2026 NC AHEC CPD Summit: Planning with Purpose: Tools, Tactics, Transformation
August 10 - 11, 2026 | 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
This Summit brings together NC AHEC CPD staff to connect and share ideas while sharpening strategies that strengthen the CPD for North Carolina’s healthcare professionals. Participants will explore adult learning theory and effective partnership development, and through breakout sessions, will dive into topics on our tools and data as well as marketing - how to be effective, impactful and reach new audiences.
Speakers
Kate McDaniel, PhD, MSW
Kate McDaniel, PhD, MSW, is an Associate Professor of Neurosurgery at Duke University and Director of the Duke Academy of Health Professions Education and Academic Development (AHEAD). She partners with clinical faculty to develop curricula and assessment across residency and fellowship programs and mentors residents pursuing careers in clinical education. Dr. McDaniel also created a nationally recognized peer coaching program for neurosurgery residents and regularly presents faculty development programs locally and nationally.
Kathy Peticolas, MPS, PMP
Kathy Peticolas, MPS, PMP, As the Data and Analytics Specialist, Kathy Peticolas works to keep data accessible, current, and actionable for all NC AHEC service lines. Kathy has a Master of Professional Science in Biomedical and Health Informatics from UNC-Chapel Hill and is a Tableau Certified Data Analyst.
Suzanne Lineberry, MPH, MCHES, CPHQ
Suzanne Lineberry, MPH, MCHES, CPHQ is a public health professional and educator specializing in healthcare quality improvement, workforce development, and continuing professional development. She serves as a Practice Support professional with Piedmont Area Health Education Center, where she works with healthcare organizations to assess needs, implement quality improvement strategies, and enhance workforce capacity. Suzanne is currently pursuing her Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) at East Carolina University, with a focus on health policy and system-level change. Her work centers on bridging data, practice, and education to drivemeaningful improvements in healthcare delivery.
Ashley Langley
Ashley Langley is an Associate Director of the NC AHEC Program and Director for Statewide IT & Data Analytics for the NC AHEC Program Office. She holds Masters Degrees in both Math Education (NCSU 1996) and Information Science (UNC-CH 2002). She has been part of the AHEC team since 2003. In her role, Ashley is responsible for the development, management, and strategic direction of central IT systems used by the NC AHEC regional offices. Ashley works closely with all AHEC service lines and statewide initiatives. In her free time, Ashley aspires to be Martha Stewart with a love of baking, gardening, knitting, and caters to every whim of her dog, Margaux.
Ryan Champan, MA
Ryan Champan, MA is a career educator, having started out as a high school social studies teacher in 2008, working his way into higher education, and eventually instructional design. He brings a wealth of knowledge with face-to-face and online learning and has provided instruction from high schoolers to retirees and from travel nurses to social workers. He hopes to make the world better through education and spreading his enthusiasm to others.
PJ Meares
PJ Meares has been helping professionals and leaders reach their potential for over 20 years. His background in organizational, leadership and professional development spans manufacturing, education, and health care environments. One of his many strengths is taking complex concepts and deconstructing them in visually astute ways to make the learning accessible. If you know PJ, you know he doesn’t take himself too seriously and makes learning fun.
Tacuma Womble, MSN, RN
Tacuma Womble, MSN, RN, is a Course Lead instructor at Watts College of Nursing. He is passionate about integrating technology and innovation into nursing education, not only to improve outcomes but to improve administrative efficiency. With a background in emergency medicine, instructional design, and informatics, he helps his fellow colleagues bridge the AI knowledge gap.
Austin DesJardin, MSN, RN
Austin DesJardin, MSN, RN, is a PhD student at Saint Louis University whose research focuses on integrating palliative care education into emergency care settings. He earned his BSN from Clemson University and served in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps at Madigan Army Medical Center caring for complex patient populations. He later completed his MSN in Nursing Education at Duke University while practicing in high-acuity settings, including the MICU at Duke University Hospital and the Emergency Department at Duke Regional Hospital. Currently, he serves as the Level One Lead at Watts College of Nursing, where he teaches first-semester students and implements evidence-based educational strategies to enhance clinical reasoning and practice readiness.
Brittney Ham, M.S., CDM
Brittney Ham, M.S., CDM, is the Marketing and Communications Specialist at Piedmont AHEC. She helps her team make sense of the everchanging landscape that is marketing and communications. Aside from social media work, Brittney is particularly interested in graphic design, video editing, web building, and advanced technical writing and editing.
Brooke Kochanski
Brooke Kochanski is an Integrated Marketing Communications Specialist with Northwest AHEC with 20 years of experience in strategic marketing, integrated communications, and performance measurement. Her background includes marketing within academic health systems, public transportation, and statewide healthcare outreach initiatives. At Northwest AHEC, she partners with the CPD team to lead targeted audience development, email and social media campaigns, blog content, and KPI tracking to strengthen program reach and engagement. Brooke holds a bachelor’s degree from UNC Greensboro and advanced certifications in integrated marketing strategy and marketing technology.
Rachel Bemis
Rachel Bemis serves as the Administrative Director for the Department of Community and Public Health at MAHEC, where she leads programs focused on strengthening the healthcare workforce across Western North Carolina. With more than 15 years of healthcare leadership experience, her work centers on workforce development, educational pathways, and community partnerships that expand access and opportunity for learners and healthcare professionals. She is passionate about building sustainable systems that prepareand support the future healthcare workforce.
Agenda
Day One: August 10, 2026 | 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
9 a.m. Welcome and Updates from the Program Office
9:15 a.m. Keynote: Adult Learning/Learner Engagement
Kate McDaniel, PhD, MSW Director of Duke AHEAD
10:15 a.m. Lightening Round Breakouts: Tools and Data
Available Sessions
Data-Driven Insights: Exploring NC AHEC Trends Using Tableau
Kathy Peticolas, MPS, PMP, Data and Analytics Specialist, NC AHEC
Needs Assessments for Effective Continuing Professional Development
Suzanne Lineberry, MPH, MCHES, CPHQ Practice Support Manager, Piedmont AHEC
Do More with Statewide CPD IT
Ashley Langley, Director of Statewide IT & Business Analytics, NC AHEC
Docebo
Ryan Champan, MA, South Piedmont AHEC
10:45 a.m. Transition Time/Break
10:50 a.m. Lightening Round Breakouts: Tools and Data
Available Sessions
Data-Driven Insights: Exploring NC AHEC Trends Using Tableau
Kathy Peticolas, MPS, PMP, Data and Analytics Specialist, NC AHEC
Needs Assessments for Effective Continuing Professional Development
Suzanne Lineberry, MPH, MCHES, CPHQ Practice Support Manager, Piedmont AHEC
Do More with Statewide CPD IT
Ashley Langley, Director of Statewide IT & Business Analytics, NC AHEC
Docebo
Ryan Champan, MA, South Piedmont AHEC
11:20 a.m. Transition Time/Break
11:25 a.m. Lightening Round Breakouts: Tools and Data
Available Sessions
Data-Driven Insights: Exploring NC AHEC Trends Using Tableau
Kathy Peticolas, MPS, PMP, Data and Analytics Specialist, NC AHEC
Needs Assessments for Effective Continuing Professional Development
Suzanne Lineberry, MPH, MCHES, CPHQ Practice Support Manager, Piedmont AHEC
Do More with Statewide CPD IT
Ashley Langley, Director of Statewide IT & Business Analytics, NC AHEC
Docebo
Ryan Champan, MA, South Piedmont AHEC
11:55 a.m. Wrap Up
Day Two: August 11, 2026 | 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
9 a.m. Welcome
9:05 a.m. Keynote: Building Strong Partnerships: Effective strategies for optimal outcomes
PJ Meares, OD Advisor, Vaya Health
9:55 a.m. Lightening Round Breakouts: Marketing
Available Sessions
Leveraging AI to Craft Effective Messages
Tacuma Womble, MSN, RN, Watts College of Nursing
Austin DesJardin, MSN, RN, Watts College of Nursing
Social Media Marketing
Brittney Ham, M.S., CDM Marketing Communications Specialist, Piedmont AHEC
Planning with Purpose: Using Data to Drive Smarter CPD Marketing Decisions
Brooke Kochanski, Marketing & Communications Specialist, NW AHEC
Purpose First: Healthcare Pathways that Work
Rachel Bemis, Administrative Director for the Department of Community and Public Health, MAHEC
10:15 a.m. Transition Time/Break
10:20 a.m. Lightening Round Breakouts: Marketing
Available Sessions
Leveraging AI to Craft Effective Messages
Tacuma Womble, MSN, RN, Watts College of Nursing
Austin DesJardin, MSN, RN, Watts College of Nursing
Social Media Marketing
Brittney Ham, M.S., CDM Marketing Communications Specialist, Piedmont AHEC
Planning with Purpose: Using Data to Drive Smarter CPD Marketing Decisions
Brooke Kochanski, Marketing & Communications Specialist, NW AHEC
Purpose First: Healthcare Pathways that Work
Rachel Bemis, Administrative Director for the Department of Community and Public Health, MAHEC
10:40 a.m. Transition Time/Break
10:45 a.m. Lightening Round Breakouts: Marketing
Available Sessions
Leveraging AI to Craft Effective Messages
Tacuma Womble, MSN, RN, Watts College of Nursing
Austin DesJardin, MSN, RN, Watts College of Nursing
Social Media Marketing
Brittney Ham, M.S., CDM Marketing Communications Specialist, Piedmont AHEC
Planning with Purpose: Using Data to Drive Smarter CPD Marketing Decisions
Brooke Kochanski, Marketing & Communications Specialist, NW AHEC
Purpose First: Healthcare Pathways that Work
Rachel Bemis, Administrative Director for the Department of Community and Public Health, MAHEC
11:05 a.m. Innovations Panel: Show, Tell, and Take
11:55 a.m. Wrap Up