Jill Forcina joins the NC Center on the Workforce for Health (the Center) as its first Nurse Advisor. Jill brings a wealth of experience in nursing education, workforce development and retention strategies to her work at the Center. In this newly created role, Jill will provide strategic guidance on nursing workforce initiatives, support cross-sector collaboration, and help shape statewide efforts to strengthen clinical education capacity, improve retention across the nursing pipeline, and expand career pathways.

In addition to her role at the Center, Jill serves as Director of Education and Nursing for the North Carolina Area Health Education Centers (NC AHEC) Program Office, where she oversees statewide student services, continuing professional development opportunities, and nursing and interprofessional initiatives.

Jill’s clinical background includes years of experience in oncology and end-of-life care, which inform her patient-centered approach to workforce strategy. Her recent roles include Director of Clinical Practice and Education at Duke Cancer Network in Durham and Patient Education Coordinator at the N.C. Cancer Hospital in Chapel Hill. As a Certified Nurse Educator, she also holds an adjunct faculty appointment at the UNC-Chapel Hill School of Nursing. Jill contributes to statewide workforce efforts through service on multiple professional boards and councils, including the NC Future of Nursing Action Coalition, the NC Organization of Nurse Leaders, and the NC Workforce Credentials Advisory Council.

Jill earned a BS and PhD in Nursing from UNC-Chapel Hill. She lives in Chapel Hill with her three children and two dogs, including an 80-pound Sheepadoodle who frequently insists on joining her Zoom calls.