News Releases
New Blog Post: How has RN Retention in North Carolina Changed over Time?
North Carolina is projected to face a shortage of approximately 12,500 registered nurses in 2033 (NC Nursecast). Our latest blog summarizes findings from an analysis of registered nurse retention and exit from the NC workforce between 2016 and 2023 using licensure data collected by the North Carolina Board of Nursing. Authors: Caroline Spencer, Abhi Joshi, Evan… Read more »
Bianca Allison Published Systematic Review and Tapped to Speak at Adolescent Health Summit
Dr. Bianca Allison, Child & Adolescent Health researcher, had always been passionate about improving the lives of young people. She is the lead author on a recent systematic review on the effectiveness of contraceptive decision aids for adolescents and young adults. This review, published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, highlighted the temporary… Read more »
Mark Holmes named as Senior Associate Dean for Faculty and Staff Affairs
The Sheps Center is proud to announce that Dr. Mark Holmes has been appointed as the Senior Associate Dean for Faculty and Staff Affairs at the Gillings School of Global Public Health. This esteemed position highlights Dr. Holmes’ exceptional leadership and his commitment to career development. Dr. Holmes has been a pivotal figure at the… Read more »
Dr. Lombardi and Moore present to NCIOM Legislative Health Policy Fellows Program
On January 27th, Program Co-Director Dr. Brianna Lombardi and Sheps Workforce NC/HPDS Director Dr. Catherine Moore presented at the 2025 North Carolina Institute of Medicine Legislative Health Policy Fellows Program. The program brings together legislative assistants to learn from health policy experts about key health issues facing the state. Drs. Lombardi and Moore presented about the… Read more »
Sheryl Zimmerman on Animatronic Pets: A Comfort for Aging Adults
In a recent article by The Washington Post, Sheryl Zimmerman, co-director of the Program on Aging, Chronic Illness, and Long-Term Care at the Sheps Center and Professor in the School of Social Work, offered insights into the growing use of animatronic pets to support older adults. These lifelike robotic companions, designed to mimic the behaviors… Read more »
Phil Hughes’ Study on SOP Expansions in Pediatric Mental Health Care Featured in AHRQ News Now
Phil Hughes, PhD, research assistant professor in the Division of Pharmaceutical Outcomes & Policy and researcher with the Child & Adolescent Health Services Program at the Sheps Center, published a paper in May 2024 titled Pediatric Mental Health Care and Scope-of-Practice Expansions which was featured in recent issue of AHRQ News Now as the top article… Read more »
Ty Ridenour Named Specialty Chief Editor for Adolescent Mental Health Interventions
In an exciting development for the Sheps Center’s Child & Adolescent Health Services Program, researcher Ty Ridenour has been appointed as the Specialty Chief Editor for Interventions for Adolescent Mental Health. This role recognizes Ridenour’s significant contributions to the field and his dedication to advancing mental health interventions for adolescents. Ridenour’s appointment is a testament… Read more »
UNC Partners with Emory University and Other Leading Institutions to Launch National Dementia Care Initiative
In a groundbreaking effort to advance dementia care across the United States, researchers from the Sheps Center at UNC-CH have partnered with Emory University, the University of Minnesota, Johns Hopkins University, Brown University, and the Alzheimer’s Association to establish the State Alzheimer’s Research Support (StARS) Center. This initiative, funded by a $17 million grant from… Read more »
Carolina researchers awarded $11M to strengthen physician and dental training programs in underserved areas
The Health Resources and Services Administration funding will expand existing UNC-Chapel Hill initiatives that support the development of residency programs to improve North Carolinians’ access to health care. As part of its strategy to improve access to healthcare, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has awarded a contract to the University of North Carolina… Read more »
Disparities in Psychotropic Polypharmacy Highlighted in North Carolina Study
Sheps Center Senior Research Fellow, Kathleen C. Thomas, PhD, has raised concerns about disparities in psychotropic polypharmacy among children with psychiatric conditions, intellectual and developmental disabilities, and complex medical needs in North Carolina. Her study, published in Psychiatric Services, links the use of multiple psychotropic drugs to neighborhood context, race, and ethnicity, highlighting structural disparities… Read more »
Report on the North Carolina Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Workforce just released
The Program on Health Workforce Research and Policy conducted a study on the North Carolina Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Workforce with support from the North Carolina Board of Nursing (NCBON). The study team, Erin Fraher, Connor Sullivan, Catherine Moore, Tony Kane, Andy Knapton, Lorinda Coombs, and Evan Galloway used NC licensure data from the NCBON… Read more »
Sheryl Zimmerman Appointed to be Core Leader in NEXT STEPs Project
Sheryl Zimmerman, PhD, MSW has been appointed as the leader of the Recruitment and Retention Core and Johanna Hickey, MSW as the Core Coordinator of the NEXT STEPs project, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at increasing the inclusion of nursing home residents in clinical trials. The project, led by research scientists from the Indiana University School… Read more »
Mark Holmes named UNC Lambeth Distinguished Chair in Public Policy
Mark Holmes has been named the UNC Lambeth Distinguished Chair in Public Policy, a role that highlights his expertise and leadership in public health and policy. As the director of the Sheps Center for Health Services Research at UNC, Holmes is recognized for his contributions to health services research, focusing on improving healthcare systems and… Read more »
Sheps announces new HPDS Director: Catherine Moore, PhD, MSN, RN
Catherine Moore, PhD, MSN, RN joined the Program for Health Workforce Research and Policy in April. Dr. Moore joins the team as the Director of Sheps Health Workforce NC and the North Carolina Health Professions Data System (NC Health Workforce – North Carolina Health Professional Supply Data). She will lead state health workforce initiatives… Read more »
Team presents at National Forum of State Nursing Workforce Centers 2024 Annual Meeting
The Workforce Program at Sheps presenters Dr. Erin Fraher, PhD, MPP, Brooke Lombardi, Ph.D., MSW, LCSW-A, and Connor Sullivan, PhD presented at the National Forum of State Nursing Workforce Centers 2024 Annual meeting in San Diego, showcasing our nursing projects, data and recent findings. 1️⃣ Examining the Supply, Distribution and Racial Concordance of Certified… Read more »
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