UNC Health System Update
In a year of rapid and persistent change, UNC Health responded by remaining true to our mission to promote the health and well-being of the people of North Carolina. From the opening of new facilities to serve more patients in new ways, to the expansion of research and education, this was a year to celebrate as we continue to advance toward the vision of becoming an academic and community powerhouse with patients at the heart of all we do.
Forward Together 2030 Implementation
Over the last year, we have made significant progress in the implementation of our Forward Together 2030 strategic plan. Progress on the plan has been focused on improving the experience of both patients and teammates and we’ve celebrated key advancements in both areas.
For patients, we have established one number to call for more immediate access to the care they need. We’re delivering the right care in the right place at the right time for more patients by removing hurdles, reshaping processes, and pursuing intentional collaborations like our four service lines, bringing statewide expertise together.
For clinicians, AI has helped them to be more responsive and focus on what matters most – patient care.
Surgical Hospital
In July, 2024, the North Carolina Surgical Hospital welcomed its first patients. The new hospital is the largest addition to the UNC Medical Center campus since it was built in 1952. 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. Boasting 26 advanced surgical suites and 80 patient rooms, the facility is fully equipped to facilitate the latest procedures, reinforcing our commitment to delivering superior patient care. Notably, four of these operating rooms are designated as “hybrid spaces,” seamlessly integrating imaging technology into surgical procedures to enhance precision and efficiency.
“There’s no question: UNC Hospitals helps care for some of the sickest and most complex patients from across the state,” said Dr. Caprice Greenberg, Chair of the Department of Surgery in the UNC School of Medicine. “This new facility provides us with the most state-of-the-art equipment and technology available.
NC Children’s
The latest milestone in the development of the North Carolina Children’s Hospital was the announcement of the landmark facility’s location – Apex, NC. When complete, NC Children’s will bring approximately 8,000 jobs to Apex and Wake County, a 500-bed children’s hospital, a children’s outpatient care center, 103 children and adolescent behavioral health beds, and a research and education enterprise backed by the UNC and Duke schools of medicine.
Groundbreaking on the facility is anticipated in 2027 with construction expected to take approximately six years.
Total research funding
Samantha Meltzer-Brody, MD, MPH Executive Dean of the UNC School of Medicine
Research
Calendar year 2025 began with uncertainty for UNC School of Medicine researchers. Funding cuts and delays impacted several grants. But, in the face of these unexpected challenges, UNC School of Medicine faculty responded by working even harder, submitting 430 more grants in FY-25 than in the previous year. Faculty worked around the clock to condense what is usually months of work into just weeks. The result was a year-end total of $641 million. While that is slightly lower than the previous year’s total, the challenges overcome to reach that number make it an even more remarkable accomplishment.
“I am incredibly proud of our School of Medicine faculty for all that they have accomplished over the last year. In the face of tremendous uncertainty, our faculty doubled down, submitting 15% more proposals this year – often condensing a monthslong process into weeks,” said Samantha Meltzer-Brody, MD, MPH, Executive Dean of the UNC School of Medicine. “Because of their resilience, we closed the year at $641 million in federal research funding, which will translate into discoveries that advance science and accelerate development of innovative treatments to decrease suffering.”
Lineberger 50th
As we celebrate the research accomplishments of the last year, 2025 was also a time to celebrate decades of leadership in cancer research as the year marked UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center’s 50th anniversary as a National Cancer Institute–designated cancer center. The celebration was capped off with the annual UNC Lineberger Scientific Symposium. The strong attendance and energy were reflective of the occasion’s significance. Some 350 people attended in person and 200 joined virtually. Over a day and a half, the symposium featured 15 presentations around the theme: “Cancer Discovery and Application – The Road to Improved Patient Outcomes – A Symposium Celebrating UNC Lineberger’s 50 Years of Discovery.”
Robert Ferris, MD, PhD, UNC Lineberger’s executive director and chief of Oncology Clinical Services at UNC Health, said the symposium provides opportunities to forge collaborations, learn about new scientific advances, and hear how research is improving cancer care in North Carolina as well as on national and international levels.
“This year is particularly special because it marks UNC Lineberger’s 50th anniversary and pays tribute to our former director, Dr. Shelley Earp, who built such a culture of collaboration that we can celebrate in a truly meaningful way,” Ferris said.
