Corporate and Community Relations
A Year of Community Connection and Care
At UNC Health, our mission is to improve the health and well-being of the people of North Carolina. This mission is brought to life every day through the dedication of our physicians, teammates, and volunteers who work tirelessly to serve our patients and communities.
In 2024, UNC Health strengthened its commitment to bettering communities across NC through innovative healthcare programs, expanded partnerships and a steadfast focus on meeting local needs. Anchored by a vision of health as a shared responsibility, UNC Health continued to live its mission creating connections that extend care beyond hospital walls, reaching neighbors where they live, work, and thrive. Our teammates worked hand-in-hand with non-profits, local governments, as well as corporate and community-based organizations to address complex social and health challenges holistically and amplify collective impact.
Expanding Access
On December 1, 2023, Medicaid Expansion went live in North Carolina increasing healthcare access to more than 600,000 individuals. Many who did not previously qualify for health coverage prior to expansion now do. UNC Health committed to support Medicaid Expansion, developing a cross-functional functional taskforce to build advocacy, awareness and action strategies supporting this important effort. In partnership with the North Carolina Navigator Consortium, multiple community events provided outreach to populations newly eligible for Medicaid in areas of highest need across the state to support enrollment education and help get patients connected to care at UNC Health. As of December 4, 2024 there are 590,331 people enrolled in Medicaid in North Carolina.
UNCPN Mobile Operations prioritized vaccines (tetanus and flu), health screenings and health education in FY24.
Community Events
Counties supported (Johnston, Wake, Durham, Orange)
Vaccines administered
BP Screenings
A1c Screenings
Strengthening Community Health
UNC Health’s community health initiatives grew in 2024, prioritizing access to essential care for vulnerable populations. Through our Mobile Health Units, we brought vital screenings, vaccinations and preventive care to underserved neighborhoods, eliminating barriers to health services. From urban centers to rural corners to the Mexican Consulate, these mobile clinics allowed us to meet people where they are, fostering trust and improving health outcomes in real time.
I have such pride in our School of Medicine research teams, which are full of inspired scientists, caring mentors, and collaborative researchers."
Chelsea Skott, Voyager Academy
Piedmont Health
UNC Health continued to work closely with Piedmont Health Services, its multi-site Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) partner, to improve access to primary and specialty care for underserved populations in a shared service area. From its collaborative Carolina Health Net program to coordinate care for the uninsured population, to implementing new models of specialty consultation, to preserving rural maternity access, to providing chronic disease management education, our partnership with Piedmont helps to ensure that thousands of individuals with barriers to care can receive the comprehensive services they need close to home.
Inspiring Healthy Futures
Healthy communities rely on nurturing the next generation of healthcare leaders. UNC Health expanded its mentorship and workforce development programs for community college, high school and college students across the state. By providing hands-on training, shadowing opportunities and guidance from seasoned professionals, we are preparing a diverse and talented pipeline to shape the future of healthcare.
Festivals and health fairs brought neighbors together to both educate and celebrate. These initiatives strengthened bonds and reinforced the message that health is not just about treatment—it's about prevention, advocating for one’s health, meeting people where they are and living well together. Our teammates take pride in serving our community by engaging in impactful volunteer projects that enhance the quality of life in the Triangle. In 2024 the Corporate and Community Relations team hosted more than 34 volunteer opportunities for UNC Health teammates. One of these opportunities was the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina’s annual Sort-A-Rama event. UNC Health teammates, in collaboration with companies in the Triangle and more than 900 volunteers, helped sort and pack 220,000 meals. These 220,000 meals helped nourish over 600,000 people dealing with food insecurity in our community. By giving back, we not only enhance patient care but also strengthen community bonds and foster a culture of compassion and support.
Through our ongoing partnership with the Food Bank of Central and Eastern NC, food pantries at UNC Medical Center and UNC Rex Hospital designed to assist patients as they return home after a hospital stay, remained well stocked with food and information connecting patients with additional healthcare and social services in their communities.
Supporting Housing Stability
Band Together and United Way of the Greater Triangle have created a tradition of uniting communities and non-profits through the power of live music. In 2024, UNC Health contributed as a major sponsor of Band Together’s Mighty Giveback event. This annual concert not only raises awareness but also generates financial support for non-profit organizations tackling the most urgent needs in the community. The 2024 Mighty Giveback successfully raised over $1,000,000, benefiting five non-profit organizations in the Triangle area with a focus on mental health and housing.
For many families, the journey from their community to UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill is a long one. Travel
expenses such as gas, food and lodging can add to already stressful situations. Fortunately, the SECU Family House at UNC Hospitals and Ronald McDonald House are there for these families. With the help of UNC Health, both houses were constructed about 1.5 miles from the hospital campus. Each offers a safe, comfortable and affordable place to call home while patients or their loved ones receive highly specialized care.
Both facilities provide private rooms and suites, laundry facilities, quiet places for reflection and spaces to connect with other families in similar situations. Each include large kitchens and dining areas where families can cook for themselves or enjoy a free meal prepared by volunteers, many of whom are staff and students from the hospital or the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Together, SECU Family House and Ronald McDonald help to support more than 5,300 families annually. In addition to board service and activities such as preparing meals, UNC Health serves as the presenting sponsor for several of each house’s signature fundraising efforts, supporting each house’s mission and their many successes.
I’m very proud to join my teammates who give their time to support the mission of these organizations,” said Udobi Campbell, UNC Hospitals VP of Operations and Board Chair of the SECU Family House. “They are there for our patients and families so we should be there for them. It’s a partnership.”
NC Surgical Hospital Opens
In August, UNC Health opened the North Carolina Surgical Hospital in Chapel Hill. The new hospital is the single largest addition to the UNC Hospitals campus since 1952. The North Carolina Surgical Hospital will help ensure that patients from across the state will receive the most advanced surgical care and services now and well into the future.
“I’m excited for our providers to have more space and the modern tools needed to stay at the forefront of care,” said Wesley Burks, MD, CEO of UNC Health and Dean of the UNC School of Medicine. “I’m equally excited for patients to be cared for and recover in a space designed to be as healing as possible.”
The state-of-the-art facility spans seven stories and encompasses 375,000 square feet meticulously designed to offer a comforting atmosphere for patients and their loved ones. With 26 advanced surgical suites, the facility is fully equipped to facilitate the latest procedures, reinforcing UNC Health’s commitment to delivering superior patient care. Notably, four operating rooms are designated “hybrid spaces,” which integrate imaging technology into surgical procedures to enhance precision and efficiency.
Good design in a space like this offers patients and their families a sense of peace and respite during some of the most unsettling or difficult days in their lives. The meticulous design of this hospital also had our physicians and staff top of mind. We know our teams save and improve lives daily. Now that work will accelerate in a place that’s built to foster collaboration and nurture camaraderie.
“After more than 5 years of building toward this moment, I continue to be so thankful for our medical staff and teammates,” said Janet Hadar, President of UNC Hospitals. “Their dedication to patients and each other has well-positioned us for this exciting moment. What a privilege to extend the expert, Carolina Care we believe every North Carolinian deserves in a facility that supports our care teams, our patients, and their loved ones.”
The North Carolina Surgical Hospital is a symbol of growth and innovation, designed to offer the people of North Carolina more immediate access to complex care. In addition, we are proud to help train the next generation of surgeons in this new facility.
The new N.C. Surgical Hospital employs about 500 people, including more than 100 new jobs.
Youth Behavioral Health Opening
UNC Health celebrated the opening of UNC Hospitals Youth Behavioral Health, a 54-bed facility in Butner, N.C., that provides acute hospital care for children and teens in psychiatric crisis. The project is a partnership between UNC Health and the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services.
To celebrate the opening, state government officials and hospital leadership, including Wesley Burks, MD, Dean of the UNC School of Medicine and CEO of UNC Health, Kody Kinsley, North Carolina Secretary of NC Department of Health and Human Services, Janet Hadar, President of UNC Hospitals and Samantha Meltzer-Brody, MD, MPH, Chair of the Department of Psychiatry came together to acknowledge the need the center will fill for youth across the state.
“This is an incredible step forward that will allow UNC Health to play an important role in addressing the child and adolescent mental health crisis in North Carolina,” said Dr. Meltzer-Brody.
UNC Hospitals Youth Behavioral Health is an inpatient hospital that offers a first-of-its-kind model of mental health care for children and adolescents. Formerly the R.J. Blackley Alcohol and Drug Abuse Treatment Center, UNC Health partnered with the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services to convert it into the new facility.
A team of more than 200 employees from UNC Health and the UNC School of Medicine – including psychiatrists, pediatricians, and art and occupational therapists – provide evidence-based treatment at this location. Specialty therapy rooms, such as the music and art therapy spaces, provide opportunities for kids to learn coping and emotional regulation skills to further their recovery.
This is an incredible step forward that will allow UNC Health to play an important role in addressing the child and adolescent mental health crisis in North Carolina.”
Dr. Meltzer-Brody
Sponsored by:
First Tee of the Triangle Poe Center for Health Education
Southeast Raleigh Promise Wake County Boys and Girls Club
Alliance Medical Ministry
UNC Health Championship
Professional golfers from around the world traveled to the renowned Raleigh Country Club to participate in the PGA Korn Ferry Tour’s UNC Health Championship presented by STITCH. The tournament featured 156 professional golfers, and this year’s winner, Kaito Onishi, claimed his first Korn Ferry Tour title.
Proceeds from the tournament benefited North Carolina Children’s, which will be the only freestanding hospital between Washington, DC, and Atlanta dedicated solely to caring for children. Planning is underway, and construction is expected to take approximately 6-8 years.
The UNC Health Championship will return to Raleigh Country Club May 29 to June 1, 2025.
Community Voluteers
Spectators
Corporate Partners
Paid Media Impressions
Social Media Impressions
Youth Behavioral Health Opening
UNC Health celebrated the opening of UNC Hospitals Youth Behavioral Health, a 54-bed facility in Butner, N.C., that provides acute hospital care for children and teens in psychiatric crisis. The project is a partnership between UNC Health and the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services.
To celebrate the opening, state government officials and hospital leadership, including Wesley Burks, MD, Dean of the UNC School of Medicine and CEO of UNC Health, Kody Kinsley, North Carolina Secretary of NC Department of Health and Human Services, Janet Hadar, President of UNC Hospitals and Samantha Meltzer-Brody, MD, MPH, Chair of the Department of Psychiatry came together to acknowledge the need the center will fill for youth across the state.
“This is an incredible step forward that will allow UNC Health to play an important role in addressing the child and adolescent mental health crisis in North Carolina,” said Dr. Meltzer-Brody.
UNC Hospitals Youth Behavioral Health is an inpatient hospital that offers a first-of-its-kind model of mental health care for children and adolescents. Formerly the R.J. Blackley Alcohol and Drug Abuse Treatment Center, UNC Health partnered with the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services to convert it into the new facility.
A team of more than 200 employees from UNC Health and the UNC School of Medicine – including psychiatrists, pediatricians, and art and occupational therapists – provide evidence-based treatment at this location. Specialty therapy rooms, such as the music and art therapy spaces, provide opportunities for kids to learn coping and emotional regulation skills to further their recovery.
This is an incredible step forward that will allow UNC Health to play an important role in addressing the child and adolescent mental health crisis in North Carolina.”
Dr. Meltzer-Brody
Looking Ahead
As we reflect on 2024, UNC Health remains deeply honored to serve communities across the state. Each initiative, partnership and innovation underscores our belief that health is more than just a service—it’s a promise to build healthier and more secure futures for all.
Together, we hope to inspire others and continue to build a thriving, resilient, and compassionate community for years to come.
We don’t realize the impact we can have in healthcare on individuals we care for, whether for a patient, family member, or community. What we do matters.”
UNC Health Teammate
Hurricane Relief
During each storm, we not only respond to crises but also seize opportunities to bring people together, uniting teams, families, and entire communities. In the aftermath of natural disasters like Hurricane Helene in October, we believe in the power of human connection to heal and rebuild.
UNC Health hospitals in Western North Carolina (WNC) and other clinical operations were significantly impacted by Hurricane Helene. Throughout the hurricane and its aftermath, all of our WNC hospitals—UNC Health Appalachian (Boone), UNC Health Blue Ridge (Morganton), UNC Health Caldwell (Lenoir), and UNC Health Pardee (Hendersonville)—remained operational, providing care for patients, their families, and the community.
Our teams collaborated with neighbors and state agencies to address the most critical needs. The humanitarian organization Samaritan’s Purse set up a field hospital in the parking lot at UNC Health Appalachian. Teammates from UNC Health locations across the state answered the call to serve and seamlessly joined our colleagues in this time of extraordinary need.
The outpouring of support shown by our teammates was exceptional. Hospitals in the Triangle area, along with the Morrisville campus, Lenoir, Rockingham, UNCPN clinics, Wake Radiology, and others collected over 50 pallets of donated food and essential supplies to send to WNC hospitals.
These responses embody our mantra, "One Great Team," as well as our mission and core values as a health system. We could not be prouder of the leaders and teammates in our WNC hospitals and everyone at UNC Health who supported them in many ways.
We believe that in the face of uncertainty, the bonds we forge, within our teams and with those we help, are what truly matter and are grateful for your support, empathy and collaboration.
The UNC Health Foundation has set up multiple ways to directly support our teammates and our medical students. Visit WNC Hurricane Relief - Ways to Help to assist them with urgent financial needs, temporary housing, medical expenses not covered by insurance, mental health support and more.
Many of you have asked how you can help or have already rallied to help – thank you! Affected communities will continue to need our support for some time. Consider a monetary donation to the
