Northwest AHEC was proudly represented at the 2025 National AHEC Organization (NAO) Conference held June 17–20 in Lexington, KY. Northwest AHEC staff - Nedra Edwards Hines, Reed Burger, and Melanee Mills joined over 600 attendees from AHECs across the country to engage in meaningful dialogue, share best practices, and explore innovative strategies to strengthen the AHEC mission. 

On April 14, the sky wasn’t the limit — it was just the beginning — for A’nya Buckner, a senior pre-med student at Winston-Salem State University and one of our outstanding Northwest AHEC Scholars. While she stood on the ground in Van Horn, Texas, watching history unfold, her research was quite literally soaring into space.

Buckner was one of three WSSU students selected to participate in Blue Origin’s historic all-female space mission, where their research project, involving plant biology, was included on board. As a member of our AHEC Scholars Cohort 5, Buckner has demonstrated a strong commitment to hands-on learning, community service, and interprofessional education — values that are deeply woven into this unique opportunity.

“This experience means everything to me,” Buckner shared. “I’m looking forward to applying what I’ve learned from my labs and lectures to real-world research — and seeing our seedlings in space.”

For Buckner, who aspires to become an emergency room physician or anesthesiologist, this experience bridges her academic journey with a powerful glimpse into what’s possible through collaboration, innovation, and scientific exploration.

The project was part of a collaboration between WSSU and Blue Origin’s nonprofit, Club for the Future, which aims to inspire the next generation of scientists, engineers, and explorers. It’s an incredible milestone — not only for the students and faculty involved, but for women in STEM and future healthcare leaders everywhere.

We’re proud to support scholars like A’nya Buckner, who are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in science and medicine — even if that means launching it into orbit.

To learn more about our AHEC Scholars program and how we prepare students for impactful careers in healthcare, visit our website: https://go.northwestahec.wakehealth.edu/scholars

Read WSSU Article

The Northwest AHEC Scholars participated in the 2nd Annual Emerging Leaders in Healthcare Conference on February 7th, marking a significant event in their educational journey and professional development.

This conference, now in its second year, is a pivotal part of the NC AHEC's broader mission to recruit, train, and retain a skilled and dedicated workforce essential for fostering a healthier North Carolina. By engaging in this mission, the NC AHEC Scholars are actively contributing to a brighter future for the healthcare workforce, ensuring that it is well-equipped to meet the evolving needs of the community.

 Impressively, 31 of our dedicated Scholars were present at the event, joining a total of 157 NCAHEC Scholars from various AHECs across the state. The conference featured a lineup of excellent speakers who shared valuable insights and knowledge, enhancing the learning experience for all attendees. Hosted by UNCC, the event included engaging speakers and interactive simulations on Saturday afternoon, providing a dynamic and immersive educational experience.

As a fun and memorable touch, students received NC AHEC Scholars cowboy hats during the Cultural Competency-Western event, which added a unique flair to the occasion. This was part of their visit to a requested number of vendors, further enriching their understanding and appreciation of cultural diversity within the healthcare field.

Learn more about the NC AHEC Scholars Program at Northwest AHEC

Health Careers & Workforce Diversity hosted the 1st annual statewide Emerging Leaders in Healthcare Conference for AHEC Scholars from February 16-18, 2024. This event, tailored for Scholars in Cohorts 5 and 6, drew approximately 169 AHEC Scholars to the Piedmont AHEC region for 20 hours of vital didactic education as part of a new statewide enrichment model complementing region-specific didactic hours across AHEC centers.

Remember A'nya Bucker, we introduced her last year as an outstanding Northwest AHEC Scholar. She is being recognized with an NC Space Grant! Read the full article on our blog from WSSU. 

Winston-Salem State University student A’nya Buckner of Morrisville is unleashing her genius out of this world. The junior biology major with a chemistry minor has been selected by the N.C. Space Grant as one of the 2023-2024 Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) STEM Bridge Scholars.

"I was honored to represent NC Northwest AHEC at the 2023 National AHEC Organization (NAO) Biennial Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah." - A'nya Buckner

The NC AHEC Scholars Program at Northwest AHEC recruits, trains, and supports a diverse group of students from across the state, creating a multidisciplinary team of health professionals committed to both community service and the transformation of health care in North Carolina.

The 2021-2022 NC AHEC Scholars Program at Northwest AHEC is off to a great start. The group of 41 Scholars had their orientation in September and are a great group of young minds ready to learn!

The NC AHEC Scholars Program at Northwest AHEC recruits, trains, and supports a diverse group of students from across the state, creating a multidisciplinary team of health professionals committed to both community service and the transformation of health care in North Carolina. We seek individuals who are committed to improving health and health care, devoted to community service, and interested in improving their own skills and in working with other professionals in team-based care.