Skip to main content

Per the letter of intent, the organizations are committed to expanding the medical education program at New Hanover Regional Medical Center, including enhancing the long-standing pediatric program and other service lines as appropriate.


Winston-Salem & Chapel Hill, North Carolina (May 21 2020) ― Novant Health, UNC Health and UNC School of Medicine have signed a letter of intent to enhance medical education and clinical services at New Hanover Regional Medical Center (“NHRMC”), in the event the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners ultimately chooses to affiliate or form a joint venture with, or sell to Novant Health.

“I am pleased to ensure that the medical education that exists at NHRMC with the UNC School of Medicine and UNC Health can continue if Novant Health is selected to partner with NHRMC,” said Carl S. Armato, president and CEO for Novant Health. “Maintaining and expanding medical education at NHRMC will allow Novant Health to best serve the Wilmington community while continuing to build the pipeline of physician talent for North Carolina,” Armato added.

”We are pleased to form a partnership with Novant Health that would enhance our educational presence and allow us to train the next generation of physicians and promote economic development for the entire Wilmington region,” said Wesley Burks, M.D. , CEO of UNC Health and Dean of UNC School of Medicine. “Together, we will combine the best of teaching, research and clinical care to optimally serve the residents of southeastern North Carolina for decades to come.”

Per the letter of intent, the organizations are committed to expanding the medical education program at NHRMC, including enhancing the long-standing pediatric program and other service lines as appropriate. More details will be announced as the partnership is finalized.

About Novant Health
Novant Health is an integrated network of physician clinics, outpatient facilities and hospitals that delivers a seamless and convenient healthcare experience to communities in Virginia, North and South Carolina, and Georgia. The Novant Health network consists of more than 1,600 physicians and over 29,000 employees that provide care at nearly 700 locations, including 15 hospitals and hundreds of outpatient facilities and physician clinics. In 2020, Novant Health was the only healthcare system in North Carolina to be included on Forbes’ Best Employers for Diversity list. Diversity MBA Magazine has also ranked Novant Health third on its 2019 list of “Best Places for Women & Diverse Managers to Work.” Novant Health provided more than $993.2 million in community benefit, including financial assistance and services, in 2019. For more information, please visit our website at NovantHealth.org. You can also follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

About UNC Health

UNC Health is an integrated health care system owned by the state of North Carolina and based in Chapel Hill. UNC Health is committed to empowering health, not just health care. We are proactively focused on healthy-based, personalized care, changing people’s lives for the better.

UNC Health is comprised of UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill and UNC REX Healthcare in Raleigh, ranked consistently among the best medical centers and large community hospitals in the country; In addition, UNC Health has partnering hospitals in Hendersonville; Siler City; Clayton; Smithfield; Kinston; Goldsboro; Lenoir; Rocky Mount; Eden; and Jacksonville, in addition to UNC Physicians Network. For more information, please visit www.unchealth.org.

About UNC School of Medicine
The UNC School of Medicine (SOM) is North Carolina’s largest medical school, graduating approximately 190 new physicians each year. It is consistently ranked among the top medical schools in the US, including 1st overall for primary care by US News & World Report, and 5th for research among public universities. More than half of the school’s 1,700 faculty members serve as principal investigators on active research awards. Two UNC SOM faculty members have earned Nobel Prize awards.

MEDIA CONTACTS

Kati Everett
Novant Health
704-575-0378

Phil Bridges
UNC Health
919-457-6347