UNC Health Southeastern Awarded $465,000 in Grant Funding from The University of North Carolina System
Joe Roberts, M.D.
The University of North Carolina System has awarded UNC Health Southeastern approximately $465,000 in state-funded grants as part of a program to help rural hospitals expand and establish new rural healthcare workforce training programs.
According to UNC, the funding comes from the UNC System Rural Residency Medical Education and Training Fund, established by the North Carolina General Assembly in the 2023 State Appropriations Act. The goal of the fund is to use flexible state dollars to train more healthcare providers in rural North Carolina and connect them to the communities that need them most.
UNC Health Southeastern received funding for several initiatives including establishing and launching new, accredited fellowship programs in cardiology and sports medicine, as well as establishing a formal partnership with the Robeson County Church and Community Center.
“We are so excited and appreciative to have been considered as one of the recipients of the Rural Residency Education and Training Fund Grants,” said UNC Health Southeastern Vice President and Chief Medical Officer Joe Roberts, M.D. “UNC Health Southeastern has one of the largest rural residency programs in the state and these grants will help to expand upon our graduate education mission in the region. This was a true team effort between our Graduate Medical Education staff and our grant writers at UNC Health Southeastern.”
Cardiology and Sports Medicine Grants
Despite the presence of established residency programs, current training capacity limits the ability to develop and retain specialty-trained physicians locally. Expanding fellowship-level training in cardiology and sports medicine is essential to meeting growing patient demand, addressing persistent workforce shortages, and strengthening access to specialty care in Robeson County and surrounding rural communities. The cardiology grant funding is for $150,000 and the sports medicine grant is for $117,000.
Expanding Rural Specialty Care Training Grant
Optimizing the grant award of $198,000, UNC Health Southeastern will implement this innovation project through a structured approach designed to strengthen rural residency training by establishing intentional infrastructure and formalizing a partnership with the Robeson County Church and Community Center.
The Robeson County Church and Community Center is the county’s oldest and largest nonprofit organization and serves as a trusted community hub for individuals and families facing economic and social challenges. Founded to provide advocacy, emergency assistance, and access to essential resources, the center addresses critical social determinants of health through a wide range of programs and services.
This approach represents an innovation in rural residency training by intentionally integrating community-based organizations into structured, longitudinal training experiences. Residents will serve a diverse rural patient population, including individuals experiencing chronic disease, limited access to primary care, and social and economic barriers to health. Unlike traditional clinical rotations, this model expands resident learning beyond hospital and clinic settings to address social determinants of health through sustained community engagement, strengthening preparation for rural practice, and long-term workforce retention.
