The 2025 East Coast Healthcare Summit brought together healthcare leaders, innovators, and policymakers at Hotel Ballast in Wilmington for a day of discussion, collaboration, and insight. The event fostered meaningful conversations about the future of healthcare in North Carolina and beyond, uniting voices from across the industry to explore challenges, share solutions, and inspire action.

Organized by the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce in collaboration with SEAHEC and the NC Health Talent Alliance, the event focused on statewide issues, with a deeper dive into work happening in the Cape Fear region.

The NC Center on the Workforce for Health’s Caregiving Workforce Analyst, Trish Farnham, spent the day at the event connecting with other health workforce leaders, and she took the photos featured with this blog!

“I was inspired by the level of collaboration occurring in the Cape Fear region to cultivate the healthcare workforce needed to meet the region’s growing demand,” Farnham said.  “The collaboration can serve as a model for similar efforts across the state.”

This year’s program centered around three essential themes shaping the healthcare landscape: Workforce Development, Healthcare Policy & Access, and Innovation & Technology. Speakers and attendees examined strategies to strengthen the healthcare workforce pipeline, navigate evolving policies and regulations, and harness emerging technologies—particularly artificial intelligence—to improve care delivery and clinical decision-making. These discussions underscored the importance of collaboration across sectors to ensure accessible, high-quality care for all North Carolinians.

The Summit featured nationally recognized experts, policy leaders, and local innovators who are driving meaningful changes across healthcare systems.

• U.S. Senator Thom Tillis provided insights into the federal healthcare policy landscape and its implications for North Carolina via a video presentation.
• Ted Goins (NC Health Care Facilities Association) and James Tucker (NC Healthcare Association) discussed how shifting state and federal regulations continue to shape access and delivery.
• Dr. Steven Hill (Wilmington Chamber, SEAHEC, HTA Regional lead), Dr. Jack Watson II (UNCW), Dr. Mary Ellen Naylor (CFCC), and Mandy Mills (NHCS) explored ways to strengthen the health workforce pipeline.
• Jeff James (Wilmington Health), Laurie Whalin (Novant Health) , and Lynda Stanley (Dosher Memorial Hospital) discussed innovation and AI in patient care.
• Dr. Kevin Wang (Suki) and Dr. Morris Nguyen (Predicate Labs) discussed how artificial intelligence is transforming clinical decision-making.

In addition to the engaging sessions, attendees enjoyed numerous networking opportunities throughout the day—including breakfast, lunch, and dedicated breaks designed to connect healthcare professionals, executives, policymakers, and educators.

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