UNC Asheville Hosts Lt. Gov. Rachel Hunt and Regional Leaders for 2026 WNC Health Policy Initiative Legislative Summit
R-L: Chancellor Kimberly van Noort, Dr. William Hathaway, Dr. Susan Mims, NCGA Sen. Ralph Hise. Photo credit: Emmanuel Figaro, UNCA
The University of North Carolina Asheville hosted the fourth annual WNC Health Policy Initiative Legislative Summit on Friday, March 13, featuring remarks from North Carolina Lt. Gov. Rachel Hunt. The summit included more than 100 healthcare, nonprofit, academic, and government leaders from across Western North Carolina to discuss the region’s evolving healthcare landscape. It highlighted UNC Asheville’s role as a regional leader committed to fostering collaboration and advancing solutions that benefit Western North Carolina.
The summit was organized by the WNC Health Policy Initiative of the NC Center for Health and Wellness at UNC Asheville, in partnership with the Mountain Area Health Education Center (MAHEC). Funded by Dogwood Health Trust, it focused on building rural health resilience, workforce sustainability, and policy challenges affecting the region.
Visit the 2026 WNC Health Policy Legislative Summit event page for event information, policy issue 1-pagers and other resources.
NC Lt. Governor Rachel Hunt addresses summit attendees. Photo credit: Emmanuel Figaro, UNCA
“When you have people from healthcare, universities, nonprofits and government all in the same room, that’s when real progress starts to happen,” said Lt. Gov. Hunt, in her welcoming remarks. “Access to care, workforce development, and community health systems are all part of building a state that’s prepared for the future.”
UNC Asheville Chancellor Kimberly van Noort opened the summit along with Dr. William Hathaway, CEO of MAHEC and Dr. Susan Mims, President and CEO of Dogwood Health Trust.
“When you invest in healthcare research capacity, you are investing in the economic vitality of every community in this region,” said Chancellor van Noort. “UNC Asheville’s Health Policy Research Consortium brings together institutions across Western North Carolina to generate the kind of evidence-based strategies that attract resources, inform policy, and drive measurable improvements in regional health outcomes and economic resilience.“
Laurie Stradley delivers the keynote address. Photo credit: Emmanuel Figaro, UNCA
The keynote address, “Transforming for Resilience: How Western North Carolina is Reimagining Rural Health,” was provided by Laurie Stradley, CEO of Impact Health, who highlighted innovative cross-sector partnerships and policy strategies advancing coordinated, prevention-focused care throughout the region.
A legislative and policy panel featured members of the North Carolina General Assembly and senior health leaders, including WNC Health Policy Initiative Expert-in-Residence Senator Ralph Hise; Representative Timothy Reeder; Senator Jim Burgin; Melanie Bush, Interim Deputy Secretary for the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services; Katherine Martin, Vice President of Health Affairs for the UNC System; and Josh Dobson, President and CEO of the North Carolina Healthcare Association.
Summit panelist Sen. Timothy Reeder speaks with summit attendees. Photo credit: Michaela Lumpert, Impact Health.
After the panel, breakout sessions connected attendees with health policy researchers from UNC Asheville, Appalachian State University, Western Carolina University, and the WNC Health Network to provide input on research priorities that will inform future policy development and address identified regional health needs.
