The Sheps Center is proud to announce that results from the Healthy Food First trial were recently published in JAMA Internal Medicine (October 2025). This study, funded by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina and conducted in collaboration with UNC Health and UNC’s Schools of Medicine and Public Health, provides clinical evidence on… Read more »
Sasha Zabelski accepted to prestigious AcademyHealth Program
Dr. Sasha Zabelski, a Program Manager with the Behavior Health Services Research Program at Sheps, has been accepted to the AcademyHealth Champions for Health Services and Prevention Research Program. The Champions for Health Services and Prevention Research Program (supported by the Doris Duke Foundation) will train health services researchers on best practices for policy communication… Read more »
Inaugural AACOM Fellowship Class Graduates, Advancing Rural Health Workforce Development
The Sheps Center is proud to celebrate the graduation of the inaugural class of the AACOM Graduate Medical Education (GME) Development Fellowship. This milestone marks a significant step forward in strengthening the rural health workforce and expanding access to medical education in underserved communities. Developed in partnership with the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic… Read more »
Launching NC-BELL: A Collaborative Evaluation of Crisis and Child Behavioral Health Systems in North Carolina
A research team from the Program on Behavioral Health Services Research is partnering with the NC Department of Health and Human Services (NC DHHS) to conduct a three year evaluation of the state’s crisis and child behavioral health systems. In the fall of 2023, the North Carolina General Assembly approved a historic investment of $835… Read more »
Sheps Center researchers featured in The Well
ICYMI: The July 15, 2025 issue of THE WELL featured five Sheps Center researchers for their work to improve health care in rural areas. Read the article to learn more about the rural work Mark Holmes, PhD; Erin Fraher, PhD, MPP; Emily Hawes, PharmD, BCPS, CPP; Jacquie Halladay, MD, MPH; and Kristin Reiter, PhD are… Read more »
Sheps Center Provides Rural Hospital Financial Data to U.S. Senators
The Cecil G. Sheps Center received a request for rural hospital data from four U.S. Senators. In response, the Sheps Center provided data on indicators of financial vulnerability for rural hospitals across the country. Those indicators include whether Medicaid was a large payer and whether the hospital had three consecutive years of being nonprofitable. As part… Read more »
Undocumented Latina Mothers in NC Face Barriers to Healthcare and Public Benefits
A recent study, led by Dr. Brittany Raffa and team, highlights the unique challenges undocumented Latina mothers in North Carolina face when accessing healthcare and public benefits for themselves and their U.S.-born infants. Conducted through 20 in-depth interviews in Spanish, the research sheds light on how anti-immigrant policies and rhetoric shape these mothers’ decisions during… Read more »
Sheryl Zimmerman featured in UNC Research Stories
We are proud to celebrate Dr. Sheryl Zimmerman — a true pioneer in aging and long-term care research, and a cornerstone of the Sheps Center community. As co-director of our Program on Aging, Chronic Illness, and Long-Term Care, and executive director of CEAL@UNC, Sheryl has helped shape UNC into a national leader in… Read more »
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 »
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