President & CEO
North Carolina Healthcare Association

Josh Dobson became president and CEO of the North Carolina Healthcare Association Nov. 12, 2024. The Association unites hospitals, health systems and care providers for healthier communities, advocating for sound public policies and collaborative partnerships to make high quality healthcare equitable and accessible for all.

With over 14 years of experience as a North Carolina elected leader, his career has included serving as a county commissioner, serving in the state House of Representatives, and serving as the state’s Commissioner of Labor, during which he also was a member of the Council of State. During his eight years serving in North Carolina General Assembly, Mr. Dobson represented the 85^th district covering Avery, McDowell and Mitchell counties located in the western part of the state. He also served as Chair of the House Appropriations Committee and Chair of the House Health Committee.

During his time in the state house, Mr. Dobson contributed to shaping healthcare legislation by helping to write and pass a law to protect healthcare worker safety by making violence against hospital employees a felony. He also worked across the aisle to enact changes to the state’s mental health law regarding involuntary commitment (IVC) of individuals in behavioral crises and contributed to landmark legislation expanding Medicaid to provide access to care and coverage for an additional 600,000 North Carolinians.

As president & CEO of the NCHA, he oversees the association’s work to represent its membership of more than 135 hospitals and health systems throughout the state. NCHA’s members include state hospitals, military and governmental treatment facilities, VA, primary care, inpatient and outpatient care, rehabilitative services, behavioral health care, and post-acute care.

His role with the association also includes overseeing the operations and staff of the NCHA Strategic Partners, a subsidiary helping healthcare providers access cost-effective products and services to respond to the changing healthcare landscape, and the North Carolina Healthcare Foundation, the charitable, non-profit innovative and programmatic arm of the association.

A North Carolina native, Mr. Dobson received his bachelor’s degree from Gardner-Webb University and a Master of Public Administration from Appalachian State University. He lives in Raleigh and Nebo with his wife Valerie and their daughter Kennedy.