Northwest Area Health Education Center

Empowering the next generation! 💙

Today, Candy Willard, Healthcare Career Liaison, visited Jr. Camp Med to connect with middle school students about the exciting opportunities available through Surry-Yadkin Works as they enter high school. Students learned about exploring careers in healthcare and other high-demand industries while gaining insight into the hands-on experiences and career pathways offered through SYW.

It was inspiring to hear about their future goals and share how Surry-Yadkin Works can help students build the skills, experiences, and connections they need to achieve them. The future is bright!



Surry Community College Surry County Schools Pilot Mountain Middle School Northwest Area Health Education Center

DID YOU KNOW? | AHEC Digital Library (ADL): Resources for Residents

DID YOU KNOW? | AHEC Digital Library (ADL): Resources for Residents New residents are arriving across North Carolina—are they set up for success? The NC AHEC Digital Library (ADL) gives residents quick access to: ✔ Evidence-based databases ✔ Full-text journals & textbooks ✔ Point-of-care clinical tools ✔ Curated specialty reading lists 💡 Looking for a p...

Forsyth County Social Services is available at select Forsyth County Public Library, Winston-Salem, NC branches one day a week to help residents apply for benefits like food and nutrition, Medicaid and energy assistance. Social Services staff can also answer benefit-related questions.

- Paddison Memorial Branch Library, Tuesdays from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
- Walkertown Branch Library, Tuesdays from 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
- Rural Hall/Stanleyville Branch Library, Wednesdays from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
- Forsyth County Central Library, Thursdays from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
- Clemmons Branch Library, Thursdays from 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
- Lewisville Branch Library, Fridays from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Social Services Deputy Director Marissa Adams said the availability at the library brings access to these services closer to the residents they serve.

“We wanted to try to eliminate that transportation barrier for individuals and meet them where they are,” said Adams.

The schedule for Social Services at the library can also be found at https://fcpl.cc/DSS-services

Our Northwest AHEC team had a wonderful day in Hickory exploring beautiful Catawba County! We love spending time across our 17-county region, and today’s visit did not disappoint—Downtown Hickory is full of charm and so much to experience.

A special thank you to the Catawba County Chamber for connecting us with talented local photographer John Yang—we can’t wait to share the final staff photos soon! For now, enjoy a few behind-the-scenes and test shots.

We also had a great time at Cranford Brothers BBQ, where we were the first to use their newly finished event space. Delicious food, meaningful conversations, and team-building made for a productive and fun retreat as we look ahead to the coming academic year. Always a great day when we can be together!

IT'S TIME for Virtual Camp Med 2026
Thinking about a career in healthcare—but not sure where to start?

Virtual Camp Med 2026 gives high school students the chance to explore real healthcare careers in a structured, supportive, and engaging way—without the pressure to have it all figured out. Virtual Camp Med is open to current 8th–12th grade students and offers 100% online learning.

This free, fully online program helps students:
✅ Explore a wide range of healthcare careers
✅ Gain real-world insight into the field
✅ Understand education and training pathways
✅ Build confidence in their future decisions

With 20+ hours of self-paced content, students can learn on their own time while gaining valuable exposure to one of today’s most important industries.

For parents and educators, it’s a meaningful way to support students as they begin thinking about life after high school.

👉 Register now

IT'S TIME for Virtual Camp Med 2026 Dive into how Virtual Camp Med 2026 opens a world of opportunities in healthcare careers for high school students.

We had a great time today at the WFIRM Public Day 2026! Our team enjoyed connecting with students and families while sharing opportunities through the Northwest AHEC Camp Med Program. It was inspiring to see so many people excited about careers in healthcare.

From engaging speakers and vendors to hands-on experiences like the Art Lab painting science, there was something for everyone.

Thank you to the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine (WFIRM) for hosting such a fantastic event!



Registration for virtual Camp Med is open! Visit NWAHEC.org/campmed to register for free.

Come to this exciting event today at Biotech Place! Northwest AHEC will be setup promoting Camp Med 2026 Virtual Summer Program.

🧬✨ Save the Date! ✨🧬

Join us for the 2nd Annual REGENMED Public Day hosted by the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine!

📅 June 1, 2026
⏰ 10:00 AM – 3:30 PM
📍 Wake Forest Biotech Place | Winston-Salem, NC

This FREE event is perfect for students, families, educators, and anyone curious about the future of healthcare, biotechnology, AI, and regenerative medicine right here in North Carolina!

🔬 Meet leading scientists & industry professionals
🚀 Explore careers in biotech & biomanufacturing
🩺 Experience immersive VR simulations
🎨 Enjoy interactive science & art activities

Don’t miss this exciting day of innovation, discovery, and hands-on learning!

Accessible Exam Tables and Scales: What the New Federal Rules Mean for Healthcare Facilities

Accessible Exam Tables and Scales: What the New Federal Rules Mean for Healthcare Facilities New federal accessibility rules are changing how healthcare facilities must think about exam tables, weight scales, and other diagnostic equipment.

More than 330 future healthcare professionals came together for the 2026 Interprofessional Education (IPE) event—building the communication and teamwork skills essential to patient care. 💬🏥

With expanded sessions and a new case scenario, this year marked a major step forward in preparing students for collaborative, real-world healthcare environments.

Collaboration between Northwest AHEC, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Forsyth Tech, and Winston-Salem State University

👉 Read more about the impact and partnerships behind this growing initiative for collaborative learning through simulated patient cases, enhancing teamwork and communication skills - https://hubs.la/Q04h_G1k0
https://hubs.la/Q04h_G1k0