussed. Review of the overall role and scope of the Peer Support Specialist (PSS) and strategies to minimize and address diversion are highlighted. There is a $20 registration fee for this program.
• Opioid Use and Opioid Use Disorder 2024-2026: MOUD (Medication for Opioid Use Disorder): The Evidence is Compelling! - This course reviews the differences between Opioid Treatment Programs and Office-Based Opioid Therapy. The impact the opioid epidemic and COVID have had on treatment guidelines, and the strength of evidence behind treatment of the chronic condition that is opioid use disorder. There is a $20 registration fee for this program.
• Diabetes Performance Improvement in Primary Care - This educational activity aims to inform the learner about the status of diabetes and chronic kidney disease in primary care. This activity will explore barriers and facilitators to promote patient engagement in treatment. This activity will focus on performance improvement methods and activities which promote health among patients with diabetes. The first 100 registrations will be at no charge, supported by Division of Health Benefits grant funding. After that, registrations will be $10 each.
• Double Trouble: Diabetes and Falls - People with diabetes are at higher risk for falls. Etiologies include vision changes from retinopathy, damage to both peripheral and central nerves, side effects from medicines, and co-morbidities like osteoarthritis. Through use of a case study illustrating a familiar primary care patient encounter, learners will apply new knowledge, so they can anticipate and intervene appropriately in their work. An optional module on conducting the Diabetic Foot Exam is included. There is no charge for this online course. Course registration is generously supported by the Division of Health Benefits.
• Safe or Silent? This course presents the inter-relatedness of joy in work, burnout, safety, and silence in the healthcare setting, and the role that organizational 'just culture' has in optimizing clinician satisfaction and patient safety. This activity has no cost to participate.

Check out our full list of online learning available HERE

Two recent guests on our Healthcare Insights in Northwest North Carolina podcast share their expertise, experience, and insights into headaches and headache research and treatment.

What do headaches, healthcare payments, long-term care, free clinics, and dreaming big have in common? They are all topics of recent episodes on the Healthcare Insights in Northwest North Carolina podcast.

Are you looking for convenient and effective ways to advance your knowledge and professional skills? Northwest Area Health Education Center (Northwest AHEC) has you covered with our comprehensive online learning! Check out our full list of online learning available this Spring HERE

Why Choose Northwest AHEC Online Learning?

1. Flexible and Accessible 

2. Expert-Led Content 

3. Affordable Options - some no cost!

4. Certificates and CE Credits

Featured Courses You Don’t Want to Miss

• The Ethics of Spiritually Integrated Psychotherapy - As mental health professionals, we have an ethical duty to treat our clients with dignity and to respect cultural differences, including those based on religion and spirituality. In this module we will explore how taking an integrative approach to mental health therapy can improve outcomes for our clients. $35 registration cost for this activity.
• Opioid Use and Opioid Use Disorder 2024-2026:New Strategies to Reduce Barriers to Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) Treatment  - With a focus on what defines and frames low barrier care, this course reviews the spectrum of opioid use disorder treatment, from harm reduction, low barrier care, to comprehensive integrated care. There is a $20 registration fee for this program.
• Opioid Use and Opioid Use Disorder 2024-2026:‘New Strategies to Improve Opioid Use Disorder Treatment Planning’ - Strategies to improve OUD (opioid use disorder) treatment planning are discussed. Review of the overall role and scope of the Peer Support Specialist (PSS) and strategies to minimize and address diversion are highlighted. There is a $20 registration fee for this program.
• Opioid Use and Opioid Use Disorder 2024-2026: MOUD (Medication for Opioid Use Disorder): The Evidence is Compelling! - This course reviews the differences between Opioid Treatment Programs and Office-Based Opioid Therapy. The impact the opioid epidemic and COVID have had on treatment guidelines, and the strength of evidence behind treatment of the chronic condition that is opioid use disorder. There is a $20 registration fee for this program.
• Diabetes Performance Improvement in Primary Care - This educational activity aims to inform the learner about the status of diabetes and chronic kidney disease in primary care. This activity will explore barriers and facilitators to promote patient engagement in treatment. This activity will focus on performance improvement methods and activities which promote health among patients with diabetes. The first 100 registrations will be at no charge, supported by Division of Health Benefits grant funding. After that, registrations will be $10 each.
• Double Trouble: Diabetes and Falls - People with diabetes are at higher risk for falls. Etiologies include vision changes from retinopathy, damage to both peripheral and central nerves, side effects from medicines, and co-morbidities like osteoarthritis. Through use of a case study illustrating a familiar primary care patient encounter, learners will apply new knowledge, so they can anticipate and intervene appropriately in their work. An optional module on conducting the Diabetic Foot Exam is included. There is no charge for this online course. Course registration is generously supported by the Division of Health Benefits.
• Safe or Silent? This course presents the inter-relatedness of joy in work, burnout, safety, and silence in the healthcare setting, and the role that organizational 'just culture' has in optimizing clinician satisfaction and patient safety. This activity has no cost to participate.

Check out our full list of online learning available HERE

We hope you will enjoy this selection of activities coming up from Northwest Area Health Education Center (NWAHEC) and the Wake Forest University School of Medicine Office of Continuing Medical Education (OCME). Join us for some upcoming activities!

Activity Spotlight

• The Ethics of Spiritually Integrated Psychotherapy -Online
• Opioid Use and Opioid Use Disorder - Online
• Diabetes Performance Improvement in Primary Care - Online Enduring
• Double Trouble Diabetes and Falls - Online
• Safe or Silent? -Online
• 2025 North Carolina Lactation Educator Training Program - Online and skills day 4/29 or 4/30
• TVH & Mid-Urethral Slings - A Hands on Course 2025 - 2/7/25
• 39th Annual Northwest AHEC Respiratory Care Conference - 2/19/25
• 16th Annual NC "One Community in Recovery" Conference - 3/5/25
• 7th Annual Statewide Celebration of Rural Nursing - 3/13/25
• Nurturing the Nurturers: A Retreat for Sustaining Healthcare Well–being - 3/14/25
• 13th Annual Breastfeeding Forum - 3/18/25
• 2025 NC Annual STI Update - 3/19/25
• Practical Pediatrics 2025 - 3/28/25
• Basic Fetal Monitoring Spring 2025 - 4/9/25
• 2025 Western North Carolina Death Investigation Conference - 4/26/25
• Summer Interpreter Series - 5/7/25
• The High Risk Newborn: Sharing the Care - 5/14/25
• 2025 Aging Well Conference - 5/15/25
• WFUSM Summer Radiology Review 2025 - 6/9/25

Diabetes Performance Improvement in Primary Care - Enduring

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