What's New at NWAHEC

Celebrating Healthcare Continuing Education Professionals Day

Jan 23, 2026 9:38:04 AM / by Brooke Kochanski posted in continuing education, staff development, healthcare

Celebrating Healthcare Continuing Education Professionals Day
January 23, 2026

Today, we proudly celebrate Healthcare Continuing Education Professionals Day™, honoring the individuals who ensure healthcare providers remain informed, skilled, and prepared to deliver exceptional care.

At the Northwest Area Health Education Center (Northwest AHEC) and Office of Continuing Medical Education (OCME) of Wake Forest University School of Medicine, our continuing education professionals play a vital role in supporting lifelong learning. They design and deliver high‑quality, evidence-based programs that strengthen patient care and elevate healthcare across our communities.

This work is fueled by strong partnerships - across health systems, academic institutions, professional associations, and community organizations. These collaborations allow us to create meaningful educational experiences that meet the needs of today’s healthcare workforce.

HealthcareCEProfDay2026 When we asked our partners to describe Northwest AHEC/OCME in one word, three themes rose above the rest:
Collaboration. Commitment. Excellence.

Today, we also celebrate our exceptional team - many of whom bring decades of experience to their roles. Their dedication, expertise, and service continue to shape healthcare education across our region.

Northwest AHEC / OCME Service Milestones

(Years of service as of 2026)

Leigh Watkins – 42 years
Marie Simos – 38 years
Ellen Kesler – 34 years
Angela Hodges – 31 years
Michael Lischke – 30 years
Chris Jones – 24 years
Lee Howard – 23 years
Andrew Brewer – 20 years
Nedra Edwards Hines – 20 years
Amy Basham – 19 years
Michelle Adams – 16 years
Medina Wilson – 15 years
Michael Hulme – 15 years
Reed Burger – 14 years
Melanee Mills – 12 years

Gail Pawlik – 12 years
Christina Clarke – 12 years
Jasmine Mickens – 11 years
Janice Moore – 11 years
Lindsey MacLean – 9 years
Amanda Pearson – 7 years
Brooke Kochanski – 6 years
Alana Dodson – 5 years
Ellen Zimmerman – 5 years
Samantha Garvens – 5 years
Lisa Thomas – 5 years
Lara Dickerson – 4 years
Cherelle Blakley – 4 years
Stephanie Yoder Poindexter – 3 years
Megan Mills Anderson – 2 years

✨ Their dedication strengthens every program we develop, every partnership we nurture, and every learner we support.

Learn more about our full team:
https://go.northwestahec.wakehealth.edu/staff

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Nurturing the Nurturers: A Retreat For Sustaining Healthcare Well-being

Jan 8, 2026 3:00:00 PM / by Brooke Kochanski posted in Wellness, health professionals, healthcare

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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.

Session Fees:

$175.00 - Registration Fee per person
$160.00 - Registration fee per person when 3 or more registering together

App State will host its inaugural Growing Well Conference from Oct. 12–14 at Levine Hall of Health Sciences in Boone

Oct 7, 2025 2:44:58 PM / by NW AHEC posted in healthcare

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Article from Watauga Democrat:

BOONE — The Appalachian Institute for Health and Wellness will host its inaugural Growing Well Conference from Oct. 12–14 at Appalachian State University’s Levine Hall of Health Sciences in Boone.

With the theme “Moving Mountains and Community,” the conference will bring together health and medical professionals, educators, researchers, policymakers and families to explore innovative ways to support children and youth with special health care needs in rural Western North Carolina. Health and medical professionals can earn up to 17.25 in-person continuing education credits, and scholarships are available for community members to attend.

The Growing Well Conference is sponsored by Vaya Health, the North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities and the Northwest Area Health Education Center.

The event begins on Oct. 12 with a pre-conference workshop, followed by two days of interactive programming from Oct. 13–14. Attendees will hear from speakers with diverse expertise and lived experience navigating complex health and social systems.

6.3.25 Moving Mountains Logo Conference sessions will cover a wide range of topics, including:

Medical management of children with complex health conditions
Advances in tone management for children with complex needs
Communication supports for children with autism and other developmental conditions
Functional interventions designed to improve participation in daily life
Evidence-based behavioral therapies
Cross-system collaboration in child welfare and mental health
Supporting youth in transitions from school to adulthood, including employment and community engagement opportunities

Organizers say the conference aims to provide professional development as well as opportunities for networking, resource sharing and collaboration among those who serve children and families in the region.

Learn more at our website

Rewiring Inflammation: A New Era in Rheumatoid Arthritis Care

Aug 13, 2025 4:48:14 PM / by Andrew L. Brewer, MS, NBHWC posted in Healthcare Insights, treatment, podcast, intervention, healthcare, vagus nerve

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In this recent conversation with Andrew Brewer on the Healthcare Insights podcast, Dr. Kevin J. Tracey, neurosurgeon and President of the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, shared groundbreaking insights into the role of the vagus nerve in regulating inflammation.

Nurturing the Nurturers: Highlights from the March 2025 Wellness Retreat

Apr 11, 2025 10:00:00 AM / by Stephanie Poindexter, MSN, RN posted in self care, healthcare

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On March 14, 2025, healthcare professionals gathered at the serene and historic Graylyn International Conference Center for “Nurturing the Nurturers: A Retreat for Sustaining Healthcare Well-being.” This restorative event offered a much-needed opportunity for self-care, reflection, and renewal for those devoted to caring for others.

The retreat opened with a mindful movement session, encouraging participants to engage in breathwork and gentle stretching to foster relaxation. This grounding experience set the tone for the day, gently reminding participants of the importance of turning inward and honoring their own well-being.

The morning continued with an inspiring session on radical self-care, emphasizing the necessity of setting boundaries, embracing authenticity, and prioritizing personal wellness without guilt. The session empowered attendees to reframe self-care not as a luxury, but as a professional necessity—essential for both personal balance and effective caregiving.

Participants then enjoyed a nourishing lunch in an elegant setting, offering space for connection, reflection, and meaningful conversations with colleagues.

The afternoon resumed with an insightful lecture that offered actionable strategies for integrating sustainable wellness practices into daily life, reinforcing the message that self-care is not indulgent but essential for longevity in healthcare roles.

Following a refreshing break, participants engaged in a hands-on writing workshop centered around resilience. Through thoughtful prompts and guided reflection, they explored the power of expressive writing as a tool for processing emotions, fostering gratitude, and enhancing emotional resilience.

Participants left feeling refreshed, inspired, and equipped with tangible strategies for sustaining their own well-being. As healthcare professionals continue their essential work, events like this serve as powerful reminders that self-care is not secondary—it's foundational.

“Nurturing the Nurturers” was more than just a retreat—it was a reaffirmation that healthcare professionals deserve the same compassion and care they extend to their patients. We look forward to future gatherings that continue to prioritize the well-being of those who dedicate their lives to healing others.

Insights on Headaches and Headache Treatments

Feb 21, 2025 10:05:23 AM / by Andrew L. Brewer, MS, NBHWC posted in learning, Wellness, Healthcare Insights, Medicine, stress, research, trauma, treatment, online learning, neuro, integrated care, patient care, access, medications, Medication assisted treatment, healthcare, headache

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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.

Headaches, Healthcare Payments, Long-term Care, Free Clinics, and Dreaming Big

Feb 4, 2025 2:06:33 PM / by Andrew L. Brewer, MS, NBHWC posted in learning, Healthcare Insights, treatment, online learning, podcast, healthcare

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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.