The Legislative Health Policy Fellows program brings together legislators from the NC Senate and NC House to dig deeper into the data, information, policy options, and knowledge necessary for effective health policy decision-making.
Policy Fellows will advance their understanding of the health issues facing the people of our state, examine the strengths and challenges of our systems of health care delivery, and explore innovative opportunities to improve the health of all North Carolinians.
2024 was the fourth cohort of this program. See a list of this year's Fellows as well as previous Fellows below.
Program sessions include presentations and panels from health policy experts, policymakers, and renowned guest speakers. NCIOM staff work with participating legislators to prioritize special topics of interest and to ensure a balance of formal presentations and informal discussion and networking time. The program is open to all legislators who want to learn more about health policy and resources, regardless of the amount of time they have served in the General Assembly. There is no fee for enrollment in the Legislative Health Policy Fellows program. Read about the 2024 sessions here.
In 2025, the North Carolina Institute of Medicine will host its third Legislative Staff Fellowship program. This program brings together legislative staff from the North Carolina General Assembly to dig into data, information, policy options, and knowledge necessary to effectively serve constituents. Over the course of four sessions between January and March, legislative staff will cover topics such as the partnership with the Division of Health and Human Services, the health care workforce, Medicaid, and maternal and child health. Health policy experts, policymakers, and guest speakers will help lead the discussions to ensure a balance of information. There will be ample time for discussion about community needs and what staff are hearing from constituents, as well as exercises on problem-solving constituent concerns.
For more information, reach out to Ivana Muszkiewicz at Ivana_Susic@nciom.org.
"This program fosters invaluable collaboration between health care experts and lawmakers (from both sides of the aisle), enriching legislative decision-making with firsthand understanding and insight into the complexities of our health care system and, ultimately, enabling us to craft informed policies for the well-being of all North Carolinians"
- Maria Cervania, NC House District 41 – D-Wake, 2024 NCIOM Legislative Health Policy Fellow
“ I appreciated the access to incredibly in-depth data, as well as the opportunity to find out where a lot of my colleagues are, both across the aisle and in the other chamber, on health care issues facing our state. I recommend this program to any legislator!"
- Ralph Hise, Senate District 47 – R – Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Caldwell, Haywood, Madison, Mitchell, Watauga, Yancey
2024 NCIOM Legislative Health Policy Fellow
“The Legislative Health Policy Fellows program provides a fantastic opportunity to hear from subject matter experts on a variety of health-related topics. I was impressed by the breadth and depth of the information provided in the program.”
- Jim Perry, NC Senate District 2 – R-Beaufort, Craven, Lenoir), 2019 NCIOM Legislative Health Policy Fellow
“Participating in the NCIOM Legislative Health Policy Fellows program was the single best thing I did as a new legislator to learn about state health policy.”
-Donna McDowell White, NC House District 26 – R- Johnson, 2018 NCIOM Legislative Health Policy Fellow
Sen. Gale Adcock (D), 16th District, Wake
Sen. Val Applewhite (D), 19th District, Cumberland
Sen. Sydney Batch (D), 17th District, Wake
Sen. Mary Wills Bode (D), 18th District, Granville, Wake
Rep. Gloristine Brown (D), 8th District, Pitt
Rep. Terry M. Brown, Jr. (D), 92nd District, Mecklenburg
Sen. Jim Burgin (R), 12th District, Harnett, Lee, Sampson
Rep. Maria Cervania (D), 41st District, Wake
Rep. Allen Chesser (R), 25th District, Nash
Sen. Kevin Corbin (R), 50th District, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Jackson, Macon, Swain, Transylvania
Sen. Lisa Grafstein (D), 13th District, Wake
Sen. Ralph Hise (R), 47th District, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Caldwell, Haywood, Madison, Mitchell, Watauga, Yancey
Rep. Donny Lambeth (R), 75th District, Forsyth
Sen. Michael V. Lee (R), 7th District, New Hanover
Sen. Julie Mayfield (D), 49th District, Buncombe
Rep. Charles W. Miller (R), 19th District, Brunswick, New Hanover
Rep. Renee A. Price (D), 50th District, Caswell, Orange
Rep. A. Reece Pyrtle, Jr. (R), 65th District, Rockingham
Rep. Timothy Reeder (R), 9th District, Pitt
Sen. Benton G. Sawrey (R), 10th District, Johnston
Rep. John A. Torbett (R), 108th District, Gaston
Rep. Donna McDowell White (R), 26th District, Johnston
2021-22 Legislative Health Policy Fellows
Representative Kristin Baker, R, District 82 - Cabarrus
Senator Sydney Batch, D, District 17 - Wake
Representative Becky Carney, D, District 102 - Mecklenburg
Representative Linda Cooper-Suggs, D, District 24 - Wilson
Senator Sarah Crawford, D, District 18 - Wake
Representative Susan Fisher, D, District 114 - Buncombe
Senator Amy Galey, R, District 24 - Alamance, Guilford
Representative Pricey Harrison, D, District 57 - Guilford
Representative Ricky Hurtado, D, District 63 - Alamance
Senator Steve Jarvis, R, District 29 - Davidson, Montgomery
Representative Grier Martin, D, District 34 - Wake
Senator Natalie Murdock, D, District 20 - Durham
Representative Mark Pless, R, District 118 - Haywood, Madison, Yancey
2019 Legislative Health Policy Fellows
Representative Kelly Alexander, D, District 107- Mecklenburg
Senator Deanna Ballard, R, District 45 - Alleghany, Ashe, Surry, Watauga, Wilkes
Representative Lisa Barnes, R, District 7 - Franklin, Nash
Representative Mary Belk, D, District 88 - Mecklenburg
Senator Jim Burgin, R, District 12 - Harnett, Johnson
Representative Christy Clark, D, District 98 - Mecklenburg
Representative Zack Hawkins, D, District 31 - Durham
Representative Rachel Hunt, D, District 103 - Mecklenburg
Representative Verla Insko, D, District 56 - Orange
Representative Marcia Morey, D, District 30 - Durham
Senator Jim Perry, R, District 7 - Lenoir, Wayne
Representative Joe Sam Queen, D, District 119 - Haywood, Jackson
Senator Vickie Sawyer, R, District 34 - Iredell, Yadkin
Representative Wayne Sasser, R, District 67 - Cabarrus, Stanly
Senator Sam Searcy, D, District 17 - Wake
Representative Raymond Smith, D, District 21 - Sampson, Wayne
Representative Julie von Haefen, D, District 36 - Wake
Senator Joyce Waddell, D, District 40 - Mecklenburg
Representative Ashton Wheeler Clemmons, D, District 57 - Guilford
2018 Legislative Health Policy Fellows
Representative Cynthia Ball, D, District 49- Wake
Representative MaryAnn Black, D, District 29 – Durham
Senator Angela R. Bryant, D, District 4 – Halifax, Nash, Vance, Warren, Wilson
Representative Deb Butler, D, District 18 – Brunswick, New Hanover
Representative Carla D. Cunningham, D, District 106 – Mecklenburg
Representative Josh Dobson, R, District 85 – Avery, McDowell, Mitchell
Senator Chuck Edwards, R, District 48 – Buncombe, Henderson, Transylvania
Senator Rick Horner, R, District 11 – Johnston, Nash, Wilson
Representative Pat B. Hurley, R, District 70 – Randolph
Senator Joyce Krawiec, R, District 31 – Forsyth, Yadkin
Senator Paul A. Lowe, Jr., D, District 42 – Forsyth
Representative Graig R. Meyer, D, District 50 – Durham, Orange
Representative Gregory F. Murphy, MD, FACS, R, District 9 – Pitt
Senator Paul Newton, R, District 36 – Cabarrus, Union
Senator Louis Pate, R, District 7 – Lenoir, Pitt, Wayne
Representative Larry W. Potts, R, District 81 – Davidson
Senator Jeff Tarte, R, District 41 – Mecklenburg
Representative Evelyn Terry, D, District 71 – Forsyth
Senator Terry Van Duyn, D, District 49 – Buncombe
Representative Donna McDowell White, R, District 26 – Johnston
Representative Shelly Willingham, D, District 23 – Edgecombe, Martin
Senator Mike Woodard, D, District 22 – Durham, Person, Caswell
2018 LHPF Issue Brief: Recruitment and Retention of the Rural Health Workforce
Shaping Policy for a Healthier North Carolina