We’ve come a long way in a year.
When Hurricane Helene struck Western North Carolina in September 2024, few of us could have foreseen the deep changes it would bring to our beloved mountain communities. Yet what hasn’t changed are the things that matter most: the value we place on this extraordinary region – and on the relationships we have with each other.
I’m Stan Fuller, senior vice president and physician in chief for Novant Health Surgical Institute and Western North Carolina. I have the privilege of overseeing Novant Health operations in Western North Carolina and coordinating our growth in the region.
As a McDowell County native, I was, like you, stunned by the destruction Helene wrought in the lives of so many. And as the storm subsided and the recovery began, I was humbled by the courage, hard work and optimism of the people of Western North Carolina.
The world saw these scenes, too – of homes and businesses destroyed, lives lost, rescues undertaken and restoration begun. At Novant Health, we were thankful we could play a small part in the response to Helene.
Building on what’s good. Making it even better.
Today, as we mark a year since these events, we celebrate with you all that’s been accomplished. We all know that that effort isn’t over, and that it takes perseverance – and plain hard work. I grew up in Marion and worked construction jobs with my father during the summer. I know that building anything takes time, patience and grit.
That’s how we feel at Novant Health, where we’re building what we believe will be an expanded network of specialty care for Western North Carolina. Already we’re partnered with local surgeons who have a long track record here. As a board-certified colorectal surgeon myself, I’ve had the experience of building a successful independent medical practice and then choosing to align that practice with Novant Health. I’ve seen the way partnering with Novant Health allows doctors to focus “doctoring,” so their patients can flourish.
Specialty care – without leaving the mountains
When I talk to people in Asheville and other mountain communities, I hear that they appreciate the healthcare they have, but would like more options, more continuity of care and more sites for service. We’re ready to help, and are already hearing great things from our surgeons, women’s health specialists, urgent care operations and other services about the response from patients.
As we move forward, we’re focused on offering lower-cost sites for patients with easy parking and simple, straightforward lobbies that aren’t confusing to navigate. And we want to be where our patients are, whether that’s a small rural community, the center of Asheville, or places in between.
Working for a lasting legacy of good health
I left Marion after high school to attend school at UNC - Chapel Hill and residency at Wake Forest University. But you could say my real education came from the mountains of North Carolina.
It’s here I’ve learned that in a time when more and more of our world feels “cookie cutter,” Western North Carolina does not. The region stands out as a collection of unique communities, tied together by strong relationships and set in a place of enormous beauty.
Those qualities inspire us as we seek to expand healthcare choices here. Those qualities outlast any storm.
