The NC AHEC Nurse Council celebrates the unique role and essential service of nursing in rural healthcare with our NC AHEC 8th Annual Celebration of Rural Nursing in honor of National Rural Health Day. Rural nurses are the often-unseen pillars of their communities—responding not only to medical needs, but also to deeply rooted social challenges. Silent Struggles, Strong Voices is designed to elevate and empower rural nursing professionals as they confront the silent epidemics affecting patients and families.
| Time | Topic / Speaker |
| 8:30 – 9:30 am | Bridging the Addiction Treatment Gap Alex Elswick, PhD |
| 9:30 – 10:30 am | Treatment of Adolescent Tobacco and E-Cigarette Use Libby Carver, DNP, FNP-BC, CNE |
| 10:30- 10:40 am | Break |
| 10:40 – 11:40 am | Don’t Be Social: Human Trafficking and Social Media Judge Toni King, North Carolina District Court Judge – District 14 |
| 11:40 am – 12:45 pm | ”Breaking the Silence: Understanding and Addressing Mental Health Stigma Joanna Linn, PhD, LPC, LISAC, LCMHCS Lyndsey Parham, MSW, LCSWA |
| 12:45 – 12:50 | Wrap Up / Adjourn |