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Gov. Josh Stein spotlights health care partnership in Henderson County

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Blue Ridge Community College President Laura Leatherwood shakes hands with Gov. Josh Stein. Photo courtesy of Blue Ridge Community College

Gov. Josh Stein visited West Henderson High School last week to highlight the local school district’s new health care workforce program, according to an Aug. 20 press release from his office.

The Healthcare Fellows program pairs participating students with a sponsoring hospital, which fully funds their attendance at Blue Ridge Community College. After graduation, fellows kick off their health care careers with their respective hospital. 

“North Carolina has the eighth-worst nursing shortage in the nation, and rural communities don’t have enough access to primary care, behavioral health, and dental services,” Stein said in the release. “After Hurricane Helene, it is inspiring to see how public schools, community colleges, and employers are coming together to innovate and create new opportunities for students.”

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The new program is a partnership between Henderson County Public Schools, Blue Ridge Community College, and AdventHealth Hendersonville and UNC Health Pardee — the two sponsoring hospitals. The partnership is designed to remove financial barriers, provide mentorship and hands-on experience, and retain talented health care professionals in the region, according to a press release from Blue Ridge Community College.

Each fellow will receive full funding for tuition, books, and required materials at Blue Ridge, the release said, funded by one of the sponsoring hospitals.

“This program is about more than access. It’s about alignment. We’re aligning our students’ passions with purposeful education and the real needs of our local healthcare system,” said Mark R. Garrett, superintendent of Henderson County Public Schools, in the press release. “It’s also a shining example of how strong public school systems, in partnership with community institutions, can work together to create meaningful, life-changing opportunities for students.”

Gov. Josh Stein speaks with Graham Fields, assistant to the president at AdventHealth Hendersonville, and Mark R. Garrett, superintendent of Henderson County Public Schools. Photo courtesy of Blue Ridge Community College

The inaugural cohort features nine recent graduates from East Henderson, Hendersonville, North Henderson, and West Henderson high schools, according to the college’s press release. The fellows include:

  • Gracie Ballinger, West Henderson High School — UNC Health Pardee
  • Keilah Camp, East Henderson High School — AdventHealth Hendersonville
  • Miranda Escalera, North Henderson High School — UNC Health Pardee
  • Lucia Correa Sena, North Henderson High School — AdventHealth Hendersonville
  • Brian Gomez Chavez, North Henderson High School — UNC Health Pardee
  • Addison Ducker, Hendersonville High School — AdventHealth Hendersonville
  • Sofia Sanchez, West Henderson High School — UNC Health Pardee
  • Leah Jones, North Henderson High School — AdventHealth Hendersonville
  • Jenna Logan, East Henderson High School — AdventHealth Hendersonville

“We are tremendously proud to celebrate the inaugural Healthcare Fellows as they graduate from Henderson County Public Schools and take their next steps at Blue Ridge Community College,” said Blue Ridge’s president, Dr. Laura Leatherwood. “Thanks to the incredible support from UNC Health Pardee and AdventHealth Hendersonville, these students are beginning clear and guided paths toward meaningful careers in healthcare — right here in their own community.”

Photos from Gov. Josh Stein’s visit to West Henderson High School. Kimbrell Arrowood/Henderson County Public Schools

In addition to financial support, participating students also receive academic and clinical mentorship while they complete dual enrollment coursework. 

“We are excited to support these fellows in their education, mentor their growth and welcome them into a mission of providing whole-person care — body, mind and spirit — that’s bigger than any one of us,” said Abby Gutch, assistant chief nursing officer for AdventHealth Hendersonville. “This program is a powerful reflection of what can happen when a community comes together with purpose and heart.”

During his visit to the high school, Stein called on the General Assembly to pass a full budget that addresses North Carolina’s health care workforce shortage and Hurricane Helene recovery.

After his visit to West Henderson High School, he attended a Land of Sky Regional Council’s event, where he reiterated this message to legislators.

“In the wake of Hurricane Helene, local governments and community members sprang into action to rescue those in danger and support homeowners and small business owners to get their lives back on track,” Stein said. “As we continue the ongoing work of rebuilding, Congress and the administration need to get to work to deliver much needed dollars to western North Carolina.”