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Featured photo: The first-ever cohort of Healthcare Fellows stands with representatives of Henderson County Public Schools, Blue Ridge Community College, UNC Health Pardee and AdventHealth Hendersonville. (Photo by Rich Keen.)
The following story was featured in Blue Ridge Community College’s 2024-25 annual report. This report and others are available online on the About Blue Ridge webpage.
Few sectors impact community well-being more than healthcare, yet North Carolina faced critical workforce shortages long before crises like the pandemic or Hurricane Helene.
In 2025, an innovative partnership launched between Blue Ridge Community College, Henderson County Public Schools, UNC Health Pardee and AdventHealth Hendersonville to help close the gap. The Healthcare Fellows initiative provides local students with full financial support, mentorship and a direct pathway into careers in the healthcare field.
A well-attended ceremony at Blue Ridge on July 31, 2025, celebrated the first Fellows cohort. Family members, friends and school representatives gathered to honor the students as they officially committed to pursuing healthcare careers with their sponsoring organizations.
“This program is about more than access. It’s about alignment,” said Mark R. Garrett, superintendent of Henderson County Public Schools. “We’re aligning our students’ passions with purposeful education and the real needs of our local healthcare system.”
Blue Ridge President Dr. Laura B. Leatherwood added, “Thanks to the incredible support from UNC Health Pardee and AdventHealth Hendersonville, these students are beginning clear and guided paths toward meaningful careers in healthcare— right here in their own community.”
The program ensures a seamless transition from education to employment through dualenrollment coursework, hands-on experience and guidance from academic and clinical mentors. Upon completing their credentialing programs in healthcare related fields, each student will begin careers with their sponsoring healthcare organization in Western North Carolina.
“At Pardee, we’re honored to support their journey— not just financially, but as mentors, role models and future colleagues,” said Dr. John Bryant, vice president of operations and support services at UNC Health Pardee.
“These Healthcare Fellows are stepping into a sacred calling of caring for our community and our entire team at AdventHealth is honored to walk alongside them,” added Abby Gutch, MSN, RN, NE-BC, CMSRN, assistant chief nursing officer for AdventHealth Hendersonville.
Through strategic collaboration, the Healthcare Fellows program removes financial barriers, supports professional growth and retains talented healthcare professionals in the region, highlighting the power of community partnerships to create meaningful opportunities for students and employers.