All healthcare policy impacts patient outcomes.
Participants in the 2025 fall cohort of the Novant Health Center for Public Policy Solutions fellows program are getting a firsthand look at how careers in public policy can create the kind of healthcare laws and regulations that can save lives.
“I pivoted into policy in the first place because I saw how it impacted everything,” said Nadia Bey, a Novant Health policy fall fellow and graduate of George Washington University with a Master of Public Health degree. “I’ve really seen how there are so many little elements of healthcare that I hadn’t considered before.”
Novant Health launched the fellows program in 2025 to create opportunities for students and future leaders to expand their understanding of the often-complicated healthcare policy field. Fellows dive into critical issues shaping healthcare today like strengthening access to high-quality care for all, simplifying regulations so clinicians can focus on providing the best care, and advancing population health.
“I grew up in a very rural community in Pender County and after seeing the disparities in healthcare there, I wanted to get involved with public policy to bridge gaps in access and make a difference within rural communities,” said fellow Isaac Morales-Gomez, a senior at UNC Wilmington.
Each fellow studies a different research topic that aligns with their experience and interests. Current policy research topics include rural healthcare, graduate medical education, telehealth, and AI.
Throughout the 12-week program, fellows also experience clinical care sites at Novant Health Forsyth Medical Center and Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center to see firsthand how public policy affects frontline practice. They learn from Novant Health clinical and administrative leaders, as well as state and national policy experts from other organizations, and experience where policy meets patient care.
"I'm a strong believer that you have to know the history to create solutions, so I’ve been learning what’s done in the past, what didn’t work, what can work, what can be measurable, - and what’s realistic that I can help change," said fellow Ayana Southerland, who has a Master of Public Health from University of Alabama.
“It’s one thing to study policy in class, but our goal is to create the opportunity for students to see how it comes to life through mentorship, research, and collaboration,” said Morgan Calhoun, fellowship program lead and senior policy analyst at Novant Health. “When their fellowship concludes in December, we hope we’ve been able to show these future leaders that policies ultimately reach patients and understanding that intersection is what shapes the most effective policies.”
