Triangle Healthcare Executives' Forum of North Carolina
BECOME AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE TRIANGLE HEALTHCARE EXECUTIVES FORUM
About Us
Triangle Healthcare Executives Forum of North Carolina (THEF) is a nonprofit membership association and an independent chapter of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE), a professional society representing over 48,000 members worldwide. THEF serves over 600 ACHE members who live and work in the 41 North Carolina counties from the Raleigh-Durham area north to the Virginia border, east to the Outer Banks, and southeast to Jacksonville.
Our Vision
Triangle Healthcare Executives’ Forum will be the preeminent professional membership association for advancing healthcare leaders in the region.
Our Mission
The mission is to facilitate professional development for healthcare leaders in the region and prepare them to shape local, regional and national healthcare management practices.
Goals
Deliver programs that bring local value to ACHE members assigned to our Chapter service region Increase communication among healthcare management professionals
Advance members toward Fellow, ACHE certification
Foster the development and implementation of best practices in healthcare management Practice good financial stewardship
Dear Colleagues,
If we haven’t met yet, let’s fix that I’m a North Carolina native who has spent nearly my entire life (minus two rebellious years) in this great state and my entire career invested in THEF’s mission Like many of you, I started as a student member, got involved with the Eastern NC Healthcare Executives Group, joined committees, and even did the fullcircle mentorship thing first as a mentee, then as a mentor.
This chapter thrives because of its dedicated volunteers who keep things running behind the scenes. They help us pull off cost-effective educational events, networking that actually works, and the kind of professional development that helps you earn and maintain your FACHE THEF has expanded my network, helped me recertify multiple times, and even led me to my current role so trust me when I say, it’s worth getting involved
Big thanks to Tom Hughes and our past presidents, who set the bar high Over the last two years, they’ve made our quarterly C-Suite Roundtables a must-attend event, with nearly every major health system in the region hosting This year? New hosts, new perspectives same high-impact conversations
At THEF, we take performance seriously your development is our scoreboard. Whether it's through roundtables, affordable education panels, or our Board of Governors Exam Review Course (your golden ticket to FACHE success), we’re here to deliver value.
Soon, you’ll get our Chapter Member Needs Survey a quick and painless way to tell us how we can serve you better I promise, this is one survey where your opinion actually changes things
Looking ahead, our focus is on: ✅ Expanding valuable opportunities
Strengthening partnerships ✅ Leveling up our core programs mentorship, networking, and beyond
By the time this lands, ACHE Congress will be in the rearview mirror, and I’m sure it was great seeing many of you in Houston (First time in history that all four NC ACHE chapters are hosting a reception together no big deal ) Also, Brené Brown aka my leadership sherpa was on the keynote lineup So, in her words:
"I define a leader as anyone who takes responsibility for finding the potential in people and processes, and who has the courage to develop that potential."
If that sounds like you (or the leader you aspire to be), get involved with THEF. Let’s make 2025 a year of bold moves, strong connections, and meaningful impact
See you out there,
Matt
VI-ANNE ANTRUM, DNP, RN, FACHE REGENT FOR NORTH CAROLINA
Greetings to you, my wonderful colleagues,
2025 has entered and many of us are experiencing a variety of emotions between New Year's resolutions, policy changes, ACHE Congress on the horizon, job changes, etc. Stress is one of those emotions that can be positive or negative Some stress can actually create high levels of productivity! February is Heart Health Month, so we don't want too much negative stress Don't fret if you are feeling a little stressed, learn to make it work for you.
On the flip side, if your stress levels feel unmanageable, there is no shame in seeking help to gain some valuable coping techniques. Talking to a professional can make a real difference.
I am really looking forward to Congress this year, March 2427! Houston will allow us to have more people experience this one-of-a-kind event. I hope to see many of you there to connect with you in person It is always a time I cherish to glean industry innovations and insights or connect with people, both familiar and new. If you are going, let everyone know by clicking here Please come find me and say hi! I would love to learn more about you, your goals, and how ACHE can help you get there.
Health and healthcare are things that we have given our lives to as healthcare executives.
We represent that possibility to all people, regardless of their circumstances
In February, I hope you will join me in honoring Black History Month and the countless contributions that Black people have made over the course of time to that effort For example, Dr. Charles Richard Drew invented the blood bank; Dr. Daniel Hale Williams performed that successful open-heart surgery; and Dr Samuel L Kountz co-pioneered the first kidney transplant on unrelated people. There are many more I could continue to name. Think of how fundamental these procedures are to modern day healthcare and how many lives have been saved because of them. Our country is a better place because of them and countless others!
I am proud to be part of the ACHE community of 50,000 strong, and I am proud to serve as YOUR Regent!
In service to you, Vi
ACHE measures chapter performance annually based on four performance criteria - net membership growth, education & networking performance, advancement of eligible members, and member satisfaction. We are working towards achieving the 2025 standard performance metrics.
Education & Networking Performance
2025 Standard: 15 1 indexed attendee hours
Current Status: 7.5
Member Satisfaction
2025 Standard: 4.1
Advancement of Eligible Members
2025 Standard: 16
2025 Standard: 7.2
Current Status: not yet assessed
Current Status: not yet assessed
Current Status: 8.3 (840 members)
Here's how you can contribute to meeting our chapter performance goals while investing in your own professional development:
Participate in chapter programming Complete the Chapter Member Needs Survey in May Earn your FACHE credential Join ACHE or reinstate your membership
W E L C O M E N E W T H E F M E M B E R S !
The following individuals joined ACHE or transitioned into the THEF Chapter this quarter We are happy to have you, and look forward to connecting at an upcoming chapter event!
Rowell Daniels
Katelyn Thomas
Luis Rodriguez
Jody Clarke
Braxton McKoy
Tequila Nelson
John Gray
Ryan Moore
Susan Solomich
Kacie Spencer
Patricia Baise
Sergio Luckett
Evan Phillips
Bimbola Akintade
Mark Gwynne
Balofoma Wembakpete
Leslie Evenson
Carolyn Menendez
Stefanie Resillez
Brittany Robinson
Chanda Joyner
Erin Huprich
Nadeem Modan
Andrew Steffey
Rachel Peoples
Christopher Asturias
Marion Faya
Margaret Clark
Kathleen Ferrell
Tammy Collie
Roshen Koshy
Jenny Roberts
Heather Winecoff
Michael Steger
Shari Collie-Leachman
Rhonda Reeder
Saul Williams
Akhil Tippireddy
Jade Joy
Richard Benson
Kelly Washington
Zachary Addis
Enoch Osei
Daniel Blandon-Hendrix
Andrew Urbanyi
Brenda Greenberg
Kevin Haynes
Terence McCabe
Paul Burge
Cheri DiStefano
Isaac Hallam
Stephanie Henry
JOIN US JOIN US TODAY... TODAY...
JOIN REINSTATE
Join now to become eligible for members-only programs and discounted pricing at both the local and national level. Click here to join.
Perhaps your membership has lapsed and you've been meaning to reinstate. Don't miss out on another year! Click here to access your pre-populated reinstatement application.
RENEW
ACHE membership renewal is open. Timely renewal ensures your ACHE membership and THEF chapter affiliation remains in tact with no lapse in membership. Click here to login to your ACHE profile and renew.
FELLOWSHIP ADVANCEMENT
New Fellow
Kevin Corbin, MHA, FACHE
Associate Vice President, Operations, UNC Health
Recertified Fellows
THEF congratulates our FACHEs who successfully recertified their Fellow credential with ACHE this past quarter To recertify, Fellows must (1) complete 36 continuing education credits (12 of which must be ACHE approved face-to-face), complete 2 Healthcare-related volunteer service activities, and complete 2 Community-related volunteer service activities, OR (2) retake and pass the Board of Governors Exam
Anthony W. Bartholomew, FACHE
Penney A. Burlingame Deal, DHA, FACHE
How to become an ACHE Fellow
Meet the eligibility requirements
Donald R. Gintzig, FACHE
Daniel L. Leham, FACHE
Submit your advancement application. Upon approval, you will have two (2) years in which you must take and pass the Board of Governors Exam
When you become board certified in healthcare management as an ACHE Fellow, you'll stand out from the crowd as a professional Take a step toward elevating your professional status today and learn about the requirements to sit for the BOG Exam and the resources available to help you prepare.
Contact the THEF Fellowship Advancement Committee at advancement@thefnc.org for support.
What inspired your career in the healthcare industry and what is your current role?
My family moved from Ukraine to Brooklyn, NY, when I was nine As the youngest, I learned English quickly and became my family’s guide through the healthcare system, sparking my interest in the field In high school, I jumped at the chance to work at Dr Asya Benin’s busy primary care office A well-known Soviet expat clinician, she had built a thriving practice, inspiring me to pursue healthcare administration to help others navigate care access With over 20 years on the provider side, I now serve as Assistant Vice President of Strategic Partnerships at Commerce Healthcare, cultivating relationships with key industry partners
Why did you decide to join THEF?
When I moved to Raleigh in 2021, I wanted to connect with local professionals who were doing incredible work to improve healthcare in their communities while also valuing professional networking That’s when I discovered THEF I was excited to learn that THEF was and continues to be one of the most active and successful ACHE chapters in the country After speaking with members of the Education Committee, I was invited to moderate a virtual panel Having previously served as Education Chair and President of the Women’s Healthcare Executive Network of South Florida a similar organization focused on helping women in healthcare enhance their leadership skills
I joined THEF’s Education Subcommittee I remained active in that role until this year, when I stepped into the position of Education Chair, now serving alongside Jessica McGee as Co-Chair
I am forever grateful to Shefali Patel, Duke Maisiba, Tom Hughes, Donna M Prosser, Emily Greene, Swati Bhardwaj, and so many others for their leadership, support, and belief in me
What advice would you give to younger members that are earlier in their careers?
Effective networking starts with adding value to every interaction Connect with organizations improving local healthcare, step outside your comfort zone to learn from industry leaders, and seek their insights. Explore professional groups linked to your school or workplace, attend events, and leverage LinkedIn to stay informed. Invest in relationships and industry trends to ensure long-term success in healthcare.
What accomplishment from work are you most proud of?
In less than a year at Commerce Healthcare, I’ve helped cultivate strong partnerships that enhance cash flow, streamline financial processes, and improve efficiency for revenue cycle teams Previously, I led provider network management across multiple states, supporting veteran disability benefits and military entrance assessments I also coached mental health providers on launching multi-state practices, identified opportunities for hospital-at-home services, and spearheaded the launch of a pediatric rehab center for children with special needs Each experience has been deeply fulfilling, contributing to improved healthcare access and operational excellence
Do you have any content recommendations for our members?
For networking and communication tips, follow Madeline Mann (Self Made Millennial) or Austin Belcak For leadership, read John Maxwell Stay informed on healthcare trends through Becker’s Healthcare, Modern Healthcare, ACHE, Bloomberg, The Heart of Healthcare Podcast, and CMS. A personal favorite is Mission-Driven Leadership by Mark Bertolini. With so much content available, dedicate at least five minutes daily to industry news over coffee or tea. Find an accountability partner to share insights start biweekly and see where it leads.
To facilitate professional development for healthcare leaders in the region and prepare them to shape local, regional and national healthcare management practices.
The annual scholarship is awarded to an American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) Student Associate enrolled in an accredited college or university pursuing a healthcare career focused degree such as MHA, MBA, or other related graduate degree, and residing within the membership region of the Triangle Healthcare Executives’ Forum of NC (THEF) chapter of ACHE.
This past year, THEF recognized two first-year MHA students, Andrea Macedo and Holly Harris, from UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health. Both Andrea and Holly attended this year’s ACHE Congress in Houston, Texas, through the support of the THEF Student Scholarship
Andrea (left) is originally from Northern California and worked as a health education supervisor and research analyst before joining Gillings She is the Director for Business Development for UNC Chapel Hill Healthcare Executives Student Association (HESA) Holly (right) moved to Chapel Hill from Chicago, Illinois, where she practiced healthcare architecture for nine years before pursuing her MHA She currently serves on the THEF Communications Committee, focusing on Newsletter and Social Media development
I am incredibly grateful to THEF for awarding me the THEF Student scholarship, which helped me attend the 2025 ACHE Congress. It was an incredible opportunity to learn from top healthcare leaders, stay informed on industry trends, and expand my professional network with students and professionals. This support truly means a lot as I continue growing in my career in healthcare leadership! - Andrea Macedo
Since receiving the THEF Student Scholarship, I have had the opportunity to connect with many inspiring leaders within the THEF Board and membership. Through THEF’s support I was able to attend the 2025 ACHE Congress and connect with peers and healthcare leaders from across the country who shared valuable perspectives, guidance, and encouragement. Thank you for providing this scholarship and supporting students! - Holly Harris
UNC Gillings First-year MHA students at ACHE Congress
CHAPTER EVENT SYNOPSES
The Leadership Blueprint: Build Your Path to Success
The panel discussion included:
Moderator: Kenneth Poole, Jr, MD, MBA, Chief Medical Officer for Clinician and Provider Experience for UnitedHealth Group
Jennifer Jones, MHA, PHR, Director of Organizational & Workforce Development, Diversity, WakeMed
Angelo Milazzo, MD, MBA, CMO, Duke Health Integrated Practice
Stephanie Turner, RN, MSN, Vice President, Population Health Services and Clinical Operations, UNC Health Alliance
Jamila Perry Harley, M.Ed., CCC-SLP, Director of Career Management Services, American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)
On March 4th, the Clinicians' Group organized a virtual panel discussion titled The Leadership Blueprint: Building Your Path to Success. Guided by an experienced moderator, the panel brought together industry leaders from various healthcare organizations who shared valuable insights on effective leadership, professional growth, and strategies for achieving success in the healthcare field.
Key takeaways from the session included:
Acknowledge and articulate the leadership competencies inherent in your role as a clinician. Recognize that career advancement may involve lateral transitions and that growth opportunities can stem from unforeseen personal experiences. Understand that both professional successes and setbacks contribute to ongoing personal and career development.
Leverage interdisciplinary collaboration to foster new opportunities and career progression
Our Members found some time to catch up at Fortnight Brewing in Cary, NC, for Happy Hour!
ACHE invites you to Local Oak Brewery in Winterville, NC on April 17th, Meet Eastern North Carolina Healthcare Executives Group (ENCHEG) & National Association of Health Services Executives (NAHSE)
The panel discussion included:
Angelo Milazzo MD, Chief Medical Officer, Duke Health Integrated Practice, Vice Chair for Clinical Affairs, Duke University School of Medicine Department of Pediatrics
Morgan Jones, Chief Strategy Officer at Duke Health
Tom Owens MD, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Duke Health
Andy Willis, Executive Chief Planning and Development Officer at North Carolina Children’s
Ian Buchanan MD, Chief Project Officer at North Carolina Children’s
Transformative Pediatric Healthcare Collaboration in NC
The recent THEF Duke C-Suite Roundtable showcased an unprecedented collaboration between UNC Health and Duke University Health System, unveiling the North Carolina Children’s initiative This ambitious project aims to redefine pediatric care across the state through a hub-andspoke model, ensuring expert care in all 100 counties With a $3 billion budget, it stands as the second-largest economic development project in North Carolina’s history, promising over 8,000 new jobs and significant annual contributions to the state’s general fund.
The initiative also includes a dedicated child and adolescent behavioral health hospital, addressing a critical need. By combining clinical expertise, research, and education, UNC and Duke are set to create an integrated pediatric network that prioritizes patient care, accessibility, and innovation The event was a resounding success, reflecting the community's excitement and commitment to this transformative vision
ACHE Congress
North Carolina Chapters Networking Reception
We had an incredible networking reception in Houston, TX, at American College of Healthcare Executives Congress!
UPCOMING Q2 EVENTS
1
29TH ANNUAL HESA/THEF DINNER
April 10 , 2025 th 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM EDT
Carolina Botanical Garden 100 Old Mason Farm Road
Chapel Hill, NC 27517
2 ENCHEG & N.A.H.S.E. HAPPY HOUR
April 17 , 2025 th 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM EDT
Local Oak 2564 Railroad St Winterville, NC 28590
3 BOARD OF GOVERNORS EXAM REVIEW WEBINAR SERIES
April 17 - July 3 , 2025 th rd Thursdays, 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM EDT Online
4 THEF SPRING MEETING
April 24 , 2025 th 8:00 AM - 12:30 PM EDT
WakeMed Cary Hospital 1900 Kildare Farm Road
Cary, NC 27518
5 2025 RURAL HEALTH SYMPOSIUM
August 21 - 22 , 2025 st nd 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM EDT
Eastern AHEC
2600 W Arlington Blvd Greenville, NC 27834
HOSTED
BY:
Join our 12-week webinar from 4/17/25 to 7/3/25 and gain the knowledge, skills, and confidence to succeed. Sessions are held Thursdays, 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM, online. Register now to take the next step in your career!
Comprehensive review of all 10 exam sections // Example questions and suggested readings Guidance from current ACHE Fellows // Up to 18 ACHE Education Credits
APRIL
JUNE
Pass Exam by September 1st & receive a $50 refund on webinar registration fee!
ACHE is waiving the $225 exam fee on the 1st attempt, if an application for Fellow is submitted between March 1st and June 30th!
NATIONAL NEWS
The future of health system operations: C-suite insights on margin pressures, capacity & AI
In January of 2025, Becker’s Hospital Review conducted a 100-person survey (in collaboration with LeanTaaS) of CEOs, COOs, CIOs, CFOs, and chief medical and nursing officers. 34% self-identified as for-profit, 29% as nonprofit, and 18% as academic medical centers. 76% of the respondents worked at a facility of >300 beds
All respondents agreed that financial and competitive pressures would drive hospital margins to 1-2% as the “new normal” Losing patients due to wait times was cited as the primary concern among most respondents. New market entrants and innovative technology were identified as secondary and tertiary threats to the organizational bottom line
Addressing capacity issues, adjacent to wait times, by outsourcing certain health care services was the primary strategy. Network coordination, staff productivity initiatives and demand forecasting rounded out the leading strategy’s for risk mitigation in the survey
AI adoption has been widely accepted as 95% of the respondents reported some level of AI integration across their respective health systems Applications of this technology primarily focuses on promises to eliminate operational bottlenecks, improving experiences for physicians.
More information at Becker’s Hospital Review
The 38-day delay: What the wait time average says about healthcare access
ECG Management Consultants recently found that only 6% of the 253 markets and specialty combinations had an average wait time of less than 14 days These findings were published a white paper on wait times across the nation called “The Waiting Game: New-Patient Appointment Access for US Physicians ”
Secret shoppers contacted 145-168 medical practices in each selected market and requested the 3rd next available nonurgent appointment. Nearly 1 in 5 practices could not provide this information and would direct the callers to a dead end
When callers were connected to services the wait time ranged from 27 to 70 days. ECG management did not find any correlation between physician concentration and wait times.
In Boston (physician density of 577/100,000) individual specialty wait times for 6/10 specialties assessed were the longest in the nation The primary causal factor of scarcity was many physicians focused on research rather than patient care.
MSAs with shortest average wait times
1 27 days: Houston
2 28 days: New York and Miami
3 31 days: Phoenix
MSAs with longest average wait times
1. 70 days: Boston
2. 47 days: Cincinnati
3. 46 days: Charlotte
Learn more at Becker’s Hospital Review or see the white paper at ECGMC com
Research Data Request & Access Policy Changes Feedback Opportunity
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will close the comment period for proposed rule change to their Research Data Request & Access Policy the on April 15, 2025
In February of 2024, CMS announced new rule changes to transition most research studies into the Chronic Conditions Warehouse Virtual Research Data Center (CCW VRDC). These changes are not likely to go in effect until 2026.
Major concerns revolve around CCW VRDC Technical Concerns, Data Access Costs Concerns, and Timeline Concerns
CCW VRDC Technical Concerns revolved around barriers in no longer receiving physical data shipments and having to learn a new system, limitations related to programming languages, and slowed progress towards advanced analytic techniques such as machine learning and microsimulation
Data Access Costs Concerns revolved around the new structure for payments In a ProPublica article published last year, academics may now request claims data for a one-time fee of $20,000. After this change is in place estimations of these costs were a onetime fee of $35,000 as well as requiring annual fees Additionally, this new format would allow only 1 researcher to access the data
CMS states that these changes are intended to ensure we are maximizing protections for controlled unclassified information while also supporting important research using CMS data
More information can be found and feedback can be submitted at CMS
Susan Gueiss, FACHE, Duke Health Integrated Practice
Savannah Stallings, Duke Health
Kishan Shah, Duke Health
Euniqua Bullock, Duke Hospital
Timothy Stapleton, HonorBridge
Jennifer Woody, UNC Health
Brian Cocks, Baxter International Inc
David Long, FACHE, ECU Health
ENGAGE WITH THEF ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Follow THEF on social media platforms and tag us in your ACHE/THEF related posts.
Be sure to visit us frequently on the THEF website for event details and program updates!
Are you planning on attending an upcoming THEF event? Have you attended another industry-related event that your THEF colleagues should know about? If you've answered yes to either, we want to hear from you!
Feel free to send short write-ups and/or photos to communications@thefnc.org
