• Equity of Care
  • Workforce

Diverse Healthcare Leaders Mentorship Program

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.

Our Program

The robust 9-month long Diverse Healthcare Leaders Mentorship Program consists of four components: 

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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. 
  4. Capstone Project – The group capstone serves as the culmination of the mentorship journey focused on fostering health equity. With the objective of addressing the prevalent disparities in healthcare leadership, this capstone project aims not only to expand participants’ knowledge but to catalyze actionable insights for the broader healthcare community in the state.
Program Goals
  • 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.
Apply to Be a Mentor

Applications for the 2025 cohort have closed. Applications for 2026 will open in Summer 2025.

Duration of Commitment

  • February 2025 – October 2025
  • 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.
Apply to Be a Mentee

Applications for the 2025 cohort have closed. Applications for 2026 will open in Summer 2025.

Duration of Commitment

  • February 2025 – October 2025
  • 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).
Application and Selection Process

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 December 2024.

Orientation & Program Kick-off Events

A Mentee Roundtable will be held in December 2024 (virtual).

Orientation will be held in late January 2025 (in-person).

Current Class of Mentors/Mentees

2024 COHORT

MENTORS
  • Kalin Griffin Bostwick, VP, Inclusion and Pipeline Programs, Novant Health
  • Alicia Campbell, Facility Executive, Advocate Health Pineville 
  • Greg Gombar, Retired Executive Vice President, CFO, Atrium Health 
  • Mark Gordon, President, Alamance Regional Medical Center, and SVP, Cone Health 
  • John Green, President & CEO, Iredell Health System 
  • Chere Gregory, SVP, Chief Health Equity Officer, Novant Health
  • 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, Advocate Health 
  • Catherine Mohr, Chief Nursing Officer, Dosher Memorial Hospital 
  • Chris Munton, CEO, Wilson Medical Center, a Duke LifePoint Hospital 
  • Jeetu Nanda, Chief Medical Information Officer, SVP, Cone Health Network 
  • Jakki Opollo, Vice President, Talent Initiatives; Regional Chief Diversity Officer, Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist 
  • Tameka Peterson, Vice President, Chief Provider Experience Officer, Novant Health 
  • Adia Ross, Chief Medical Officer, Duke Regional Hospital 
  • Tri Tang, Facility Executive, Atrium Health Lincoln 
  • James H. Taylor, Retired CEO, University of Louisville Medical Center 
  • Amanze Ugoji, CEO, Washington Regional Medical Center 
  • Chuck Wallington, EVP & Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, Cone Health 
  • Roxie Wells, SVP; Chief Physician Executive and Strategy Officer, Novant Health, Coastal Market 
  • Brian Wofford, Vice President, Operations, Atrium Health – North Area 
MENTEES
  • Fatma AbdelSalam, PHCO Program Manager III, Centene 
  • Jonathan Barrett, Practice Manager III, UNC Health 
  • Britney Brown, Project & Program Coordinator, Advocate Health 
  • Rowena Cassim-Sims, Strategic Human Resource Business Partner, Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist
  • NaTonya Daniels, Nurse Manager, Advocate Health 
  • Dana Driver, Learning and Education Specialist, Novant Health 
  • Charmaine Duckie, Clinical Nurse Manager, Duke Primary Care 
  • Kwesi Etsiwa Mensah, Security Manager, North and East Market, Cone Health 
  • Marianne Fletcher, Inclusion & Pipeline Programs Sr. Specialist, Novant Health 
  • Morgan Gravley, Pharmacist, UNC Health, WakeMed Health 
  • Dwan Kelsey, Associate Director of Education, Transitions LifeCare 
  • Kaylyn Locklear, Benefits & Wellness Manager, Scotland Health Care System 
  • Timmie Locklear, Lead Residency Coordinator, UNC Health Southeastern 
  • Lakeshea Love, Pharmacy Manager, UNC Health Southeastern 
  • Diandrea McCotter, Inpatient Director of Rehabilitation Services, Duke Health 
  • Doug McGhee, Administrative Director of Support Services, Duke University Hospital 
  • Sydney Nelson, Director, Supplier Diversity, Advocate Health 
  • Shenevia Patterson, Director, System Medical Staff Operations, Novant Health 
  • Aravindan Rajasekaran, Engineering Manager, UNC Health Wayne 
  • Annanora Short, Divisional Lead Social Worker, Davita 
  • Vani Sistla, Manager, Quality & Safety, Duke Children’s Hospital 
  • Shaniqua Wade, Enterprise Privacy Manager, Advocate Health 
  • Yazmahn Wall, Practice Manager II, Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist 
  • Qua’Tavia White, Community Health Prevention Coordinator, ECU Health 
  • Leo Williams, Executive Assistant, HCA: Mission Health 
Program Alumni

2023 COHORT

  • 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/Administrative Fellowship Manager, ECU Health 
  • Kimberly Carter, Quality Nurse Specialist III, ECU Health 
  • Amanda Eley, Nurse Manager, Operation, Duke Raleigh Cancer Center 
  • Candice Faison, Lead, Revenue Cycle Management, Aledade, Inc. 
  • 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, Cone Health MedCenter High Point 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, Spine Division Administrator, Duke University Health System 
  • 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 – Ambulatory Care Operations, Duke University Health System 
  • 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, Head of Pharmacy, NC Department of Corrections 

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)

Donate Now to Support Our Mentorship Program

The North Carolina Healthcare Foundation is committed to building a pipeline of underrepresented individuals into healthcare leadership roles through the Diverse Healthcare Leaders Mentorship Program. We are currently engaged in a 5-year campaign to raise $300,000 to support the expansion and sustainability of the program.

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