The North Carolina Clinician and Physician Retention and Well-being (NCCPRW) Consortium announced a transformative $1.3 million grant from the Centene Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Centene Corporation and Carolina Complete Health, a provider-led Medicaid health plan created by Centene, the North Carolina Medical Society, and the North Carolina Community Health Center Association. This multi-year investment will fuel a comprehensive initiative aimed at strengthening the mental health and well-being of physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals across North Carolina.

"Supporting those who care for our communities is essential to the health of our state," said Chris Paterson, CEO of Carolina Complete Health. "Through this funding, we hope to expand the reach to thousands of healthcare providers, offering education, resources, and direct services. As a provider-led health plan, Carolina Complete Health was founded on the idea that providers are the heart of the health care system."

This initiative comes at a critical moment. Studies continue to show that healthcare providers, including physicians and nurses, experience higher rates of depression and other mental health issues compared to the general population. The urgency of this work is underscored by recent national data showing that 64% of physicians report experiencing burnout symptoms at least once a week.

"We are deeply grateful to the Centene Foundation and Carolina Complete Health for their generous support," said Monecia R. Thomas, PhD, executive director of NCCPRW and vice president of professional growth at the North Carolina Medical Society. "This investment enables us to scale proven strategies and catalyze meaningful change at both the individual and institutional levels."

"This is more than raising awareness — it's a commitment to real change," said Tatyana Kelly, CHC, board president of NCCPRW and senior vice president of planning, strategy, and member services at the NC Healthcare Association. "This funding empowers us to position North Carolina as a national leader in clinician mental health and workforce retention."