NC Health Talent Alliance Named 2026 Champion for Attainment for Strengthening North Carolina’s Healthcare Workforce

RALEIGH, N.C. —NC Health Talent Alliance has been named a 2026 Champion for Attainment by myFutureNC, recognizing the organization’s leadership in addressing North Carolina’s healthcare workforce shortages through employer-led, data-driven strategies that align education and training with real-time workforce demand.

The NC Health Talent Alliance is a statewide public-private partnership led by the NC Chamber Foundation, NC Area Health Education Centers (AHEC), and the NC Center on the Workforce for Health. Together, the partners work across regions to strengthen healthcare talent pipelines and expand access to industry-valued credentials that lead directly to in-demand healthcare careers.

“Healthcare workforce shortages are one of North Carolina’s most urgent economic and community challenges,” said Cecilia Holden, President and CEO of myFutureNC. “The NC Health Talent Alliance is addressing this head-on by aligning employers, educators, and workforce leaders around shared data and clear outcomes—ensuring North Carolinians can access training that leads to meaningful, high-demand careers. When we strengthen educational attainment in healthcare, we strengthen our economy, improve public safety, and build healthier communities.”

“This recognition reflects the strength of partnership across North Carolina’s healthcare and education communities,” said Meredith Archie, president of the NC Chamber Foundation. “The NC Health Talent Alliance is aligning industry insight with education and training to build stronger talent pipelines, expand opportunity, and ensure our healthcare workforce is prepared to meet the needs of communities statewide.”

Using real-time labor market data and direct employer engagement, the Health Talent Alliance helps education and training providers adjust programs to meet regional healthcare needs. This coordinated approach improves access to credentials, accelerates entry into the workforce, and supports long-term workforce stability across North Carolina’s healthcare system.

“Addressing healthcare workforce shortages requires coordinated action across education and industry across the regions,” said Andy MacCracken, Director of the NC Center on the Workforce for Health. “Through the NC Health Talent Alliance, regional AHEC leaders are leveraging powerful data and convening key stakeholders to close priority health workforce gaps and improve access to care. This recognition reflects our shared work and the importance of sustained regional capacity building to align credentials and high-demand healthcare careers.”

The recognition was announced during myFutureNC’s 2026 State of Educational Attainment in North Carolina broadcast, which highlighted progress toward the state’s goal of ensuring 2 million North Carolinians hold a degree or industry-valued credential by 2030. Champions for Attainment are honored for advancing strategies that connect learning to workforce needs and expand opportunity for learners of all ages.

As a 2026 Champion for Attainment, the NC Health Talent Alliance exemplifies how cross-sector collaboration and employer leadership can drive results—strengthening both North Carolina’s workforce and its communities.

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Watch the NC Health Talent Alliance 2026 Champion for Attainment video here.

About NC Health Talent Alliance
The NC Health Talent Alliance is a statewide public-private partnership led by the NC Chamber Foundation, NC AHEC, and the NC Center on the Workforce for Health. The Alliance works to address North Carolina’s healthcare workforce shortages by aligning education and training programs with employer demand through data-driven, employer-led strategies that strengthen talent pipelines statewide.

About myFutureNC
myFutureNC is a statewide nonprofit organization focused on educational attainment and is the result of cross-sector collaboration between North Carolina leaders in education, business, and government. Its mission is to prepare North Carolina for the future by empowering individuals, strengthening communities, and ensuring the state’s long-term economic viability.