UnitedHealth Group announced on Apr. 16 a $3 million, four-year grant to the UNC Health Foundation to support the Robert A. Ingram Institute for Healthcare Access, aiming to address health workforce shortages in North Carolina.
The initiative comes as 74 of North Carolina’s 100 counties face a shortage of primary care providers and the state is projected to lack more than 12,000 nurses within seven years. These gaps are particularly acute in rural communities, where residents often experience limited access to care.
Since its launch in 2024, the Ingram Institute has worked on building a sustainable health workforce and expanding equitable access in underserved areas. Danielle Gray, executive vice president of External and Corporate Affairs at UnitedHealth Group, said: “This partnership is trying to answer a fundamental question facing the U.S. health system: How do we move from treating illness to building health — at scale — in places at risk of getting left behind?”
Workforce development is central to this effort due to an aging healthcare workforce and rising demand for services across nursing and behavioral health roles. “UnitedHealth Group is working alongside community colleges and leading partners like the Ingram Institute to expand training opportunities and strengthen the pipeline of nurses and other health professionals, particularly in underserved areas,” Gray said. “We know that when people can get the right care at the right time, it leads to better health for families and our communities. We’re hopeful that these partnerships will serve as shining examples of how local solutions make big improvements.”
The Ingram Institute’s programs include new experiential learning opportunities for students such as patient-facing roles traditionally filled by nurses or certified nursing assistants. Meg Zomorodi, PhD, RN, vice president of the Ingram Institute shared an example: “That first semester, a student named Neha responded to a patient emergency while working as a patient sitter,” Zomorodi said. “She hit the code blue button, checked for a pulse and performed CPR on a patient in an adjoining room who had collapsed.” The student performed CPR until emergency responders arrived; her actions saved a life.
Beyond supporting students entering healthcare careers, efforts are also focused on creating pathways for rural professionals seeking re-entry or skill development in healthcare fields. “Too often, talented students step off the path simply because they never saw health care as a possibility,” Zomorodi said. “By identifying these critical moments and creating interventions that keep students engaged, Ingram turns potential exit points into opportunities, ensuring more bright minds continue forward to serve our communities.”
Leaders say this partnership marks only one step toward healthier communities across North Carolina through sustained improvement over time.
