Growing A New Generation of Diverse Leaders
As North Carolina demographics continue to shift, hospitals and health systems are increasingly focused on becoming more reflective of the patients and communities they serve.
Having a diverse workplace is one of the greatest assets of any organization to improving employee morale and promoting retention – both of which are critical to combatting growing healthcare workforce shortages.
Encouraging diversity in the workplace facilitates different perspectives that generate an abundance of distinct ideas and accelerates innovation for complex problems.
NCHA is committed to building a diverse pipeline of underrepresented individuals into healthcare leaders that will shape and transform health in NC. In 2019, we launched the Diverse Healthcare Leaders Mentorship Program to connect leaders who are willing to share their knowledge and experience to high-achieving professionals from underrepresented communities.
Underrepresented professionals will apply to participate in NCHA-facilitated events that offer inspiring educational opportunities, networking with industry leaders, and one-on-one coaching with a mentor who will serve as a professional ally in career development and advancement.
Click here to see what some of our mentees have shared about their experience in the program.
The robust 9-month long Diverse Healthcare Leaders Mentorship Program consists of three components:
- One-on-One mentoring – Mentors and mentees meet for at least one hour each month while also engaging in regular communication via phone, email, in-person meetings, etc. Mentees and mentors are encouraged to schedule in-person meetings to gain the most out of the program.
- Mentoring Circles – Mentees meet with peers for one hour each month in mentoring circles to learn and share experiences. Mentors meet twice for one-hour with their peers throughout the program.
- Learning and networking opportunities – A monthly Leadership Series featuring diverse leaders from across the healthcare spectrum to address a range of topics. Mentees attend NCHA’s Winter and Summer Membership meetings where they are afforded an opportunity to network with healthcare executives. Mentees also have access to NCHA’s educational webinars and conferences.
- Support the development of a diverse pipeline of new leaders for the field.
- Model a framework for professional growth and development.
- Emphasize the importance of diversity and inclusion.
- Encourage learning and the exchange of information and ideas.
- Address challenges that exist in recruitment and promotion for executive-level positions.
- Create a safe space to gain confidence in areas such as financial management, staff coaching, leadership development, and negotiating skills.
Mentor Application Process
Applications for the 2024 cohort are now **OPEN**
Applications are due by August 31.
- Submit Online Mentor Application
- Attach CV/résumé
- Attach Personal Statement (less than 500 words)
Criteria / Eligibility Qualifications
- Must be C-Suite Level Executive or equivalent
- Current healthcare professional with at least 10 years of working experience
- Documented executive-level leadership experience of no fewer than 4 years.
- A champion for diversity and inclusion.
Duration of Commitment
- February 2024 – September 2024
- Meet with your mentee(s) for at least one hour monthly (in-person meetings are encouraged).
- Attend two, one-hour meetings with other mentors in the program.
- Commit to identifying opportunities for connections for your mentee(s) through at least two formal introductions and advocating for your mentee(s) to health system executives.
Mentee Application Process
Applications for the 2024 cohort are now **OPEN**
Applications are due by September 30.
- Submit Online Mentee Application
- Attach CV/résumé
- Attach Personal Statement (less than 500 words)
- Attach 1 Letter of Recommendation
Criteria / Eligibility Qualifications
- Self-identified member of a racially or ethnically minority population deemed as underrepresented in healthcare leadership roles.
- Possess at least seven years of work experience, including at least four years in health care; managerial experience; and a professional goal to be a health care executive.
- Middle managers who have been identified for their high potential to be senior leaders.
Duration of Commitment
- February 2024 – September 2024
- Commit to an investment of time
- Meet with your mentor for at least one hour monthly (in-person meetings are encouraged).
- Meet with your peers for at least one hour each month in mentoring circles.
- Attend Leadership Series Lunch & Learn every 2nd Thursday of each month– 45-minute sessions (virtual).
How matches are made
Mentees identify three goals they want to achieve through the course of the year.
Mentors are matched with mentees based on how well their strengths align with the needs of the mentees.
The program seeks to match people who are from similar organizations based on size, agency type, incorporation, or other factors such as mentees’ interest.
Mentor-Mentee Pairing Notification
Participants will be notified of who they are paired with in November 2023.
Orientation & Program Kick-off Events
Participants will attend an Intro to NCHA session in November 2023 (virtual).
A Mentee Roundtable will be held in November 2023 (virtual).
Orientation will be held in late January 2024 (in-person).
2023 Cohort
MENTORS
- Kalin Griffin Bostwick, VP, Inclusion and Engagement, Novant Health
- Daphne Brewington, PhD, RN, Senior Vice President, Nurse Executive, ECU Health
- Fred T. Brown Jr., Retired Chief Executive Officer, Atrium Health WF Baptist
- Frank Emory Jr., EVP and Chief Administrative Officer, Novant Health
- Greg Gombar, Retired Executive Vice President, CFO, Atrium Health
- Mark Gordon, President, Alamance Regional Medical Center, and SVP, Cone Health
- Crystal Hayden, DNP, RN, Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Nursing Officer, Nash UNC Health Care
- Christine Khandelwal, DO, Vice Chair of Medicine, Wake Med Hospital
- Steve Lawler, President & CEO, NCHA
- William Spencer Lilly, Retired Former President, Carolinas Medical Center and Central Division, Atrium Health
- Brian Middleton, Vice President, Musculoskeletal Institute, Atrium Health
- Catherine Mohr, DNP, RN, Chief Nursing Officer, Dosher Memorial Hospital
- Tameka O’Neal, Vice President, Chief Provider Experience Officer, Novant Health
- Robert (Bob) Singletary, Interim CEO, Rutherford Regional Hospital and Person Memorial Hospital
- Tri Tang, Vice President of Administration, Atrium Health
- Amanze Ugoji, MD, CEO, Washington Regional Medical Center
- Chuck Wallington, EVP and Chief Marketing & Communications Officer, Cone Health
- Phyllis A. Wingate, Retired Senior Vice President/President, Carolina Health System Northeast
- Charlene Wilson, Chief People Officer, ECU Health
Mentees
- Irene Bolis, Business Operations Manager, Atrium Health
- Kevin Briggs, Administrator-Laboratory & Respiratory Care Services, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Health Equity, Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center
- Carlton Brunson, Assistant Director, Human Resources, Duke University Health System
- Dolapo Busuyi, Digital Content Specialist/Fellowship Program Manager, ECU Health
- Kimberly Carter, Quality Nurse Specialist III, ECU Health
- Seth Csan, Strategy Execution Manager, Novant Health
- Amanda Eley, Nurse Manager, Operation, Duke Raleigh Cancer Center
- Candice Faison, Revenue Manager, Duke University Medical Center
- Melissa Fennell, Project Manager, Atrium Health
- Douglas Fisher, Director of Pharmacy, Atrium Health
- Morgan Jones, Manager, Patient Experience, UNC Health Southeastern
- Evette Law, Director, Emergency Department, MedCenter HighPoint and Greensboro Drawbridge
- Bridgett Luckey, Director, Community Hospital Grants and Outreach, ECU Health
- Kris-Shae McCall, Assistant Director, Enterprise Health Information Management, Novant Health
- Delores McNair, Administrative Manager, Duke University
- George Monjimbo, Business Operations Program Manager, Novant Health
- Crystal Redfern, Director of Clinical Improvement, Novant Health
- Cassiopeia Reid, Director, Talent Insights, Novant Health
- Stefanie Resillez, Administrative Director, Duke University Hospital
- Derrick Rodgers, Manager Learning Systems and Technology, Novant Health
- Vernita Kaye Rouse, Health Equity Manager, ECU Health
- Jennifer Williams, Clinical Nurse Manager Operation, Duke University Hospital
- Tramaine Young, Inpatient Pharmacy Coordinator (Supervisor) – Pharmacist, UNC REX Healthcare
2022 Cohort
- Jasmine Ballard of Charlotte, Administrative Director at Atrium Health
- Ramona Basnight of Durham, Clinical Operations Director at Duke University Hospital
- Euniqua Bullock of Chapel Hill, Patient Services Manager at UNC Hospitals
- Liening (Earl) Chen of Laurinburg, Strategic Analyst at Scotland Healthcare
- Marissa Garcia of Charlotte, Strategy Execution Manager at Novant Health
- Alexa Jones of Charlotte, Project Manager at Atrium Health
- Swapna Joseph, MD of Durham, Hospitalist Physician at Duke Raleigh Hospital
- Rosalynne Lopez of Greensboro, Manager at Cone Health
- Colby Marks of Greensboro, Practice Administrator at Cone Health
- Koai Martin of Greenville, Administrative Fellow at Vidant Health
- Dennis Mitchell of Chapel Hill, Analytical Solutions Manager at UNC Health
- Dana Peebles of Durham, Assistant Director at Duke Raleigh Hospital
- Antonio Peterkin of Fayetteville, Clinic Supervisor at Cape Fear Valley
- Candace Ramirez of Durham, Administrative Director at Duke University Hospital
- Ylenia Sharif of Chapel Hill, System Manager at UNC Health
- Jonathan Young of Chapel Hill, Administrative Supervisor at UNC Health
2021 Cohort
- Christopher Bridgeman of Laurinburg, Director of Nutrition at Scotland Memorial Hospital
- Turkeisha Brown of Chapel Hill, Patient Services Manager III/Nurse Manager at UNC Medical Center
- Alexandra Collins of Chapel Hill, Strategy Consultant at UNC Health
- Alvin D’Angelo of Atlanta, Vice President of Operations at Emory Healthcare
- William English of Durham, Administrative Manager at Duke Health
- KaSheta Jackson, DNP of Greenville, Nursing Executive Fellow at Vidant Health
- Sonia Kaul of Durham, Manager of Patient Revenue at Duke University Health System
- Stephen Logan of Greensboro, Administrative Fellow at Duke Health
- Jennifer Mack of Durham, Clinical Nurse IV at UNC Health
- Diane Mitchell of Raleigh, Director of Operations Administration at Duke Raleigh Hospital
- Nadia Pasha, MD of Raleigh, Associate Medical Director at Duke Raleigh Hospital Medicine
- Ram Rimal of Chapel Hill, Manager of Data Science Engineering at UNC Health
- Michael Smith of Charlotte, Senior Manager, Ambulatory Services at Atrium Health Levine Cancer Institute in Pineville
- Deborah Wang of Chapel Hill, System Manager, Strategic Planning at UNC Health
2020 Cohort
- Alicia Barfield, Manager, Duke Health Strategic Planning (Duke Raleigh Hospital)
- Geard Fossett, Corporate Financial Analyst, (Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center)
- Candace Gaillard, Diabetes Program Manager (Novant Health)
- Cinthya Garcia White, Quality Improvement Facilitator (Cone Health)
- Garland F. Goins, Jr., Director – Revenue & Documentation Integrity (Duke University Health System)
- Katherine Jordan, Assistant Director – Human Resources (Duke University Hospital: Private Diagnostic Clinic)
- LeVelton Thomas, Program Director, Operations & Management Services (Duke Health)
NCHA Staff Contact
LaPonda Edmondson, DrPH, MHS
Vice President
NC Healthcare Foundation
ledmondson@ncha.org
