NCHF’s Shakeerah McCoy Named in Leadership North Carolina’s 33rd Class

Raleigh, NC – Shakeerah McCoy, MSN, RN, Director of Rural Health Innovation at the North Carolina Healthcare Foundation (NCHF), has been selected for the 2025-2026 class of Leadership North Carolina (LNC), the state’s premier leadership development program. 

Each year, through a rigorous selection process, LNC chooses a class of established and emerging leaders from across the state to participate in its acclaimed Core Program. LNC’s Class 33 is made up of top leaders from the government, business, nonprofit, and education sectors. 

Through the North Carolina Healthcare Foundation, McCoy leads the development and implementation of rural health programs that provide technical assistance to North Carolina’s critical access and rural hospitals. Her work is supported by the NC Office of Rural Health’s Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility (FLEX) and Small Rural Hospital Improvement (SHIP) grant programs, both essential to sustaining access to high-quality healthcare in the state’s rural communities.

With more than 19 years of nursing experience, McCoy earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree from Barton College and a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree with a Clinical Nurse Specialist concentration from East Carolina University. She is also a graduate of the North Carolina Rural Center’s Rural Economic Development Institute (REDI) and a 2023 National Rural Health Association Rural Health Fellow. 

Over the course of seven two-and-a-half day sessions, Class 33 participants will explore critical issues facing North Carolina through discussions with state leaders and experts, hands-on learning experiences, and field visits. LNC’s sessions focus on six key areas: economic development, education, environment, government, health and human services, and inclusive leadership. 

Through the program, McCoy and her peers will gain a deeper understanding of North Carolina’s strengths and challenges while developing strategies to empower their communities and drive progress across the state. LNC sessions are held around the state, highlighting the social, geographic, and economic diversity of North Carolina. 

To find out more about Leadership North Carolina, please visit: www.leadershipnc.org. 

About North Carolina Healthcare Foundation 

Established in 1964, the North Carolina Healthcare Foundation is the charitable non-profit, innovative and programmatic arm of the North Carolina Healthcare Association. The Foundation brings together diverse voices and perspectives to support community-based innovation and develop leading-edge programming to drive lasting change. Its goal is to power system-wide solutions, redefine the healthcare delivery system and improve the health and well-being of people in North Carolina and beyond. The Foundation works in concert with the Association to shape policy, inform the public and drive change. 

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