Raleigh, NC – July 24, 2024 – The North Carolina Healthcare Association (NCHA), a statewide trade association representing more than 130 health systems and hospitals, has named Doug Heron to the position of senior vice president of advocacy and policy. Heron will lead the Association’s government relations, policy development and advocacy communications efforts in Raleigh and in Washington, DC.
“Doug brings a wealth of experience and a strong reputation in the advocacy, policy, and government relations space. His dedication to advancing healthcare policy and fostering positive relationships with all will greatly benefit our association and enhance our efforts to advocate for healthcare improvements in North Carolina,” said Steve Lawler, the NCHA President and CEO.
Heron comes to NCHA from Duke University and Duke Health in Durham where he has had multiple government relations roles since 2012, most recently serving as associate vice president of Duke State Relations where he advised and provided strategic guidance to Duke leadership on the implications of legislation and regulations. In that role, he played an integral role in the development of compromise legislation to enact Medicaid expansion in NC (600,000 newly-insured) and enhanced Medicaid reimbursements through the Healthcare Access and Stabilization Program; secured a $17M direct appropriation for vaccine research at Duke; initiated and led a coalition that lobbied for enactment of broad liability protections for employers, providers, and institutions of higher education during the COVID emergency; and drafted and lobbied for legislation that provided for the restoration of health care services and re-opening of a hospital in an underserved community.
Before that, he was a partner in Williams Mullen where he helped lead the N.C. government relations practice representing clients on government relations, campaign finance, compliance, electioneering, higher education, ethics, healthcare, procurement, tax, and more in NC and in Washington, D.C. He also worked as director of government relations and legislative counsel for the North Carolina Bar Association and as assistant director of government relations with Greenberg Traurig in Washington, DC.
Heron has an undergraduate degree from James Madison University and a law degree from Penn State University. He served as a Captain in the United States Army Reserve in the Judge Advocate General Corps from 2010-2019.
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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