Legislative Health Policy Fellows Program

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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.

Our Approach

  • We are non-partisan. We welcome constructive dialogue from a variety of perspectives, and cultivate an atmosphere of respectful exchange of viewpoints and ideas.
  • We are grounded in data and evidence-based solutions. Fellows will receive information specific to their districts and the state as a whole, and gain more information on how to track down unbiased information about health policy.
  • We learn together through discussion, question-and-answer sessions, and opportunities to network with health policy researchers, state and local agency leaders, people working directly in NC communities, and legislative colleagues.
  • The Fellows program includes up to 20 legislators in each cohort for four sessions held at convenient times in comfortable, welcoming locations.
  • These immersive sessions include a mix of speakers, interactive discussions, and learning activities that provide a deep dive into important issues such as the health care workforce, social and economic factors in health, mental health, and health care financing.

 

Session and Enrollment Information

 

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.

Testimonials

"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

2024 Legislative Health Policy Fellows

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

2024 LHPF Issue Brief: Health Care Workforce - Current Status, Looking Forward, and Possible Solutions

 

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

 

2019 LHPF Issue Brief: Moving to Value-Based Care in North Carolina2019 LHPF Issue Brief: Supporting the Mental Health and Emotional Well-Being of Students in North Carolina Schools

 

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

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