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Dr. Shakira Henderson has been announced as Vice President, Research Officer for UNC Health.  This newly created role will integrate the research efforts of UNC Health and UNC School of Medicine. 


Dr. Shakira Henderson has been announced as Vice President, Research Officer for UNC Health.  This newly created role will integrate the research efforts of UNC Health and UNC School of Medicine.  To that end, Dr. Henderson will have a joint reporting relationship to Dr. Ian Buchanan, UNC Health President, Ambulatory and Post Acute Care, and to Dr. Blossom Damania, School of Medicine Vice Dean for Research.  Dr. Henderson will begin her new role on Dec. 28.

Dr. Henderson comes to UNC Health from Vidant Health, where she has worked since 2015 and where she served in roles including Senior Systems Administrator for Research and Grants and Director of Nursing and Health Research.  She has also served as a faculty member at the Chamberlain College of Nursing, and as a research administrator and nurse scientist at Baptist Health in Miami, Florida.

She received her PhD from the University of Miami, her DNP and MSN from the University of South Alabama, and her MPH and MS from Barry University.

Dr. Henderson will have responsibility for, and integrate the activities of, the UNC Health Office of Research Support and Compliance, led by Diane Powers, and the SOM Clinical Research Support Office led by John Buse.  She will work closely with groups including the School of Medicine Office of Research and the Research Leadership Committee to develop a system-wide research strategy encompassing translational, basic and clinical research, aligned to “One UNC” system goals. She will also support efforts to further develop One UNC Health as a learning health system, where institutional data and experience are systematically integrated with external evidence in order to provide patients with higher quality, safer, more efficient care, and to provide co-workers a better place to work.

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Henderson and welcoming her to our One Great Team.