On June 9th, Charlotte hosted the 7th annual Health Professions Education Institute (HPEI) Educator Conference, a dynamic event co-sponsored by Faculty Affairs and Medical Education. This year’s conference brought together faculty, staff, students, residents, fellows, physicians, and healthcare providers passionate about advancing teaching and training in the health professions - spanning medicine, nursing, physician assistant studies, graduate programs, and beyond.

Northwest AHEC invites you to our upcoming Spring Behavioral Health Webinars! Whether you're looking to enhance your clinical practice, support recovery, or deepen your understanding of trauma-informed care, we have valuable sessions for you. Click below for more information on each.

• Microaggression as an Ethical Issue in Clinical Practice - April 1, 2025 from 9AM- 12:15PM - Microaggressions are subtle, often unintentional exchanges that convey negative messages based on race, gender, sexual orientation, age, or disability. While clinicians aim to provide culturally sensitive care, unknowingly committing microaggressions can harm communication, erode trust, and disrupt the therapeutic process. Ethical guidelines call for minimizing these occurrences to support effective client relationships. This program explores the impact of microaggressions, their role in clinical practice, and strategies for reducing them. Note: This course may count toward ethics requirements for license renewal. Register Here
  
  
• Practical Suggestions for Facilitating SUD Recovery - April 9, 2025 from 1PM - 3PM - Health professionals often encounter clients or patients with substance use disorders (SUDs). Understanding how to effectively address these complex challenges is critical for providing optimal care. This workshop is designed to offer a comprehensive overview of practical approaches and evidence-based interventions for working with individuals affected by SUDs. Register Here
  
  
• Safety First: Trauma-Informed Care with People Experiencing Substance Use Disorders - May 16, 2025 from 9AM - 12:15PM - Widely demonstrated in the literature on substance use disorders, trauma experienced by the person is a common and primary part of the sequelae leading to addiction. Traumatic life experiences can unfortunately also be a part of a person’s time as a substance user.
  This training will present a brief overview of what constitutes single incident or developmental traumas; what it means to be a trauma-informed practitioner; awareness of vicarious or secondary traumatization and related social worker self-care. Participants will learn how to consider trauma in their approach to working with clients and in their ability to thrive as a practitioner.  Register Here
  
  
• Race-Based Traumatic Stress: Broadening Your Toolkit to Support Diverse Individuals - June 20, 2025 from 9AM - 12:15PM - This session explores race-based traumatic stress and its impact on clients of color. We’ll review the theoretical framework, trauma responses, and resilience strategies while identifying risk and protective factors. Clinicians will enhance cultural competence through interactive learning, self-reflection, and practical skills for sensitive, effective care. Register Here

The 24th annual Share the Health Fair, sponsored by Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, Wake Forest University School of Medicine and the Northwest Area Health Education Center, will be held this Saturday, Nov. 2. More than 10 free screenings, tests and other health-related services will be available to the public.

A study exploring the transformative effects of the Community Plunge, an educational
program at Wake Forest University School of Medicine (WFUSOM), on healthcare delivery,
community engagement, and trainee perspectives was recently published in the Journal of
Clinical and Translational Science. Led by Dr. Christopher A. Jones of Northwest AHEC, the
study highlights the broader context of health outcomes, where clinical care accounts for
only 20%, emphasizing the critical role of social determinants of health (SDOH) and
individual behaviors in shaping the remaining 80%.

Making ends meet in America is a challenge for many who are just getting by month to month. When life throws a curveball, expenses can accelerate faster than income. This is a crisis for those without savings. The curveball can continue to cascade into the future, further increasing the gap between debt and income. Financial stress doesn’t discriminate, it can fall on anyone, and leaves many feeling hopeless and in need. That’s where Crisis Control Ministry comes in.

Northwest Area Health Education Center held a Team Development Activity: Living on the Edge, a Poverty Simulation and Crisis Control Ministry Tour on Monday, June 10th.

WSSU School of Health Sciences students, WFUSM Dept. of PA students, and Forsyth Technical Community College nursing students collaborate through Northwest AHEC on an inter-institutional, interprofessional program.

Delve into the complex and intertwined history of race and medicine in the United States, gaining valuable insights into the pervasive presence of structural racism within the healthcare system. By participating in the online program led by esteemed expert Dr. Jennifer Schaal, you will have the opportunity to deepen your understanding of how racist ideologies have shaped the development of American medical systems.

We have a new learning opportunity from Northwest AHEC called the Podcast Learning Series. Now you can listen to select episodes of our Healthcare Insights in Northwest North Carolina podcast and earn continuing education credits. And it’s free!

The podcast format allows you to listen at your convenience and multitask while listening. I personally like to do my cardio workout or weight training while consuming podcast content, and sometimes find myself listening while cooking, cleaning, or doing yard work. It's a great way to optimize your learning and your life activities.

This first episode in this Podcast Learning Series is on homelessness in Forsyth County. In this episode you will learn about the main causes of homelessness in our region, the services provided by service organizations in Forsyth County, and the challenges of serving the homeless population and finding permanent housing.

Once you have finished the episode you can take the short post-test to receive 1 hour of CE credit. And another bonus is that this is offered to you at no cost aside from your time and attention.

You can link directly to the course, register and listen here: https://northwestahec.wakehealth.edu/courses-and-events/72832/podcast-ce-series-homelessness-in-forsyth-county 

Alternatively, you can listen to Healthcare Insights in Northwest North Carolina wherever you get your podcast content (Spotify, Google, Apple, Soundcloud, etc.). Simply search for "Healthcare Insights in Northwest North Carolina" and look for Episode 87 featuring William McDonald, Director of the Bethesda Center for the Homeless in Winston-Salem, NC. 

Once you have listened you can register for the course, take the post-test and claim your 1 hour CE credit.

I hope you find our episodes timely and relevant to your practice. And finally, if you have a topic or know of a person that you think would be great to have on the podcast, please don’t hesitate to reach out and let me know. I am always looking for interesting topics and presenters to have on the podcast.

How many people in Forsyth county North Carolina are homeless each night? What are the main causes of homelessness? How is the community serving the homeless population? What are the needs in the community for serving the homeless population?