UNC Health Foundation, encompassing the UNC School of Medicine and UNC Hospitals, works to affect the future of health care at every level, from life-saving research to life-changing scholarships.
#ValuesSuperStars: Daya Watelski – The Joy In Her Heart Brings Light to All If you’ve met Daya Watelski, chances are that she has made an impression on you. It seems everyone she touches is thankful for the joy she brings … Continued
Earlier this month, the UNC School of Medicine Class of 2025 took the next step in its journey toward becoming our future healthcare professionals with the beginning of the fall semester. Despite the challenges of the pandemic, this class is … Continued
By Bobby Hundley, UNC Health Foundation Jenni Shafer, PhD, has dedicated her career to helping others. In addition to academic accomplishments that include earning her PhD from the UNC School of Medicine’s Division of Speech and Hearing Sciences and a … Continued
By Katie Nash, UNC Health Foundation Research evolves quickly and does not always follow a grand plan. For Aadra Bhatt, this flexibility led to finding her career passion. An assistant professor in UNC School of Medicine’s Division of Gastroenterology and … Continued
Six years ago, Beth Silverstein took charge of her destiny. After consulting with an interdisciplinary team from UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, the Charlotte resident decided to have a bilateral mastectomy on Feb. 3, 2015, and a Salpingo-oophorectomy to remove … Continued
UNC Children’s is ecstatic to be the selected charity benefitting from Gladwell Orthodontics’ Charity Café for the entire third quarter! From July-September, you can visit any of their three locations in the Triangle–Wake Forest, Raleigh and Downtown Raleigh–for a FREE … Continued
By Bobby Hundley, UNC Health Foundation Patti Brenton had an infectious personality. When it came time to create a slideshow of photos to celebrate Patti’s life earlier this year, the funeral director in charge found the task of culling the … Continued
Triangle area Chick-fil-A locations will be supporting UNC Children’s and other local children’s hospitals May 31 through June 5! Purchase Chocolate Chunk Cookies (6-count) at any of the following Greater Triangle area Chick-fil-A restaurants and Chick-fil-A will donate 25% of … Continued
For Debra Bynum, MD, her position as director of the Internal Medicine Residency Program at UNC School of Medicine is deeply personal. Originally hailing from Jacksonville, North Carolina, and being the first in her family to finish high school, lifelong … Continued
By Bobby Hundley, UNC Health Foundation Celia Mizelle has never experienced “normal” medical school. The first-year Lucius Blanchard Carolina Family Scholarship recipient from Chapel Hill came to the UNC School of Medicine last fall after spending a year working and … Continued
By Bobby Hundley, UNC Health Foundation Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, as increasing numbers of patients dealing with acute infections were being treated across the UNC Health system, doctors in the UNC School of Medicine’s Department of Physical Medicine and … Continued
By Katie Nash, UNC Health Foundation Thanks to the advocacy of a Carolina alumnus, UNC Health Foundation’s COVID-19 Response Fund has surpassed $2 million in gifts less than one year after its introduction. UnitedHealthcare has donated $50,000 to support UNC … Continued
UNC Health and the UNC School of Medicine are committed to health equity for all. In an effort to identify and address systemic disparities that have prevented equitable access to healthcare in the past, a number of new and existing … Continued
By Katie Nash, UNC Health Foundation Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, UNC Health and the UNC School of Medicine’s top physicians and researchers have worked tirelessly to find answers, notably through vaccine research and therapeutic development. While these discoveries have brought … Continued
By Claudis Polk, O’Rese Knight, Neva Howard and Beat Steiner We want to share with you an exciting and powerful innovation centered on social justice and aimed at narrowing persistent and severe health disparities in our state and in … Continued
By Bobby Hundley, UNC Health Foundation It was a happy coincidence in the midst of tragedy that brought Dr. Tracy Manuck and her team into the lives of Mike and Holly Overman. Born and raised in Virginia, the Overmans found … Continued
Blossom Damania, PhD, is Vice Dean for Research in the UNC School of Medicine and the Boshamer Distinguished Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology. How did the Moderna trials come to be at UNC Health? UNC School … Continued
By Bobby Hundley, UNC Health Foundation In the midst of a public health crisis centered around a virus that attacks the lungs, asthma continues to be of great concern to Stephen Tilley, MD, and his team. A life-long Tar Heel … Continued
If you ask Kelly Barris about her experience working as an outreach nurse during the COVID-19 pandemic, she’ll tell you it’s not as simple as just calling patients. On the morning of June 10, Barris was speaking with a COVID-positive … Continued
By Bobby Hundley, UNC Health Foundation The story of UNC Lineberger’s Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Cancer Program started with a single spark. A spark in the form of Sophie Steiner, a teen cancer patient who saw what others hadn’t … Continued
By Katie Nash, UNC Health Foundation “Healing doesn’t start with your hands in the clinic or your head in the classroom – it starts with your heart in the community.” Claudis Polk, Director of Scholastic Enrichment and Equity at UNC … Continued
For most of his life, Zachary Woodard was confined to a wheelchair and needed help with basic tasks. But that didn’t stop him from being active. He loved music and participating in dance parties. He loved being with his family … Continued
Diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia in 2016, 11-year-old Dylan Thomas fought for two years through bone marrow transplants, chemotherapy treatments and relapses before he succumbed to the disease in 2018. Before this courageous young man passed, he wanted his … Continued
UNC football head coach Mack Brown and his wife Sally hosted the 2020 Ladies Virtual Football Clinic online this August, raising more than $12,000 for the “Say Yes” fund, benefitting the North Carolina Children’s Hospital. Coach Brown spoke about … Continued
The UNC Children’s fundraising campaign for the UNC Hospital School’s reached its goal of raising more than $25,000 to purchase iPads and school project kits, which have become essential in continuing the school’s mission of educating patients during the pandemic. … Continued
Game Changers is back and better than ever! Game Changers is a virtual series of conversations with the expert physicians, researchers and faculty who make UNC Health a global leader in the fight to keep us all healthy and safe. … Continued
By Bobby Hundley Christian Lawrence, MD, is a difference maker. A former chief resident who now serves as a pediatric hospitalist at the UNC Medical Center, Lawrence spent his formative years as a doctor taking on a critical problem for … Continued
RALEIGH, CARY, WAKE FOREST, APEX, FUQUAY-VARINA, GOLDSBORO, FAYETTEVILLE, and WILMINGTON, NC – Papa Murphy’s Take ‘n’ Bake Pizza is asking pizza lovers to join them in raising money for a good cause to kick off a summer of giving. By … Continued
By Katie Nash, UNC Health Foundation For millions across the nation, summer means sunshine, cookouts and outdoor activities (from a safe distance, of course). However, increased time spent outdoors means potential exposure to bites from harmful insects such as ticks. … Continued
By Katie Nash, UNC Health Foundation While the coronavirus has been devastating for many North Carolinians, underserved communities across the state are feeling an outsized impact from the outbreak. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted disparities in access to care and … Continued
By Stephen Roney I was 10 hours into a 30-hour drive from Connecticut to San Antonio when my cell phone rang. It was Dr. David Gerber from UNC Health. “Stephen, I know you and your family have been through a … Continued
By Bobby Hundley, UNC Health Foundation As a clinical care and NICU night shift nurse at the UNC REX Women’s Center, Nicole Proctor has seen firsthand how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted her patients and their families. She’s also experienced … Continued
By Katie Nash, UNC Health Foundation With the countless disruptions and uncertainties brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, many UNC Health employees have gone above and beyond their job duties to ensure their colleagues are prepared and cared for during … Continued
By Bobby Hundley, UNC Health Foundation As officials across the UNC Health system began mobilizing to confront a potential outbreak of the novel coronavirus in late February and early March, one of the earliest changes to system policy was … Continued
Finding out that your unborn child might have birth defects is difficult for any expecting parent to hear. But that’s the situation Kristen Gavalier found herself in seven years ago, during a routine pre-natal test with her unborn daughter Tenley. … Continued
By Bobby Hundley Ian Ferguson has never lived a conventional life. The oldest of five children, Ferguson was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at the age of 15, well beyond the usual time frame for identifying the disease. Despite this potentially … Continued
By Katie Nash Each year, approximately 500,000 births involve mothers living in rural areas, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, maternity care units in rural hospitals across the United States are closing at unprecedented rates. These … Continued
An accomplished physician himself, UNC School of Medicine alumnus Dr. William Nebel knows a good doctor when he sees one. And he says Dr. Amy Shaheen, his internist of more than a decade, fits the bill as “what a real … Continued
On February 22, 2020, Dr. Paula Miller, UNC School of Medicine professor and director of the UNC Women’s Heart Program, will lead UNC’s sixth annual Women’s Heart Symposium. This free event provides hundreds of women with knowledge and resources designed … Continued
As the oldest student-run free health clinic in the United States, UNC School of Medicine’s Student Health Action Coalition (SHAC) exemplifies the great things that happen when students, faculty, and alumni come together to improve the health of the North … Continued
If one thing is clear from speaking with Steven Mozian’s parents and sister, it is that this son and brother made the most out of his short, 33-year life. Steven had a contagious laugh and a quick wit — two … Continued
On December 18, North Carolina First Lady Kristin Cooper and her daughter Natalie came to visit the NC Children’s Hospital. Patients and their families were thrilled to meet her and open presents. Being in the hospital during the holidays, even … Continued
On November 24th, Fly Guy Disc Golf sponsored a disc golf tournament that raised over $2,000 for the UNC Children’s NICU. 104 players showed up on a brisk morning to play and support the cause. Robert Leonard, an avid … Continued
On November 14, UNC Medicine held one of our largest events of the year to say “thank you” to our amazing supporters. As we enter the holiday season of gratitude, we are ever thankful for the philanthropic generosity from each … Continued
Tomma and Bob Hargraves started their UNC journey in 1996 as “parents of a Carolina boy.” It was that same Carolina boy, now a physician in Georgia, who sent Tomma back to UNC 10 years later when she was diagnosed … Continued
As director of the UNC Food Allergy Initiative and medical director of the UNC Allergy & Immunology Clinic, Dr. Edwin Kim treats children and adults living with a range of food allergies, and it is this hands-on work that informs … Continued
By Katie Nash Each November, men across the country grow out beards and mustaches for “Movember” to bring awareness to an issue not frequently receiving the attention it deserves: men’s health. Statistics show that men live an average of … Continued
Cynthia Powell, MD, Professor in the Division of Pediatric Genetics and Metabolism, has dedicated her career to the improvement and implementation of advanced newborn screenings to identify rare diseases. In the U.S., the term “rare disease” applies to treatable conditions … Continued
One in three Americans will develop diabetes in their lifetime. Or, UNC Diabetes Care Center founder and director John Buse puts it, “Anyone who is reading this article needs to look to the right and the left. One of those … Continued
Every year since 1963, UNC Hospitals Volunteer Association has sponsored a North Carolina High School Health Career Symposium in Carrington Hall, the School of Nursing. This year the focus was on Neonatology, the care of premature and ill infants. Over … Continued
10/14/2019 Thanks to a $25,000 grant from Prolacta Bioscience Foundation, the UNC Children’s NICU nurses are being provided more resources for breastfeeding mothers. On October 14th, a training session took place for our NICU nurses, funded by Prolacta Bioscience Foundation. … Continued
In February 2019, UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center profiled inspirational breast cancer survivor Anita McAllister here. In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, we caught up with Anita to chat about her continued journey as a survivor and … Continued
When Dr. Beat Steiner, Senior Associate Dean for Medical Student Education at the UNC School of Medicine, welcomed students to campus this summer, he set the tone for their upcoming year of medical education. Dr. Steiner welcomed the MS1s and … Continued
As a pain physician, Dr. Brooke Chidgey is on the front lines of North Carolina’s opioid crisis. She sees the addiction and misuse that have defined these prescription drugs. At the same time, she sees patients who rely on opioid … Continued
At UNC Medicine, we get many questions about who we are and what exactly it is that we do. Between UNC Medicine, UNC Hospitals, and UNC School of Medicine, we know that this jumble of brands can quickly become confusing. … Continued
In 2018 and 2019, UNC School of Medicine’s Dr. Ed Kernick received the highly distinguished “Professor Award” at graduation. This award, selected by the senior class, is given in recognition of a faculty member who, by his or her willingness, understanding … Continued
Bill and Nancy Graham of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, have donated $1 million to support breast cancer research and care at UNC Lineberger. The Grahams established the Bill and Nancy Graham Breast Cancer Research Fund to provide the cancer center’s … Continued
One of the first things you notice when meeting Dr. Deanna Sasaki-Adams is that she cares deeply about her patients. Her face lights up when she talks about aneurysm patients like Kaylan King, the young patient for whom she secured … Continued
Listening to Samantha “Sam” Giugliano Robin and Dr. Ted Kerner talk with one another, you would think they have known each other for the better part of a decade. In fact, they met less than three years ago, when Sam received … Continued
Twelve hours after Jenna’s daughter was born, she learned her husband had a job opportunity that would move their family from Minnesota to Raleigh. Another 12 hours later, their daughter Colette did not pass her hearing test. The physicians said … Continued
This is Ethan. He’s 19. About four and a half years ago, he was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. He spent over 100 nights on the fifth floor of the NC Children’s Hospital before his leukemia went into remission. He … Continued
Less than a week before their wedding, Dustin Riedesel and his fiancée Katie were debating whether they should cancel. Riedesel had just been diagnosed at UNC Medical Center with a rare form of blood cancer called acute promyelocytic leukemia. At … Continued
UNC is internationally known for its research on sports-related concussions, led by Dr. Kevin Guskiewicz, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, and Dr. Jason Mihalik, Associate Professor of Athletic Training. However, the way this research has influenced hands-on … Continued
Michael Herce, MD, MPH, MSc, is focused on reducing mother-to-child transmission of HIV and is working toward a vaccine for the disease. Dr. Herce has lived in Zambia with his family for four years and has worked in both Zambia … Continued
Sometimes the little things define patient care. For Angie King, the care her daughter Kaylan received at UNC Children’s is defined by a late-night spaghetti delivery, special birthday decorations, and meeting Harry Styles. Ten-year-old Kaylan King had performed in her … Continued
Those who have undergone cancer treatments know that treatments come with difficult side effects, most notably fatigue. For some, side effects extend to pain, loss of muscle mass, loss of strength, depression, nausea and shortness of breath. UNC’s Get Real … Continued
When Dr. Todd Cohen came to UNC in 2014, he was determined to understand what causes our brains to transform when we turn 40 or 50 years old. In just five years, he has built a lab that is paving … Continued
Commitment to patient care goes well beyond the clinic walls for Dr. Colin Orr and Dr. Christian Lawrence. Their passion to make a difference for the children and families they serve, and the staggering reality that many of these families … Continued
As is the case with each of her trips to Malawi, Dr. Carolyn Quinsey, Assistant Professor of Pediatric Neurosurgery at the School of Medicine, returned to Chapel Hill from her third visit to the African nation with a renewed appreciation … Continued
“Why should I care?” With so many people in need all around us, people in our own communities, people across our state and our nation, it can be difficult to look past our immediate surroundings. The Institute for Global Health … Continued
Neurological oncologist Simon Khagi, MD, thanks participants at the annual Head for the Cure 5k and discusses the far-reaching effects of brain cancer and the importance of raising critical funding for research. For more information on how to support … Continued
When Dr. Julie Byerley, Vice Dean for Education, saw how hard Hurricane Florence hit Wilmington, North Carolina, she immediately thought of the students and faculty at UNC School of Medicine’s branch campus at New Hanover Regional Medical Center (NHRMC). She … Continued
Groesbeck Parham, MD, discusses his work in Zambia with gynecological oncology and increasing women’s access to cervical cancer screening and treatment, as well as elevating women to alleviate poverty. For more information on how to support our global … Continued
Aaron Mitchell, MD, demonstrated that physicians who received payments from pharmaceutical companies for meals, talks, and travel were more likely to prescribe these companies’ drugs for two types of cancer. Kate Westmoreland, MD, spent a year in Malawi, Africa researching … Continued
Mary Cress’s eldest son, David Richards, always had a penchant for science. She fondly remembers Dave returning home from a fourth grade science lesson to tell her with wonder that scientists had isolated DNA molecules and, a few years later, … Continued
UNC’s Medical Education Development (MED) program provides underserved and underrepresented students with an avenue to explore their interest in applying for medical or dental school. The students supported by this program may not otherwise pursue a career in medicine, filling … Continued
Imagine knowing that your infant is on the autism spectrum before they could even sit-up on their own. The researchers at the UNC Autism Research Center are doing just that. It’s been long understood that children with autism spectrum disorder … Continued
Drs. Daniel and Kathleen “Katchy” Clarke-Pearson speak with tenderness and humor towards each other, yet remain modest when discussing their noteworthy accomplishments. This engaging pair have always been true partners—supporting one another’s careers in obstetrics and gynecology, and pediatrics, respectively, … Continued
