November 5–6, 2025 | Hickory Metro Convention Center, Hickory, NC

Calling all perinatal care professionals! We’re thrilled to invite you to the 43rd Annual Gravidas at Risk Conference, a premier two-day statewide event dedicated to advancing the care of high-risk pregnant individuals. Whether you work in inpatient or outpatient settings, this conference is your opportunity to gain cutting-edge insights, connect with peers, and earn continuing education credits. Register NOW!

🌟 Why Attend?

This year’s conference is packed with evidence-based sessions and expert-led discussions designed to elevate your clinical practice and improve outcomes for mothers and babies. Topics include:

• Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM): Understand the pathophysiology, risk factors, and diagnostic criteria, and explore nutritional and lifestyle interventions to support glycemic control.
• Perinatal Mental Health: Learn effective screening and assessment strategies to promote awareness and early intervention.
• Birth Equity: Examine disparities in birth outcomes and discover how culturally responsive care can build trust and improve access.
• Community Health Workers (CHWs): Explore the vital role CHWs play in addressing social determinants of health across the perinatal continuum.
• Clinical Case Studies: Apply clinical reasoning to real-world obstetric scenarios.
• Prenatal Marijuana Use: Review current research, risks, and strategies for patient-centered counseling.
• Medication Safety in Pregnancy: Assess common medications and learn how to guide patients through risk-benefit conversations.
• Radical Self-Care: Define what it means, identify barriers, and create a personalized plan to support your own well-being.

📍 Event Details

Dates: Wednesday, November 5 – Thursday, November 6, 2025
Location: Hickory Metro Convention Center
1960 13th Avenue Drive SE, Hickory, NC

💼 Registration

Limited to 175 participants — Register early to secure your spot!

• Two-Day Registration: $265
• One-Day Registration: $140
• Group Rate: $250 per person (for groups of 3+ registering together)

👉 Click here to view more information and register now

🎓 Continuing Education Credits

Earn up to 10.0 Contact Hours (5.0 per day) from Northwest AHEC, including Nursing Contact Hours approved by the North Carolina Nurses Association and the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.

This is more than a conference — it’s a community of passionate professionals committed to improving perinatal care. We can’t wait to see you in Hickory this November!

The 42nd Annual Perinatal Conference: Gravidas at Risk brought together over 140 healthcare professionals including nurses, care managers, providers, and educators eager to expand their knowledge in perinatal care. The conference, held over two days at the Hickory Metro Convention Center,  served as a platform for education and collaboration among those dedicated to improving maternal and neonatal outcomes.

April 10, 2024

Northwest AHEC hosted the 41^st Annual Gravidas at Risk Conference on November 15-16, 2023 at the Hickory Metro Convention Center in Hickory, North Carolina. A diverse group of 150 healthcare professionals, including nurses, educators, providers, and care managers, from all corners of the state, came together to participate in the enriching two-day conference.

Women's health champion and 30-year veteran OB/GYN Bill Chun, MD sits down for a conversation about women's health, pregnancy,  obesity and the  of necessity delivering babies naturally in a time when more and more babies are scheduled C-section, induction, and less by natural birth. 

The Perinatal Post is a biannual online newsletter distributed to perinatal care providers within the Northwest North Carolina area. It is published in winter and summer of each year.

For 39 years the Gravidas at Risk Annual Perinatal Conference has been keeping attendees informed of the clinical issues and strategies important in the care of high-risk pregnant women. We had a very successful webinar last year for this activity and will hold this years conference via live webinar again. Holding webinars allows for better reach to our target audience and helps Health Department nurses obtain this critical information even on limited time and travel budget. 

The Perinatal Post is a biannual online newsletter distributed to perinatal care providers within the Northwest North Carolina area. It is published in winter and summer of each year.

The Perinatal Post is a biannual online newsletter distributed to perinatal care providers within the Northwest North Carolina area. It is published in winter and summer of each year.

For 39 years the Gravidas at Risk Annual Perinatal Conference has been keeping attendees informed of the clinical issues and strategies important in the care of high-risk pregnant women. We had a very successful webinar last year for this activity and will hold this years conference via live webinar again. Holding webinars allows for better reach to our target audience and helps Health Department nurses obtain this critical information even on limited time and travel budget.