Northwest Area Health Education Center (Northwest AHEC) is celebrating its 50th anniversary of serving as a primary resource for educational activities and services with a focus on primary care in rural communities and areas with less access to resources.
As part of Wake Forest University School of Medicine and the North Carolina AHEC system, Northwest AHEC provides advanced training to health care professionals and students to recruit, train and retain the workforce needed to create a healthy North Carolina.
Northwest AHEC’s service area encompasses 17 counties in northwest North Carolina: Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Davidson, Davie, Forsyth, Iredell, Rowan, Stokes, Surry, Watauga, Wilkes and Yadkin.
“As Northwest AHEC celebrates 50 years of achievement, we look forward to continuing its legacy of excellence in health care education, innovation and community service,” said Michael Lischke, the Richard Janeway, MD, Distinguished Director of Northwest AHEC and associate professor of family and community medicine at Wake Forest University School of Medicine. “The organization remains committed to shaping the future of health care through education and collaboration.”
The Area Health Education Centers program was developed by Congress in 1971 and today North Carolina is served by nine regional AHECs, including Northwest AHEC.
Over the past 50 years, Northwest AHEC has trained thousands of health care professionals, ranging from physicians and nurses to allied health professionals and administrators. Its programs have adapted to meet evolving health care needs, ensuring a skilled workforce. Northwest AHEC has actively engaged with local communities, promoting health literacy, preventive care and access to health care services.
"Northwest AHEC isn't just an institution; it's a testament to the power of people,” said Karen Fritz, a recently retired program coordinator who spent 46 years with Northwest AHEC.
“From fostering exceptional education to tackling challenges, it's always been about the people – their dedication, their impact and their unwavering commitment to excellence,” Fritz said. “That's why, looking back over 50 years, Northwest AHEC remains the standard all should aspire to, defining longevity and success through consistency in customer service, education, and above all, the people who make it all possible."
Northwest AHEC continues to embrace technology and integrate leading-edge tools and methodologies into its educational programs. It has adapted to navigate challenges such as health care reform, demographic shifts and public health crises. The community of Northwest AHEC spans generations and includes health care leaders across numerous specialties who train and mentor others.
“In the next 10 years, we aim to partner with stakeholders across our region to help recruit, train and retain the needed health professionals to care for all citizens as we continue our mission to create a healthier North Carolina,” Lischke said.
More information on how Northwest AHEC has served the communities over the past 50 years can be found at nwahec.org/50years.
Media contacts:
Jenna Kurzyna, jkurzyna@wakehealth.edu; Joe McCloskey, jmcclosk@wakehealth.edu