Save the Date as we return to Hickory, North Carolina on November 5-6, 2025 for the 43rd Annual Perinatal Gravidas at Risk Conference.

Gravidas at Risk is an annual 2-day statewide perinatal conference designed to address both inpatient and outpatient care. The 43rd Annual Perinatal Conference: Gravidas at Risk brings together leading experts, frontline clinicians, and perinatal care teams for an in-depth exploration of the most pressing challenges in high-risk pregnancy care. This year’s conference offers evidence-based updates, innovative practices, and interdisciplinary perspectives on managing complex maternal and fetal conditions. Attendees will gain insights into topics such as perinatal mental health, gestational diabetes, substance use, social determinants of health, and medication safety in pregnancy. Sessions are designed to enhance clinical competence, support collaborative care, and improve outcomes for patients with high-risk pregnancies. Join us for dynamic presentations and networking opportunities as we continue advancing excellence in perinatal care.

   

Date

November 5–6, 2025 (Wed. and Thurs.)

Location

Hickory Metro Convention Center 
1960 13th Avenue Drive SE, Hickory, NC

A block of rooms has been reserved at the Hickory Courtyard Marriot just steps from the convention center. Click here to book online or call 828-267-2100 to reserve your room. Reservations must be made by October 15, 2025 to receive the group rate.

Objectives: 

• Explain the pathophysiology, risk factors, and diagnostic criteria for gestational diabetes and its impact on maternal and fetal health.
• Describe evidence-based nutritional strategies and lifestyle interventions to support glycemic control and improve outcomes for patients with GDM.
• Promote awareness, effective screening and assessment strategies for Perinatal Mental Health.
• Promote a holistic and collaborative approach of the perinatal health care team to improve patient and family outcomes.
• Examine the prevalence and root causes of inequities in birth outcomes and evaluate how perinatal healthcare professionals can contribute to improving access, trust, and culturally responsive care to promote birth equity.
• Describe the role and scope of perinatal Community Health Workers (CHWs) in supporting birthing individuals and addressing social determinants of health throughout the perinatal continuum.
• Analyze obstetric case studies and apply clinical reasoning to determine appropriate diagnostic and treatment strategies.
• Describe the possible effects of prenatal marijuana use on pregnancy, birth, and long-term outcomes, and the limitations of the research on marijuana use in pregnancy.
• Demonstrate strategies for guiding risk/benefit conversations with patients about prenatal marijuana use.
• Identify common medications used during pregnancy and assess their safety profiles, including FDA pregnancy categories and current clinical guidelines.
• Apply evidence-based strategies for counseling pregnant patients on medication use, emphasizing risk-benefit analysis, patient-centered communication, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
• Define radical self-care.
• Identify barriers to radical self-care and create a radical self-care plan.

Registration Fee

 $265 —Two-day registration
 $140 — One-day registration
 Group Rate: $250 per person for two-day registration when three or more registrations are scanned and attached to the same email, mailed in the same envelope, or included in the same fax.

Credits 

• 10.0 Contact Hours from Northwest AHEC (5.0 for day 1 and 5.0 for day 2)
  
• 10.0 Nursing Contact Hours (5.0 for day 1 and 5.0 for day 2)
  Northwest Area Health Education Center (NWAHEC) 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. 
  Credit will be awarded based on participant selection at time of registration. Before selecting credits, please review our 
  general Credit Glossary. Please note not all programs offer all credits.
  Criteria for successful completion requires attendance for at least 90% of the activity and submission of the evaluation.

Faculty