Building North Carolina’s Health Care Workforce
The UNC System is the state’s leading developer of health care talent, educating the nurses, physicians, and other providers North Carolina needs to grow and thrive.
A fast-growing population is widening the care gap
North Carolina’s health care workforce is under pressure, and the need is only growing, especially in rural areas.
One in three North Carolinians lives in a rural community, yet fewer than 3% of primary care physicians practice in those areas. At the same time, the state faces a significant nursing shortage driven by an aging population, nurse burnout, and limited clinical capacity to educate new nurses.
These shortages impact North Carolinians every day. They affect whether families can access care close to home, whether hospitals can staff critical units, and whether communities can support long-term economic growth.
How the UNC System is ADDRESSING HEALTH CARE SHORTAGES
The UNC System is in a strong position to close the gap, and generous funding from the North Carolina General Assembly has allowed the System to fast-track strategies for health care workforce growth.
With 12 nursing schools, two medical schools, one health system, and deep partnerships across the sector, the UNC System is building upon proven programs to address health care shortages in communities across the state.
12
Nursing Schools
2
Medical Schools
1
Health System
Over the past two years, the UNC System has worked to target state funds in two high-impact areas: nursing education and rural residency training. With support from the Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research, the System is administering $63 million in legislatively-funded grants that will help North Carolinians access the care they need.
Educating more nurses for North Carolina
The state’s $40 million investment in the health care workforce is being used to help nursing programs enroll and graduate more students. Strategies include increasing faculty capacity, expanding clinical placements for nursing students, and strengthening support systems to ensure students successfully graduate and pass their licensure exams.
Placing more medical students in rural residencies
The UNC System administers state funds to support residency programs that place physicians in rural communities during training, an approach that increases the likelihood they will stay and practice in those areas long-term. Funds are targeted to six specific practice areas which are underprovided in small towns, mountain regions, and agricultural communities around the state.
An Efficient Approach
The UNC System’s strategy is grounded in three principles:
Find what is already working — and build on it.
Expand high-performing programs rather than creating new systems from scratch.
Move quickly and responsibly.
Grant funds efficiently to expand enrollment, accelerate education, and decrease administrative load.
Partner statewide to deliver results.
Collaborate with health care professionals, hospitals, and community providers to ensure a UNC System education meets employer needs.