NCHA Welcomes Jessica Lewis as General Counsel

Raleigh, NC – July 27, 2023 – The North Carolina Healthcare Association (NCHA), a statewide trade association representing more than 130 health systems and hospitals, has named Jessica M. Lewis, BSN, JD, to the position of General Counsel. Lewis will be responsible for providing legal advice and support to the association and its subsidiaries, which include NCHA Strategic Partners and the charitable nonprofit North Carolina Healthcare Foundation.

“Jessica brings the right combination of skills and experience to direct the legal affairs of the association and to assist with our advocacy efforts. Drawing on her work history as an attorney representing and advising academic medical centers, hospitals, nursing homes and physician groups, she will bring valuable insights to the association on issues that matter to our members,” said Steve Lawler, the NCHA President and CEO.

Lewis comes to NCHA from UNC Health where she served as associate general counsel since 2012. In that role, she collaborated with compliance professionals, clinicians, ancillary support staff and executives to provide legal analyses and advice on matters involving health care operations, information privacy and security, medical staffs, physician arrangements and business transactions such as joint ventures. Before that, she worked as an associate attorney at Poyner Spruill LLP in Raleigh where she advised and represented hospitals, physician practices, long term care facilities, and other health care providers in matters involving regulatory compliance, facility and practitioner licensure, reimbursement and certificate of need litigation. She also worked as an associate attorney at two other law firms in Raleigh. During law school, she worked as a temporary research assistant in the Legislative Analysis Division of the North Carolina General Assembly.

A graduate of the University of North Carolina School of Law where she received her Juris Doctor, Lewis also earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Nursing. After graduating from nursing school, she served as a Nurse Corps Officer with the United States Army for several years, where she earned a critical care nursing specialty designation and achieved the rank of Captain.

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.