Six Bernstein Fellows named for their work in rural, underserved communities
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Mary Cullen
RALEIGH, N.C. (October 15, 2026) – On Wednesday, October 14, the Foundation for Health Leadership and Innovation (FHLI) brought together community health leaders, public officials, and health advocates at the UNC Friday Center to celebrate the Jim Bernstein Community Health Leadership Fellows Program Class of 2024-2026 and to welcome the next class and honor the work they are doing to strengthen healthcare across North Carolina.
“Bernstein Fellows carry on Jim’s mission by promoting community-driven solutions that improve whole-person, whole-community, and whole-state health. Over the course of the two-year program, Fellows enhance their collaborative leadership skills through educational activities and project development,” Dr. Rachel Keever, FHLI President and CEO, shared during the ceremony commemorating the completion of the 2024-2026 Fellowship.
Over 200 people registered for the 2026 Bernstein Event, which serves as the fundraiser for both the Jim and Sue Bernstein Community Health Center Scholars and The Jim Bernstein Community Health Leaders Fellowship. The event is a powerful reminder of what happens when a community comes together around health leadership.
The Bernstein Fellows Program supports leaders who are working alongside rural and underserved communities to find solutions for pressing health gaps. This year’s fellows represent six organizations across six North Carolina communities.
“This year’s Bernstein Event reminded me just how much incredible work is happening across North Carolina and inspired me to keep that momentum going,” said LaCosta Tipton, a 2024-2026 Bernstein Fellow.
Tipton serves as Chief Operating Officer of Mountain Community Health Partnership (MCHP), a Federally Qualified Health Center dedicated to ensuring access to excellent health care for the communities of Mitchell and Yancey counties in Western North Carolina. A native of Yancey County, LaCosta is deeply rooted in the community she serves. Her commitment to expanding health care access is personal as much as professional, driven by a lifelong dedication to the family, friends, and neighbors who call that corner of Western North Carolina home.
FHLI thanks the sponsors who help make the Bernstein Fellows Program and annual event possible. As the 2026-2028 Fellows begin their work, FHLI will continue to support them with the resources, connections, and mentorship needed to turn their ideas into lasting change in their communities.
Photo and video assets from the event are available HERE.
Photo credit: Kelsey Yokovich Cervone
Video credit: Abby Cope
2026-2028 Bernstein Fellows Cohort
- Alysia Hoover-Thompson, PsyD, LP/HSP-P – Chief of Behavioral Health at High Country Community Health, Boone, NC
- Diana Castillo – Director of Programs & Operations at Urban Ministries of Wake County, Raleigh, NC
- Elizabeth Flemming, MA, LCMHC – Director of Population Health and Office of Sponsored Programs at Mountain Area Health Education Center, Asheville, NC
- Fransine “Frankie” Sanchez, MPH, BCHHP, CHES® – Chronic Disease Prevention Director & NC MDPP Regional Coordinator at Granville Vance Public Health, Henderson, NC
- Kody Krebs, JD, MSW – Assistant DSS Director at Carteret County Department of Social Services, Beaufort, NC
- Mandy Brannock – Director of Population Health and Quality Programs at Compassion Health Care, Yanceyville, NC
About Foundation for Health Leadership and Innovation (FHLI)
Launched in 1982 under the leadership of Jim Bernstein, the Foundation for Health Leadership & Innovation (FHLI) advances collaborative, community-driven solutions to impact whole-person health for everyone, everywhere in North Carolina.
FHLI programs include:
- Center of Excellence for Integrated Care (COE)
- Jim Bernstein Community Health Leadership Fellows
- Jim & Sue Bernstein Health Center Scholarship
- NCCARE360
- North Carolina Oral Health Collaborative (NCOHC)
- North Carolina Rural Health Association (NCHRA)
- Project ECHO Network in North Carolina (PEN-NC)
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