the northwest area health education center (northwest ahec) of wake forest school of medicine is one of nine regional area health education centers (ahecs) of the north carolina area health education centers program. northwest ahec is an educational outreach center and training program designed to better the health of the public in its 17-county region. it does this by working to increase the number of health and human service professionals, while also trying to improve their representation throughout the region and their skill quality—especially those who have chosen to work in primary care settings (pediatrics, obstetrics & gynecology, internal medicine, and family medicine)—through several diverse community groups and partnerships with educational institutions (from primary to post-graduate schools).