Eleven State Elected Officials Have Completed the Four-Day Program, Joining an Alumni Cohort Covering 24 Senate and 38 House Districts
On April 27, 2026, the North Carolina Institute of Medicine (NCIOM) recognized 11 state elected officials who graduated from its 2026 Legislative Health Policy Fellows Program.
The legislators who participated in the program, which covered topics including Medicaid funding, health across the lifespan, and policy considerations during periods of health system change, are:
“The Legislative Health Policy Fellows program provides an opportunity for our state’s elected officials to learn alongside one another in a nonpartisan setting,” said Michelle Ries, president and CEO of the NCIOM. “I’m excited to see this fifth cohort join their fellow alumni to use their deeper understanding of the health issues facing our state to improve North Carolinians’ health and well-being.”
From January through April 2026, the state senators and representatives had the opportunity to participate in four full-day program sessions. During these sessions, speakers and panelists discussed health policy issues affecting North Carolina.
Among them was Erin Fraher, deputy director for policy and director of the program on health workforce research and policy at the UNC Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research. She spoke on a panel about the health care workforce, as nursing and other professional shortages continue in North Carolina and across the country.
NC Medicaid has recently been a focal point for state lawmakers following the new federal budget passed in 2025. Outgoing Deputy Secretary Jay Ludlam joined the fellows to discuss the potential impacts on North Carolina as provisions of the law are implemented between 2025 and 2029.
Betsey Tilson, executive director of Nurture NC and former North Carolina State Health Director and Chief Medical Officer, participated in a panel conversation about maternal, infant, and child health. According to the latest March of Dimes Report Card for North Carolina, the state has seen worsening indicators for infant mortality, prenatal care access, and maternal mortality. Panelists spoke about causes of maternal and infant mortality, gaps in care and insurance coverage, and opportunities to improve outcomes.
Since launching the Legislative Health Policy Fellows program in 2018, the NCIOM has graduated more than 80 legislators from the North Carolina Senate and House of Representatives, covering 24 Senate districts and 38 House districts across 52 counties.
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About the North Carolina Institute of Medicine
The North Carolina Institute of Medicine (NCIOM) is forward-looking and focused on solutions. The organization was founded in 1983 by the North Carolina General Assembly to serve as a source of non-partisan information and analysis to promote effective health policies focused on improving the health and well-being of all North Carolinians. Learn more at nciom.org.
For more information, please contact:
Brady Blackburn, Communications Director
North Carolina Institute of Medicine
brady_blackburn@nciom.org