The University of North Carolina is turning to a familiar face to lead its health care system and School of Medicine at the flagship university.
Dr. Cristy Page was named the chief executive officer of UNC Health on Thursday, as well as the dean of the UNC School of Medicine and vice chancellor for medical affairs at UNC-Chapel Hill. Page — who had been working in the role in an interim capacity since Dr. Wesley Burkes stepped down in July — was elected by the UNC System’s Board of Governors after earning approval from the UNC-Chapel Hill Board of Trustees and UNC Health Board of Directors.
Page will now oversee the same 20-hospital academic health system and school she earned her degree through. Raised in Wilmington, she attended UNC as a Morehead Scholar and earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology, a master’s in public health, and an MD in family medicine. Described as “an expert in primary care and rural health,” the UNC System highlighted Page’s leadership of different initiatives, fundraising efforts, strategic planning and partnerships as president of UNC Health Enterprises. She also had served as the executive dean at the UNC medical school from 2019 until serving as the health system’s interim CEO.
Photo via the UNC System.
“It is a tremendous honor and privilege to serve as CEO of UNC Health and Dean of UNC School of Medicine,” Page said. “I appreciate President Hans and the Board of Governors, Chancellor Roberts and Chair Wessling for their confidence and support as I step into this important role during one of the most challenging periods in healthcare and academic medicine. I’m delighted to serve and lead our great team to fulfill our purpose and mission to the people of North Carolina.”
“In every role she has held — physician, educator, innovator, and mentor — Dr. Page has led with reassuring confidence and a clear sense of purpose,” said UNC System President Peter Hans. “She is the kind of leader who builds trust by earning it, and who reminds us that the heart of health care is public service to others. We could not ask for a better steward of UNC Health’s mission.”
“Dr. Page is an inspirational leader and a remarkable healthcare provider whose dedication to serving North Carolina’s communities reflects our university’s commitment to statewide impact in all 100 counties,” said UNC-Chapel Hill Chancellor Lee Roberts. “She is exceptionally qualified to guide UNC Health’s continued growth and advance its mission of saving lives across our state.”
“I have worked with Dr. Page as a member of the UNC Health Board of Directors since 2019,” said UNC Health Board Chair Greg Wessling. “She is a dynamic and strategic leader who excels in building relationships and has a heart for providing outstanding quality care across our state. I could not think of a finer person to lead UNC Health and UNC School of Medicine.”
After graduating, Page joined the UNC School of Medicine’s faculty in 2005 and eventually earned a distinguished professorship designation. She helped create its Fully Integrated Readiness for Service Training (FIRST) Scholars Program, which aims to accelerate training of future family physicians to serve rural areas, as well as leading the school’s family medicine residency program for seven years and chairing its Department of Family Medicine. Under her leadership, the School of Medicine opened Roper Hall in 2023 and saw a growth of more than $150 million in research funding across five years, according to UNC.
As the leader of UNC Health Enterprises, Page was responsible for developing and expanding branch campuses of the health care system, and encouraging growth of rural residency programs within UNC Health-affiliated hospitals. The role meant she served on the system’s senior executive team and board of directors, helping lead projects like its Forward Together 2030 strategic plan. She was also involved in other big decisions on the Chapel Hill campus — like chairing the search advisory committee for UNC’s next permanent chancellor in 2024.
Page takes over the CEO role as UNC Health faces several big projects on its horizon. The system’s partnership with Duke Health to build the 500-bed North Carolina Children’s Hospital has stalled after identifying a location but being caught in the state government’s budget impasse. The health care workforce is also continuing to recover from seeing many people leave the profession both during and after the COVID-19 pandemic’s peak. Page will formally begin in the permanent job on Monday, Nov. 24, UNC Health said on Thursday.
Featured photo via the University of North Carolina System.
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