Kai Rosen joined the Center as a workstream coordinator to support the Health Talent
Alliance and related projects. Prior to joining the Center, they worked as a project
assistant at the Center for Women’s Health Research in Chapel Hill. Kai is known for their
love of plants and cats, as well as their crocheting talents. In the questions below Kai
shares more about why they chose to be part of the Center’s team and how they enjoy
spending their free time outside of work.

Why did you choose to work for the NC Center on the Workforce for Health?
I chose to work with the NC Center on the Workforce for Health because of my interest in
supporting and managing healthcare initiatives. 

What does your role for the Center entail?
In my role, I manage resources across multiple projects, taking on both leading and
supporting responsibilities. I meet regularly with staff, the director, and various external
stakeholders, which will soon include legislators and health system executives. I will
write proposals and reports, and collaborate with the Center’s policy researcher and
data analyst on research, data analysis, and presentations. I work with the Center’s
director and business officer to meet administrative and reporting requirements for
grants and contracts. I also manage group processes, research activities, deliverables,
and project timelines while coordinating with a wide range of individuals across sectors
to ensure successful project implementation and completion.

Share some of the rewards of being part of the inaugural team at the Center.
As part of the inaugural team, I have enjoyed having a role in the creation of the work
environment at the Center. Participating in creating a positive culture, suggestions for how we bond or improve, and creating key communication expectations have been the best rewards.
 
How has your previous work experience prepared you for your role as the HTA
workstream coordinator?
This is the fourth time I have been hired into an organization or initiative that is just starting. So,
by now, I am comfortable with creating new work plans, thinking through deliverables, and
shifting the scope to accommodate changes as they come. It also means that I understand the
importance of laying a strong foundation to ensure that our work has a lasting impact.
 
Why is the Center’s mission to strengthen our state’s health workforce important to you
personally?
I believe that all people deserve good healthcare. Many of my friends are in the healthcare field
and are nurses and direct care workers. I want people in those fields to feel supported within
their roles. To give good care, there needs to be a manageable distribution of the labor involved.
We all hear the phrase “quality and not quantity” but strengthening the quantity of our state’s
health workforce is the only way to ensure we are taking good care of all who come into our
health systems.

The care we provide goes further than just the institution. The care we give impacts a person’s
abilities to be good partners, parents, mentors, advocates, and pour into themselves as well.
We are all pushing to be better for our communities and for ourselves. We are worth pouring
into and investing in ourselves. Good healthcare is paramount in these endeavors.

What are three adjectives you would use to describe yourself?
Radical, caring, and intentional
 
Outside of work, how do you enjoy spending your free time?
Crocheting is one of my foundational hobbies! I started about six years ago and learned from
YouTube videos and now have a small crochet and doula business! I can crochet anything from
clothing, to purses, earrings, and stuffed animals. My crochet inspirations vary far and wide and
I enjoy divulging in that creativity.

You are known around the office as an expert on plants. Tell us more about that area of
interest.
This part is going to be slightly embarrassing. I started out with three plants in February of 2024 and
have now expanded my collection to well over 350. I am a plant aficionado, and my friends
regularly reach out for plant diagnostics, soil mechanics, and hydroponic assistance. I am
currently in the process of transitioning many of my plants over to a semi-hydroponic system
and that has currently been taking up a lot of my indoor gardening time.
 
Do you have any pets? If so, tell us about them.
I have three black cats for fur babies! Each cat has their own personal experiences and was adopted from local shelters. My senior cat has been trained to walk on a leash, which she loves
to do in the fall with all the foliage, squirrels, and people who want to pet her.

To read Kai’s bio click here.