VPC Training Series

At the VPC, we are committed to fostering a culture of learning and growth. Our VPC Training Series offers a variety of specialized trainings for students, staff, faculty, health practitioners, community members, and organizations—both governmental and non-governmental. Whether you’re looking to deepen your expertise or eager to share it, we have opportunities designed just for you.

UPCOMING TRAININGS

Stay informed about upcoming sessions! Each training is carefully crafted to address timely topics and to equip participants with practical, research-backed strategies for violence prevention. Check back here regularly to register for new sessions.

SubScribe for Updates

The VPC Training Series is offered through a regional partnership between the UNC Charlotte Violence Prevention Center and the South Piedmont Area Health Education Center. Each training will be held virtually, and a link will be shared upon registration. Trainings will not be recorded unless otherwise noted in the event description. All sessions offer continuing education credits. View covered CEUs.

Person-Centered and Inclusive Clinical Documentation

Presenter: Apryl Alexander, PsyD

Date/Time: October 15, 2026 | 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM

Location: Live Webinar Broadcast through Zoom

Registration: $40 General Public | $25 Student Pre-Registration Fee (before Oct 8th)

Topic Summary:
The movement toward person-centered and inclusive language has grown across healthcare and human-services fields over the past two decades. Professional organizations increasingly emphasize language practices that honor individuals’ identities, reduce stigma, and promote culturally responsive care. For health care professionals, the words used in documentation and communication can either reinforce harmful labels, particularly for historically marginalized and excluded communities, or support dignity and autonomy. Many argue that stigmatizing labels conflict with core ethical principles such as beneficence, respect for persons, and equitable care.

This presentation will explore the importance of integrating person-centered and inclusive language into clinical documentation and everyday practice. The session will review current literature and cross-disciplinary best practices, highlight common pitfalls in documentation, and discuss strategies for aligning language with values of cultural responsiveness. Participants will engage in discussion and applied examples focused on advocating for humanistic language within diverse professional settings and addressing organizational and systemic barriers.

Speaker Bio:
Dr. Apryl Alexander is the Metrolina Distinguished Professor of Health & Policy in the Department of Health Management and Policy at UNC Charlotte. She also serves as Director of the UNC Charlotte Violence Prevention Center. She received her doctorate in clinical psychology from the Florida Institute of Technology with concentrations in forensic psychology and child and family therapy. Dr. Alexander’s research and clinical work focus on violence, interpersonal trauma, human sexuality, and trauma-informed and culturally responsive practice. Her work has been published in several leading journals, including Child Maltreatment and Sexual Abuse. She is also a Fellow of the American Psychological Association (APA) and the Association for the Treatment and Prevention of Sexual Abuse (ATSA).

Continuing Education Credits

2.0 Contact Hours (Category A) NC Psychologists
2.0 NBCC Clock Hours
0.2 CEUs / 2.0 Contact Hours

The training will be broadcast via Zoom. Instructions to join the webinar will be emailed prior to the event.

REGISTER HERE

Secondary Traumatic Stress and the Ethical Mandate of Competence: Self-Care is a Necessity

Presenter: Jessica S. Lewis, PhD, HSP-P

Date/Time: November 12, 2026 | 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM

Location: Live Webinar Broadcast through Zoom

Registration: $40 General Public | $25 Student Pre-Registration Fee (before Nov 5th)

Topic Summary:
Self-care, on the surface, sounds like a personal choice. However, for professionals responsible for public well-being — including mental health, medical, and first responder populations — caring for oneself is a foundational requirement for maintaining competence and preserving public trust. Indeed, personal burnout can lead to professional impairment (Abramson, 2021), directly compromising the ethical principles of beneficence and non-maleficence. In this session, Dr. Jessica S. Lewis, clinical health psychologist, will explore the individual and systemic barriers to provider self-care and provide practical resources, psychoeducation, and trauma-informed, values-based interventions designed to prevent burnout and compassion fatigue — equipping providers with actionable tools to sustain clinical judgment, maintain professional integrity, and fulfill their ethical obligation of competence.

Speaker Bio:
Dr. Jessica S. Lewis is a clinical health psychologist, founder of Becoming the Whole You, LLC, and a professional development trainer. Her work centers on trauma-informed care, provider wellness, and values-based coping. Grounded in a holistic, third-wave therapeutic orientation — including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) — she supports individuals, organizations, and systems in healing from trauma, navigating burnout, and cultivating long-term resilience and purpose in life.

Continuing Education Credits

2.0 Contact Hours (Category A) NC Psychologists
2.0 NBCC Clock Hours
0.2 CEUs / 2.0 Contact Hours

The training will be broadcast via Zoom. Instructions to join the webinar will be emailed prior to the event.

REGISTER HERE

Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare: Ethical Opportunities, Risks, and Challenges

Presenter: Charlene Whitaker-Brown, DNP, MSN, FNP-C, PMHNP-BC

Date/Time: December 3, 2026 | 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM

Location: Live Webinar Broadcast through Zoom

Registration: $40 General Public | $25 Student Pre-Registration Fee (before Nov 26th)

Topic Summary:
As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to transform healthcare, it offers significant opportunities to improve clinical decision-making, enhance patient outcomes, and increase healthcare efficiency while simultaneously introducing complex ethical considerations. This presentation will explore the ethical opportunities and risks associated with AI in healthcare. Examples of where emerging technologies have the potential to support earlier disease detection, personalized care planning, caregiver support, and disease management will be provided. Participants will also examine critical issues such as privacy, informed consent, algorithmic bias, autonomy, and the responsible integration of AI into clinical practice. Examples will be provided from areas of practice like Alzheimer’s disease, mental health, and healthcare workforce training. Through evidence-based discussion and real-world examples, attendees will gain practical strategies for navigating the ethical landscape of AI while promoting compassionate, equitable, and person-centered care.

Speaker Bio:
Dr. Charlene D. Whitaker-Brown, a dual-certified Family and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, is a Clinical Professor at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. In addition, she is a TEDx Speaker and is nationally recognized as an advocate for holistic health, including chronic diseases, mental health, brain health, and nursing workforce development. With more than two decades of experience spanning clinical practice, academia, leadership, and community engagement, she is committed to advancing innovative, evidence-based solutions that improve health outcomes. She currently serves as the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing’s North American Region 13 Coordinator. This year she has been recognized for her commitment to nursing service as one of the 100 Great North Carolina Nurses for the 2026 cohort. Dr. Whitaker-Brown is dedicated to preparing future healthcare leaders and advancing compassionate care for individuals, families, and communities.

Continuing Education Credits