This year’s annual Bernstein Event centered around the power of community-driven care and navigating change together. The event once again brought North Carolina’s health leaders together to reflect on resilience, celebrate community champions, and look toward the future.
Held on October 8, just two weeks after the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Helene, we presented this year’s new Community Impact Award to four individuals who went above and beyond to support Western North Carolina.
The evening also marked a pivotal moment for us as we welcomed our new President and CEO, Dr. Rachel Keever. We introduced a bold strategic direction designed to strengthen community partnerships, amplify local voices, and drive innovative solutions to improve whole-person health across the state.
Watch the whole program, view the photo gallery, and read a recap of the evening’s events, including award presentations to outstanding leaders across the state, below.
Introducing a New Strategic Direction
FHLI Board Chair Kim Schwartz emceed the evening. In her usual style, she led the group in a grounding exercise and read the poem, “To be of use” by Marge Piercy, to set the tone for the evening.
“It’s been a great year of transition. There have been significant changes in the federal and state governments. I could use a slow news day,” she said. “Here at FHLI, we’ve made some bold moves to adapt to this new and ever-changing environment. Along with the national search for a new CEO, we’ve been working on a robust strategic direction for FHLI.”
This new approach is grounded in four core areas:
- Building trusted relationships with local communities.
- Amplifying community voices.
- Creating new strategic partnerships.
- Deploying innovative models to improve health outcomes in our state.
Moving forward, this plan will help us be more agile, innovative, and responsive as we work to improve conditions so that all North Carolinians have the opportunity to thrive.
Kim told the crowd:
“You are an important part of this new bold direction. Take a breath, we can do this. We know how to do hard things. North Carolina knows how to do hard things.”
She also took a moment to recognize Dr. Joey Bell, who passed away in June 2025. He was the recipient of the 2024 Jim Bernstein Community Achievement Award, a beloved pediatrician, and a cherished member of the Lumbee community.
“I will never forget his warm and courageous message to us all that evening he received his award,” Kim said. “His legacy and influence in North Carolina will endure forever, and our thoughts are with his family.”
Welcoming Dr. Rachel Keever, FHLI President & CEO
A new era for FHLI began as Kim introduced our new president and CEO, Dr. Rachel Keever. A North Carolina native, North Carolina Rural Health Scholar, cardiologist, and obesity medicine physician, Dr. Keever brings decades of clinical expertise, leadership experience, and deep commitment to health equity.
In her first remarks as president and CEO, she reflected on her career path and honored Jim Bernstein’s influence on her journey. “I was fortunate to be a North Carolina rural health scholar, and during that time, I got to see a part of medicine that I might have never seen if he hadn’t introduced me to it,” she said. “That exposure shaped my understanding of what it meant to advocate for health in my role as a doctor.”
Dr. Keever also shared her excitement to lead us into our next chapter:
“I am so excited to share the knowledge that I’ve gained over years of experience to support FHLI’s mission. This vision for a healthier North Carolina—to walk alongside communities and address our health challenges—is totally the best job I will ever have. Let’s do this work with joy and precision and in community.”
Honoring the 2025 Awardees
Every year, FHLI’s annual awardees underscore exceptional work being done across North Carolina to ensure more people have access to equitable health services. This year, we recognized the contributions of seven professionals through the Jim Bernstein Community Health Career Achievement Award and two new awards: the FHLI Community Impact Award and Jim Bernstein Fellowship Distinguished Alumni Award.
Learn more about their careers and the impact they’ve had on enhancing access and equity across our state.
Jim Bernstein Community Health Career Achievement Award
This award is presented to an individual who exemplifies a deep investment in the community and a dedication to increasing access to care in North Carolina. Paul Cunningham, MD, FACS, received the award honoring his lifetime of contributions to medicine, education, and community health.
FHLI Community Impact Award
One year after the devastation of Hurricane Helene, the 2025 Bernstein Event brought North Carolina’s health leaders together to reflect on resilience, celebrate community champions, and look toward the future. This inaugural award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated leadership and commitment while supporting their North Carolina communities.
Dr. CJ Atkinson, Dr. Shannon Dowler, Dr. Steve North, and Amanda North were all recognized for their extraordinary leadership and compassion in response to Hurricane Helene’s devastation in Western North Carolina.
Jim Bernstein Fellowship Distinguished Alumni Award
This new award recognizes Bernstein Fellow graduates who exemplify the values lived by Jim Bernstein:
- Everyone has a right to care.
- Care should be delivered in a respectful, efficient, and effective manner.
- Health care belongs to the community it serves.
Schell McCall and Mayor Weyling J. White were the first recipients of this award for their continuing efforts to drive community-centered solutions across the state.
Building a Healthier Future in North Carolina
The 2025 Bernstein Event was a testament to the power of collaboration, resilience, and vision. As we embark on a new chapter under Dr. Keever’s leadership, the values and legacy of Jim Bernstein remain at the heart of our mission: advancing collaborative, community-driven solutions to improve whole-person health for everyone, everywhere in North Carolina. We hope you will join us on the journey to a healthier North Carolina!
