FHLI Announces New Roles for Two Accomplished Leaders

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 8, 2021

The Foundation for Health Leadership & Innovation Announces New Roles for Two Accomplished Leaders

Organizational changes part of a larger effort to accelerate FHLI’s work to deepen community impact across North Carolina

CARY, N.C. — The Foundation for Health Leadership & Innovation (FHLI) today announced two organizational changes meant to strengthen the organization’s work of advancing community-driven solutions and tackling systemic, generational health challenges and disparities facing rural communities and historically marginalized populations.   

Carla Obiol and Dr. Zachary Brian — two of FHLI’s accomplished and experienced community leaders — are stepping into newly created roles as the organization builds on its legacy of innovation and works to cultivate a culture of experimentation, risk-taking, and community impact.

“When Jim Bernstein advocated, nearly 40 years ago, to form FHLI, he understood that to make lasting improvements in the health and wellness of North Carolinians, the organization must follow the guidance of the people in communities,” said Kelly Calabria, CEO and President of FHLI. “Today, we remain committed to this legacy. By elevating Carla and Zach to these new leadership roles, we are declaring that FHLI aims to be the leading voice in advancing community-driven solutions. We believe that the people living in each individual community are the key to solving the generational, systemic health challenges that plague our state.”

Carla Obiol will help elevate the voices of community in her new role as Vice President of Community Voice and Advocacy. Leveraging her deep experience in coalition-building, grassroots advocacy, and policy work, Carla will build on FHLI’s already impressive track record of influencing systems reform in North Carolina. In her new role, she is responsible for helping advance policies that level the playing field for rural and marginalized communities. Carla will continue to lead FHLI’s NC Rural Health Leadership Alliance and the NC Rural Coalition Fighting COVID-19.

“It’s true the pandemic cast a light on the health disparities and inequities that plague our state, but these are challenges that have existed for a long time,” said Carla Obiol, Vice President of Community Voice and Advocacy at FHLI. “Community leaders know what needs to be done to solve these challenges. They just need us to listen, advocate for them, and support them however we can.”

In his new role as Vice President of Impact, Strategy and Programs, Dr. Zach Brian assumes responsibility of building an approach to further transform FHLI beyond a program-based organization and into one that can influence statewide health systems change. Also serving as Director of North Carolina Oral Health Collaborative (NCOHC), Dr. Brian will build upon his record of success driving policy reform in the oral health arena to guide FHLI as it seeks to address generational, systemic health and healthcare barriers throughout the state.

“Our efforts to improve access to oral health care in North Carolina offer a true model for tackling challenges that have disproportionately affected our state’s most vulnerable populations for decades,” said Dr. Zachary Brian, Vice President of Impact, Strategy and Programs, and director of FHLI’s NC Oral Health Collaborative. “I look forward to applying this proven framework in my new role and further amplifying FHLI’s efforts to drive evidence-based, sustainable systems change across the state. FHLI is uniquely positioned to lead this important work.”

About the Foundation for Health Leadership & Innovation

The Foundation for Health Leadership & Innovation (FHLI) is a nonprofit organization that envisions healthy communities across North Carolina where everyone can flourish. FHLI develops and supports innovative partnerships that build a healthier North Carolina through collaboration and respect. With a long history in the state — and a deep understanding of its health care needs — FHLI scales solutions that benefit the entire state. FHLI staff are thought leaders and experts who bring communities together for a better, healthier North Carolina. Learn more at www.foundationhli.org.

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For more information, contact:
Marni Schribman, Director of Communications & Public Relations
Foundation for Health Leadership & Innovation (FHLI)
Marni.schribman@foundationhli.org
919-259-4547

In North Carolina, nearly 590,000 households do not have enough food to eat each day, ranking our state 10th in the nation for food insecurity (USDA). Statewide, there is a shortage of more than 190,000 affordable and available rental homes for low-income renters (National Low Income Housing Coalition), and in a 2020 study measuring 47 different metrics, including health care access, cost, use, and disparities, North Carolina ranked 34th among U.S. states (The Commonwealth Fund).

You may think that all of this is a result of the pandemic. That would be wrong.

The truth is, COVID-19 didn’t cause these numbers. These challenges have existed for decades. What the pandemic did is shine a light on the health disparities and inequities that have plagued our state for generations.

The pandemic has, however —at least in part — begun to shift perceptions related to public health and the social determinants of health that drive it.

For the first time, maybe ever, the people of this state — our leaders, the business community, and the media — are beginning to understand that many things contribute to a person’s health. These factors include their race, where they are born, their access to healthy food, housing and transportation, their level of education and lived experiences, and a host of other demographic and socioeconomic factors. Society also has a growing appreciation for public health and its importance. (Some call this the “Fauci effect.”)

Perhaps these are some of the silver linings of the pandemic. And these are all important, necessary changes. Personally, however, what I’m most struck by is the way North Carolinians are rising to the occasion. I hear these stories every day from people living in rural and marginalized communities across North Carolina. Brianna Thomas, a Robeson County community leader, started a food pantry out of her church because she realized there was nowhere else for families to go for healthy, enriching food. Dr. Eric Cunningham, the Halifax County School Superintendent, realized early in the pandemic that his school district must serve as a hub for the community, a trusted place where families could not only access trusted safety information and uninterrupted education for their children, but where they could depend on steady employment, a stable food source, and reliable transportation.

The lesson is clear: Communities themselves understand their own challenges better than anyone. Their leaders aren’t waiting. Each day, they are hard at work implementing new ideas and driving solutions.

At the Foundation for Health Leadership & Innovation (FHLI), we believe communities are the key to solving the generational, systemic health challenges that plague this state — challenges the pandemic has only exacerbated. We also believe that to do this, communities need help elevating their voices. They need support making connections — with partners who will listen, connect, facilitate, and authentically collaborate.

Almost 40 years ago, Jim Bernstein advocated starting an organization focused on improving the lives of North Carolinians in rural communities. He understood that, above all, FHLI must help support communities. Today, we remain committed to this legacy, and we continue to strive to be the leading voice in advancing community-driven solutions that address the complex health challenges and disparities facing rural communities and historically marginalized populations.

Today, I’m pleased to announce that FHLI is making organizational changes to strengthen our pursuit of that mission.

Two of FHLI’s accomplished, community-focused leaders — Carla Obiol and Dr. Zachary Brian — are stepping into new roles that I believe will help accelerate the organization’s efforts and deepen community impact across the state.

As Vice President for Community Voice and Advocacy, Carla Obiol will help elevate the voices of community in addressing the challenges that they know best. She will build upon FHLI’s already impressive track record of influencing systems reform in North Carolina and help advance policies that level the playing field for rural and marginalized communities.

Dr. Zach Brian, too, will advance this mission as Vice President of Strategy, Impact, and Programs. In this role, Dr. Brian — also serving as Director of the North Carolina Oral Health Collaborative — will help lead the charge in further transforming FHLI, beyond a program-based organization and into a statewide force influencing health systems change.

North Carolina is at an inflection point, and both Carla and Zach understand the stakes involved. I am thrilled to partner with them in their new roles, and I can’t wait to see how they apply their experience in moving our work forward.

At FHLI, we’re striving to build an organization reflective of the communities we serve, and these leadership changes are in line with that vision.

Each day, people like Brianna Thomas and Dr. Cunningham are taking chances and trying something new to help their friends and neighbors when they need it most.

At FHLI, we too are committed to cultivating a culture of innovation, experimentation, and risk-taking, as well as lifting the voices of the people we serve. By doing this, we will lean into the legacy of Dr. Jim Bernstein, unleashing the power of communities to advance systems change that improves the overall health and well-being of all North Carolinians.

 

 

https://2020scorecard.commonwealthfund.org/
https://nlihc.org/housing-needs-by-state/north-carolina
https://wallethub.com/edu/states-with-best-health-care/23457
https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/food-nutrition-assistance/food-security-in-the-us/key-statistics-graphics.aspx#map

The new program, funded by The Duke Endowment, will be led by FHLI’s Center for Excellence for Integrated Care team

CARY— The Center of Excellence for Integrated Care (COE) — a program of the Foundation for Health Leadership & Innovation (FHLI) — has received a grant from The Duke Endowment to lead a three-year program focused on child and adolescent behavioral health. The emphasis of the project is on advocacy for mental health check-ups for children, as well as on training for behavioral health professionals to provide pediatric and family assessments and interventions.

“North Carolina’s health care workforce is doing amazing work every day with well-child exams and preventative services for children and adolescents,” said Dr. Amelia Muse, COE’s Program Director. “However, after the hardships of the past year, it’s time to answer the call for more support for providers, families, and communities on preventative and interventive behavioral health care.”

With a dual emphasis on advocacy and workforce development, The Duke Endowment has provided support for this program that will include partners from the i2i Center for Integrative Health and the North Carolina Area Health Education Center (AHEC) Program.

The COE team will partner with i2i to convene a workgroup of family members, advocates in children’s welfare, and representatives of practitioners to develop a sustainability plan to embed annual behavioral health well-child checks into medical protocols and practices, with a focus on the need for insurance coverage. This additional focus on behavioral health during or in conjunction with the well-child check will bring North Carolina alongside other leadership states, who have worked to support pediatricians, children, and families with additional behavioral health emphasis.

“With our more than 34 years of collaboration and advocacy experience addressing behavioral, I-DD, SUD, and primary healthcare, i2i is well-suited to lead this advocacy effort,” said i2i Executive Director Ann Rodriguez. “We are thrilled to partner with FHLI, COE and NC AHEC on this critical initiative. The pandemic and North Carolina’s Medicaid transformation efforts have created an opportunity to ramp up integrated, preventative care practices across the state and strengthen whole-child care.”

Simultaneously, the COE team will partner with North Carolina AHEC to address workforce development issues by offering a continuing education opportunity for a cohort of 45 licensed behavioral health providers and ten graduate student interns currently working with youth and families. The one-year specialized training program will focus on mental health and substance use prevention, assessment, and intervention for children and adolescents and their families.

The second year of the program will train a second cohort of behavioral health professionals, with the first cohort of graduates acting as peer supervisors to assist with oversight and case consultation. The training curriculum will be informed by evidence-based literature, as well as by information collected from regularly held workgroup meetings of child and family advocates, youth, family members and providers advising on policy to support child and adolescent behavioral health wellness.

“At the Foundation for Health Leadership & Innovation, we are committed to cultivating a culture of innovation, experimentation, and risk-taking,” said Kelly Calabria, FHLI’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “Given how COVID-19 has exacerbated an already-dire need for behavioral health services for all North Carolinians, we believe this work — led by our team behavioral health experts — is the type of innovative thinking that is needed. We thank the Duke Endowment for recognizing this need and for trusting FHLI to drive a solution.”

About FHLI’s Center of Excellence for Integrated Care
The Center of Excellence for Integrated Care (COE) — a program of the Foundation for Health Leadership & Innovation — supports the clinical, operational, and financial transformation of health systems to provide whole-person care. COE’s integrated care experts support communities in providing whole-person care and reducing the stigma of behavioral health for patients and providers. Learn more at www.coeintegratedcare.org.

About the Foundation for Health Leadership & Innovation
The Foundation for Health Leadership & Innovation (FHLI) is a nonprofit organization that envisions healthy communities across North Carolina where everyone can flourish. FHLI develops and supports innovative partnerships that build a healthier North Carolina through collaboration and respect. With a long history in the state — and a deep understanding of its health care needs — FHLI scales solutions that benefit the entire state. FHLI staff are thought leaders and experts who bring communities together for a better, healthier North Carolina. Learn more at www.foundationhli.org.

About i2i Center for Integrative Health
The i2i Center for Integrative Health is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization whose mission it is to foster collaborative and evidence-based initiatives for improving the quality and efficacy of the behavioral health, intellectual and developmental disabilities, and substance use care and support service systems within a comprehensive system of whole-person care. Learn more at https://i2icenter.org.

About North Carolina AHEC
The North Carolina AHEC Program provides and supports educational activities and services with a focus on primary care in rural communities and those with less access to resources to recruit, train, and retain the workforce needed to create a healthy North Carolina. Learn more at https://www.ncahec.net.

About The Duke Endowment
Based in Charlotte and established in 1924 by industrialist and philanthropist James B. Duke, The Duke Endowment is a private foundation that strengthens communities in North Carolina and South Carolina by nurturing children, promoting health, educating minds and enriching spirits. Since its founding, it has distributed more than $4 billion in grants. The Endowment shares a name with Duke University and Duke Energy, but all are separate organizations.

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For more information, contact:
Marni Schribman, Director of Communications & Public Relations
Foundation for Health Leadership & Innovation (FHLI)
Marni.schribman@foundationhli.org
919-259-4547

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 28, 2021

CARY—The North Carolina Oral Health Collaborative (NCOHC) has announced that Assistant Surgeon General Dr. Timothy L. Ricks will give the keynote address at their annual event, Oral Health Day, on July 21, 2021. RADM Ricks is scheduled to discuss the state of oral health, inequities and barriers facing Americans, COVID-19’s impact on care, and opportunities for innovation in his address.

“We are incredibly excited to have a national figure like Assistant Surgeon General Ricks join us for Oral Health Day this year,” said Dr. Zachary Brian, NCOHC’s director. “Rear Admiral Ricks is a tireless champion for oral health for our nation’s most underserved populations, and his voice will underscore the importance of the policy agenda we’ve set forth for 2021 and beyond.”

In addition to serving as Assistant Surgeon General, Rear Admiral Ricks is the Chief Dental Officer of the U.S. Public Health Service, where he has worked in various roles for 21 years.

Oral Health Day is an annual event hosted by NCOHC, a program of the Foundation for Health Leadership & Innovation. The event features speakers with expertise in innovative approaches to improve equity and access to oral health care. 

The July 21st event will be held virtually from 10 a.m. to noon and is free of charge. Anyone interested in attending can register at https://oralhealthnc.org/ohday2021/. 

About FHLI’s North Carolina Oral Health Collaborative
The North Carolina Oral Health Collaborative (NCOHC), a program of the Foundation for Health Leadership & Innovation, works to advance systems-level changes, improving the overall health and well-being of all North Carolinians by increasing access and equity to oral health care. NCOHC seeks to influence policy, and through collaboration, listening, and knowledge-sharing, NCOHC works to provide maximum impact in achieving optimal oral health care for all North Carolina communities. 

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For more information, contact:
Marni Schribman, Director of Communications & Public Relations
Foundation for Health Leadership & Innovation
Marni.schribman@foundationhli.org
919-259-4547

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 22, 2021

NC Rural Health Leadership Alliance Releases Snapshot of Opportunities to Improve Rural Health Throughout the State 

2021 North Carolina Rural Health Snapshot shows “two North Carolinas” when it comes to health and wellness 

CARY— The NC Rural Health Leadership Alliance — a program of the Foundation for Health Leadership & Innovation (FHLI) — released its inaugural 2021 North Carolina Rural Health Snapshot, an advocacy resource that examines State-specific health indicators to demonstrate the wide gulf in access to quality health care between North Carolinians living in rural areas and the rest of the State.

“Rural hospitals and their community partners have been on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic, serving and protecting their communities despite many of them struggling financially,” said Emily Roland, state director of programs for the North Carolina Healthcare Foundation and chair of the NC Rural Health Leadership Alliance. “This snapshot catalogues the variety of critical factors impacting the health of our rural neighbors and serves as a platform for championing comprehensive solutions to ensure access to healthcare, workforce, education, and social resources essential to all of us.” 

Recognizing the importance of geography for affordable access to care and health status, the 2021 North Carolina Rural Health Snapshot aims to identify opportunities for North Carolina to improve how the health system serves its rural population.

Based on the assessment of more than 30 health indicators specific to North Carolina, the report finds that there are often two North Carolinas when it comes to health care, with sharp disparities between urban and rural areas of the state. Wide differences in health care for rural populations are particularly pronounced in the areas of affordable access to care, preventive care, dental disease, maternal health, food security, and premature death.

“It is of vital importance that we ensure all North Carolinians have the opportunity to be healthy and have access to affordable, quality health care regardless of where they call home,” said Patrick Woodie, President of the NC Rural Center and co-chair of the NC Rural Health Leadership Alliance. “This snapshot offers insight into the opportunity to expand these critical, quality-of-life services to our rural citizens and narrow the disparate divide.” 

The 2021 North Carolina Rural Health Snapshot found the following:

  • 80 counties in North Carolina have too few primary care providers.
    • Many counties also need more dental and/or behavioral health providers.
  • Rural NC men’s (45 and older) suicide rate is higher than their non-rural peers. 
  • After accounting for differences in age, the Veteran suicide rate in North Carolina is significantly higher than the overall national suicide rate.
  • Rural youth are twice as likely to commit suicide than their non-rural peers.
    • And have less available help – 34 counties have no licensed psychologists.
  • Only 35.1% of dentists participate in Medicaid in North Carolina. 
    • NC is 37th worst in dentist participation in Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
    • Three North Carolina counties have no practicing dentists.

The NC Rural Health Leadership Alliance and its members offer the information contained within the 2021 report to open discussions with health and community leaders, and ultimately to develop collaborative solutions to increase the opportunities for health and wellness in our State’s rural communities. 

The 2021 North Carolina Rural Health Snapshot is available online at bit.ly/2021snapshot.

About FHLI’s NC Rural Health Leadership Alliance

A program of the Foundation for Health Leadership & Innovation (FHLI), the North Carolina Rural Health Leadership Alliance is a collaborative network of associations, organizations, and individuals representing healthcare, education, economic development, local government, and a variety of rural stakeholders invested in supporting rural health. It is committed to amplifying the voice of North Carolina’s rural communities with the intention of improving the health and well-being of all citizens. NCRHLA is currently recognized by the National Rural Health Association as North Carolina’s state rural health association.

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For more information, contact:
Marni Schribman, Director of Communications & Public Relations
Foundation for Health Leadership & Innovation
Marni.schribman@foundationhli.org
919-259-4547

Morales Burke will work closely with new President and CEO, Kelly Calabria, to chart FHLI’s long-term strategy

CARY — The Foundation for Health Leadership & Innovation (FHLI), a leading North Carolina nonprofit supporting whole-person health throughout the state, announced today that Barbara Morales Burke has joined the organization as Vice President of NCCARE360 and Strategy.

“Barbara is well-known throughout our state, and the nation, for personally and professionally acting as a champion for whole-person health,” said FHLI’s President and Chief Executive Officer Kelly Calabria. “I can think of no better person to lead FHLI’s involvement with NCCARE360, working closely with our partners at the Department of Health and Human Services, and to help shape FHLI’s strategy as our state faces an unprecedented opportunity to improve health and ensure health equity.”

Morales Burke is a seasoned executive with more than 30 years of experience helping to lead government agencies — as well as private and non-profit organizations — through complex challenges. She has particular expertise in health care, insurance, government, public policy, strategy and public affairs. In her professional roles, as well as in her personal community service endeavors, Morales Burke has focused on increasing people’s well-being and opportunities — whether through regulatory, public or fiscal policy, effective government, or delivery of community support services.

Morales Burke served as Vice President of Health Policy at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina from 2009 through 2020, where she engaged with state and federal regulatory agencies on policy in the insurance and health care space, and on behalf of the Company, helped shape industry trade associations’ positions on regulatory and legislative policy. Much of this work was focused on the Affordable Care Act, improving access to care, and increasing affordability.

Prior to moving to the private sector, Morales Burke had a 24-year career in public service, primarily in North Carolina state government, and culminating in a position as the number two at a state agency led by an independently elected statewide official. Morales Burke served the citizens of North Carolina for 20 years – 16 with the N.C. Department of Insurance (NCDOI), where she held a variety of progressively responsible leadership positions, including Chief Deputy Commissioner. One of her earliest roles at NCDOI was Deputy Commissioner for Managed Care, where she was responsible for developing foundational regulatory product policy and enforcement for managed care health plans in North Carolina. In later roles, her responsibility for regulatory policy expanded to include all types of insurance and all functional areas of regulation. During her tenure, she played a key role in creating a pioneering state program to provide consumers with an independent external medical review of health insurer medical denials, as well as the development of a health insurance pool for individuals deemed “high-risk” and who were unable to obtain private coverage.

Morales Burke joins FHLI at a time of evolution and growth for the organization. Calabria joined FHLI as the new President and CEO in December, joining a dedicated team of experts who lead programs that include the Bernstein Fellows program, Center of Excellence for Integrated Care, NC Oral Health Collaborative, NC Rural Health Leadership Alliance, PRISM, Results NC, and Rural Forward NC. 

“This is a team that has a mature understanding of equity,” said Morales Burke. “This team knows that the only way to address the most granular community challenges, is to empower the community to participate in the discussion. These are the reasons I joined the FHLI team.” 

Morales Burke is Board Chair of Wake County Smart Start and Board Vice Chair of Prevent Child Abuse North Carolina. She is active in the food bank community, and previously served on the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina’s Board. Barbara also serves in an advisory role to the Board of Feeding the Carolinas, and to the Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust (Health Improvement Advisory Committee.)

About FHLI

The Foundation for Health Leadership & Innovation (FHLI) is a nonprofit organization that envisions healthy communities across North Carolina where everyone can flourish. FHLI develops and supports innovative partnerships that build a healthier North Carolina through collaboration and respect. With a long history in the state — and a deep understanding of its health care needs — FHLI scales solutions that benefit the entire state. FHLI staff are thought leaders and experts who bring communities together for a better, healthier North Carolina. Learn more at www.foundationhli.org. 

About NCCARE360

NCCARE360 is the first statewide network that unites health care and human services organizations with a shared technology that enables a coordinated, community-oriented, person-centered approach for delivering care in North Carolina. NCCARE360 is the result of a strong public-private partnership between the NC Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) and the Foundation for Health Leadership & Innovation (FHLI). The NCCARE360 implementation team includes United Way of NC, NC 2-1-1, Expound Decision Systems, and Unite Us.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 10, 2021

Governor Cooper’s Executive Order Allows Dentists to Assist in Accelerating Statewide Vaccination Effort
FHLI’s NC Oral Health Collaborative partners offer guidance that allows dentists to join the vaccine workforce.

CARY—North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper announced Executive Order #193 on Tuesday, February 9, 2021, formally incorporating dentists into the COVID-19 vaccine workforce.

“Many dentists across our state are ready and willing to help do their part in addressing this pandemic,” said Dr. Zachary Brian, director of the North Carolina Oral Health Collaborative (NCOHC), a program of the Foundation for Health Leadership & Innovation (FHLI). “Getting the vaccine to as many people, as quickly and safely as possible, is something dentists are uniquely positioned to do.”

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, NCOHC identified dentists as a valuable component of an interdisciplinary approach to bringing the spread of the virus under control.

“Our state can benefit from having every trained, qualified health professional working together to help meet the challenges of efficiently, effectively vaccinating North Carolinians,” said Ben Popkin, FHLI’s political strategist.
Cooper’s executive order allows a broad range of health care professionals to join the vaccination workforce, extending measures the administration has put in place to combat the pandemic.

“The North Carolina Oral Health Collaborative is pleased to have worked with Governor Cooper’s office to help finalize this executive order,” said Brian. “We appreciate the efforts they and others took to make this happen.”
With Cooper’s executive order, North Carolina joins more than 20 states in including dentists in their COVID-19 vaccination workforces, according to the American Dental Association.

About FHLI’s North Carolina Oral Health Collaborative
The North Carolina Oral Health Collaborative (NCOHC), a program of the Foundation for Health Leadership & Innovation, works to advance systems-level changes, improving the overall health and well-being of all North Carolinians by increasing access and equity to oral health care. NCOHC seeks to influence policy, and through collaboration, listening, and knowledge-sharing, NCOHC works to provide maximum impact in achieving optimal oral health care for all North Carolina communities.

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For more information, contact:
Marni Schribman, Director of Communications & Public Relations
Foundation for Health Leadership & Innovation
Marni.schribman@foundationhli.org
919-259-4547

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