The 2025 Stephen J. Lawler Leadership in Healthcare Scholarship Awards Funds to Three Recipients
July 22, 2025 — The Stephen J. Lawler Leadership in Healthcare Scholarship, established in honor of Steve Lawler, the North Carolina Healthcare Association’s (NCHA) CEO Emeritus, recognizes his outstanding contributions and unwavering dedication to improving the health of North Carolina communities. This annual scholarship is designed to support aspiring healthcare leaders who demonstrate a passion for driving positive change in the healthcare field.
This year, the $5,000 award was split between three deserving individuals working in healthcare in North Carolina. The winners were formally announced during NCHA’s Summer Meeting in Asheville, NC on July 18. The 2025 award recipients are:
- Lesley Chao is an Emergency Department Technician at WakeMed. She is also attending Campbell University, to earn her Master of Science in Public Health and Master of Physician Assistant Practice through their dual program. Lesley holds a Master of Physiology from North Carolina State University and a bachelor’s degree in biology and music from the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill.
- Gillian Agyemang is a Public Health Epidemiologist at HCA Healthcare. She collaborates with 18 county health departments and various partners to monitor and address communicable disease trends. Gillian holds a Master of Public Health from Benedictine University and a bachelor’s degree in clinical laboratory science from Virginia Commonwealth University. She is also a current mentee in the North Carolina Healthcare Foundation (NCHF) Diverse Healthcare Leaders Mentorship Program. Rooted in her love for people and purpose-driven work, Gillian is deeply passionate about bridging the gap between healthcare systems and the communities they serve.
- Dennis Mitchell is an Analytical Solutions Manager with Enterprise Analytics and Data Services at UNC Health, where he oversees the design and development of strategic performance measurement data solutions. He previously served as a mentee in the 2022 class of the NCHF Diverse Healthcare Leaders Mentorship Program. Dennis plans to use the scholarship funds to continue pursuing his Master of Applied Data Sciences at UNC Chapel Hill. He wants to develop groundbreaking solutions to revolutionize healthcare delivery with the assistance of artificial intelligence and advanced analytics. Dennis holds a Master of Business Administration from Liberty University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from East Carolina University.
NCHA is proud to support individuals working in healthcare across the state. For more information about the scholarship, visit our website. The 2026 scholarship application will open early next year. We encourage all current healthcare workers and students pursuing careers in healthcare to apply.
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About NCHA
Founded in 1918, North Carolina Healthcare Association (NCHA) is the united voice of the North Carolina healthcare community. Representing more than 130 hospitals, health systems, physician groups and other healthcare organizations, NCHA works with our members to improve the health of North Carolina communities by advocating for sound public policies and collaborative partnerships and by providing insights, services, support, and education to expand access to high quality, efficient, affordable, and integrated health care for all North Carolinians.
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