
CaroNova is an incubator that connects key people and organizations with promising innovations to accelerate necessary change. Our purpose is to align leaders across the Carolinas in pursuit of a better and more equitable system of care.
We’re here to instill a new approach to health innovation.
One that moves ideas further, faster, and creates lasting systems change.
We work alongside payors, providers, subject matter experts, community members and patients to find the smartest, most efficient way to scale and sustain ideas, and bring the vision of better health for everyone into reality.
To learn more about CaroNova, please visit our website at www.caronova.org.
CaroNova Program Areas
CaroNova primarily works in two distinct areas: Sustained Focus Areas and Accelerator Programs, which look for new opportunities for impact across both states. We also support existing Affiliate Programs which serve as an important conduit for input and ideas from people and communities most impacted by the issues CaroNova is trying to address.
Sustained Focus Areas
- Comprehensive Palliative Care for Serious Illness
- Youth Mental Health
Accelerator Programs
- Home Hospital Early Adopters
- Opioid Stewardship
Affiliate Programs
- AccessHealth of the Carolinas – AccessHealth of the Carolinas is comprised of 30 individual community-based networks of care across the North and South Carolina that provide access to coordinated primary and specialty healthcare services for low-income, uninsured residents.
- Healthy People, Healthy Carolinas – Healthy People, Healthy Carolinas is a community-based approach to addressing chronic health issues, such as unhealthy weight, diabetes, and heart disease.
NCHA Staff Contact

Julia Wacker, MSW, MSPH
Executive Director
CaroNova
919-677-4171
jwacker@ncha.org

LaPonda Edmondson, DrPH, MHS
Senior Director of Evaluation,
CaroNova
919-677-4125
ledmondson@ncha.org

Jai Kumar, MPH
Senior Director
Program Design
CaroNova
919-677-4157
jkumar@ncha.org

Madison Ward Willis, MPA
Program Manager
CaroNova
919-677-4136
mward@ncha.org

Jill Armbruster
Senior Director of Communications
CaroNova
803-479-1109
jarmbruster@NCHA.org
Click here to view CaroNova’s
full staff roster.