March 20, 2026

9AM - 4:30PM

Graylyn International Conference Center

1900 Reynolda Road, Winston-Salem, NC

Join us for a transformative retreat designed specifically for healthcare professionals who devote themselves to caring for others. Nurturing the Nurturers: A Retreat for Sustaining Healthcare Well-Being is an opportunity to pause, recharge, and prioritize your own well-being.

Through expert-led sessions, interactive activities, and restorative practices, you’ll gain tools to prevent burnout, foster resilience, and sustain your passion for caregiving. Don’t miss this chance to reconnect with yourself and your purpose while learning strategies to thrive in your professional and personal life. Reserve your spot today and take the first step toward a healthier, more balanced you.

Agenda details are up, check it out.

Available Credits:

• 6.25 Contact (category A) CE for NC Psychologists Hours

This program will provide 6.25 contact hours of (Category A) continuing education for North Carolina psychologists. No partial credit will be given.

• 6.25 Contact Hours from Northwest AHEC

6.25 Contact Hours from Northwest AHEC

• 6.25 NBCC Hours

6.25 NBCC Contact Hours. Northwest AHEC has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 5465. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Northwest AHEC is solely responsible for all aspects of the program.

• 6.25 Nursing Contact Hours

6.25 Nursing Contact Hours. Northwest AHEC is approved as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the North Carolina Nurses Association, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.

Our first Northwest AHEC e‑Newsletter of 2026 is live! 🎉

Inside you’ll find updates on:
🔹 New programs and training opportunities
🔹 Continuing education from the Wake Forest University School of Medicine OCME
🔹 Workforce development initiatives across our region
🔹 Community engagement highlights
🔹 Upcoming events and ways to get involved

Start the year informed and inspired — explore all the latest here:
👉 https://go.northwestahec.wakehealth.edu/newstostart2026

As we step into 2026, Northwest AHEC extends heartfelt thanks to all our partners, learners, and community members who helped make 2025 a year of meaningful progress and shared accomplishments. Your dedication to improving health education, strengthening our workforce, and supporting the well‑being of our communities continues to inspire us. We look forward to another year of collaboration, innovation, and impact. Together, we will continue advancing education, expanding opportunities, and supporting the healthcare professionals and students who make a difference every day across our region. Wishing you a healthy, hopeful, and productive year ahead.

Happy New Year from all of us at Northwest AHEC - here’s to an outstanding 2026! 💙

As we enter 2026, the Northwest Area Health Education Center (NWAHEC) and our partners across the Health Talent Alliance are excited to launch the year with two collaborative events designed to strengthen healthcare education, workforce development, and employer–educator partnerships across our region.

These initiatives bring together leaders from healthcare, education, and workforce sectors to advance shared priorities - and continue building a robust talent pipeline for North Carolina’s future.

1. Upcoming Joint Meeting: NWAHEC CCEP & Employer and Educator Collaborative

January 20, 2026 | Virtual
Audience: Healthcare employers & educational partners

The NWAHEC Consortium for Clinical Education and Practice (CCEP) and the NWAHEC Employer and Educator Collaborative will host a joint virtual meeting to open the year with discussion, updates, and shared learning across the healthcare and education landscape.

This meeting offers participating organizations the opportunity to:

• Hear updates on clinical education and workforce development initiatives
• Share what’s happening within their systems, schools, and communities
• Learn about emerging trends shaping healthcare practice and talent needs
• Strengthen connections between employers and academic institutions

👉 Join the meeting: Click here to join the meeting
Meeting ID: 233 234 490 312 03 / Passcode: U2Qg2Hh3

We look forward to your participation and continued collaboration as we work together to support the region’s healthcare workforce.

2. Northwest Healthcare Accelerator: Strengthening Apprenticeships & Pre‑Apprenticeships

February 4, 2026 | 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Davidson-Davie Community College, Mary E. Rittling Conference Center
297 DCC Road, Thomasville, NC 27360
Lunch provided - REGISTER NOW

The Northwest Healthcare Accelerator is a new, high-impact event designed to help our region expand high‑quality healthcare apprenticeship and pre‑apprenticeship pathways.

This Accelerator will bring together secondary and post-secondary educators, healthcare employers, and workforce partners for a day of learning, collaboration, and program planning.

Participants will:

• Explore best practices for developing healthcare pre‑apprenticeships and youth registered apprenticeships
• Learn directly from employers successfully implementing these models
• Hear from local school districts and community colleges on how programs are structured
• Participate in a working session to begin designing pathways tailored to community workforce needs

Who should attend?
Healthcare employers, university and community college partners, K–12 administrators, CTE leaders, workforce board representatives, and other industry stakeholders committed to growing locally trained talent.

This event is hosted in partnership with:

• NC Business Committee for Education (NCBCE)
• MyFutureNC
• Northwest Area Health Education Center (AHEC)
• Piedmont AHEC
• South Piedmont AHEC

👉 Reserve your spot today: https://unc.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bpFmtsyBRbTNznM

As we celebrate the vital role of continuing education professionals, we want to hear from you — our partners, collaborators, and colleagues.

**In one word, how would you describe Northwest AHEC/OCME as a contributor to Healthcare Continuing Education?**

Drop your word in the comments 👇
Or fill out this form https://hubs.la/Q03J5bT60

The Office of Continuing Medical Education (OCME) and the Northwest Area Health Education Center (Northwest AHEC) of Wake Forest University School of Medicine is proud to recognize and celebrate Healthcare Continuing Education Professionals Day - a day dedicated to honoring the individuals who ensure that healthcare providers remain informed, skilled, and prepared to deliver exceptional care. 

These professionals are the backbone of lifelong learning in healthcare. They design, coordinate, and evaluate educational programs that directly impact patient outcomes and the quality of care across our communities. As we prepare to celebrate on January 23, 2026, we also reflect on the strength and impact of our partnerships. Our collaborations with healthcare institutions, academic centers, professional associations, and community organizations are foundational to our mission. Together, we create dynamic, evidence-based educational opportunities that empower healthcare professionals at every stage of their careers. 

Through these partnerships, we are not only advancing continuing education - we are shaping the future of healthcare. We extend our deepest gratitude to all continuing education professionals and our valued partners. Your dedication, innovation, and commitment to excellence inspire us every day.

We would love your input!
Please provide a response to the question below no later than COB, Wednesday, December 10th. We plan to use the responses to create a word cloud and use on promotional item for recognition of this important day. 

Thank you for being part of this journey!

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.

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 

Exciting opportunities for professional growth await at Northwest Area Health Education Center. Expand your knowledge through in-person sessions or engaging live webinars. Our course catalog offers a diverse array of topics, including online self-paced training options.

Join us for Meet the Health Professionals Live Webinar Series where students can network with and ask questions of professionals in the healthcare workforce.