The 39th Annual Northwest AHEC Respiratory Care Conference, held February 19-20, 2025, brought together 127 respiratory care professionals from six states (CA, FL, NC, SC, TN, TX) and 46 North Carolina counties for two days of education and professional development.

This year’s conference featured expert-led sessions on critical and emerging topics in respiratory care, including AI Use in Respiratory Care, Advancing Respiratory Therapy Practice and Professional Advocacy, Conundrums in PFT Interpretation, Pharmacology Updates for RTs, Pediatrics for RTs, ECMO Perspectives from Patient and Provider, HFNC, Long COVID and Pulmonary Fibrosis, Update in Advanced Diagnostic Bronchoscopy, From Primary Care to Sleep Medicine: The Expanding Role of Respiratory Therapists, and GOLD 2025 Updates.

With a strong emphasis on advancements in technology, clinical practice and interdisciplinary collaboration, the conference provided respiratory therapists with valuable insights and practical applications to enhance patient care.

The event continues to be a resource for professional development, offering respiratory therapists opportunities to expand their knowledge and stay at the forefront of the evolving field.

We can't wait until next year!

Special thanks to our planning committee members and NWAHEC staff who work to make this conference a success!

Join us virtually on February 19-20, 2025, for the 39th Annual Northwest AHEC Respiratory Care Conference! Don’t miss this chance to learn from top experts, explore the latest innovations in respiratory care, and earn CE credit. Register now to secure your spot. Agenda details have been posted and registration is open!

The 38th Annual Respiratory Care Conference was held on February 21-22, 2024. This year, we saw a record turnout for the conference, with a remarkable 122 attendees joining us from all corners of North Carolina and beyond! The diverse crowd represented six  different states (FL, IA, NC, SC, TN, VA) and included representation from 49 counties in NC.

Discover all levels of expertise in the respiratory care field at the 38th Annual Northwest AHEC Respiratory Care Conference - held virtually on February 21 and 22nd.

The third year of hosting the conference virtually attracted over 100 attendees representing a diverse crowd from all over NC and beyond.

Northwest AHEC is partnering with Charlotte AHEC to offer the Sleep Symposium on March 3rd in person at two locations with faculty presenting live from each location! 

Based on feedback from 2022, the 37th Annual Northwest Respiratory Care Conference (formerly the Annual High Country Conference) will be held virtually on February 15 - 16, 2023.

For the second year in a row, the 36th Annual High Country Conference on Respiratory Care was held virtually on February 9-10, 2022. The two-day conference provided attendees with up-to-date, patient-centered and evidence-based practices in respiratory care.

Mark your calendar for February 9-10, 2022, we will be holding a Virtual Conference. Stay tuned for more details coming late fall!

We hear the term health coach more and more these days so I wanted to explore the role of the health coach in this blog post. A health coach is a coach for people who want to or who are contemplating making behavioral changes that result in a healthier lifestyle. A health coach is a type of healthcare extender trained to help others set goals and be accountable for themselves as they begin a journey to improve their overall health and quality of life.