Healthcare Partnership Expands Nursing Capacity by 77.5%

More students are enrolling in nursing programs at Cape Fear Community College (CFCC) and UNCW, thanks to a community partnership funded by The Endowment.  

Nursing enrollment capacity has increased by 77.5% since 2023, according to the New Hanover Healthcare Career Partnership (HCP), representing a significant step toward addressing healthcare workforce shortages in New Hanover County and southeastern North Carolina. 

Launched in 2024 through a three-year grant from The Endowment, the partnership has created a coordinated, systems-based approach to healthcare workforce development in New Hanover County. HCP partners include CFCC, UNCW, New Hanover County Schools (NHCS) and the Greater Wilmington Chamber of Commerce. 

"Cape Fear Community College and UNCW are working collaboratively to improve healthcare in our community by educating more nurses and keeping them in the county after graduation to fill our healthcare workforce vacancies," said Jack C. Watson II, Dean of the UNCW College of Health and Human Services. "Together, we believe that these nurses will help to reduce wait times, decrease patient to nurse ratios, and provide high-quality care for patients in New Hanover County." 

The HCP’s comprehensive strategy connects students to healthcare careers from middle school through employment. The initiative supports early career exploration, nursing education expansion, student success programs, employer engagement and workforce development efforts across the county.  

"The funding made possible by The Endowment has made a tremendous difference for our nursing students,” said Mary Ellen Naylor, Dean of Health Sciences at CFCC. “As part of this grant, students have access to wraparound support for needs like housing and childcare. Removing those barriers helps students stay focused on their class and clinical work, complete their education, and enter the healthcare workforce.”    

Together, the HCP's efforts are helping create a stronger regional healthcare workforce pipeline while addressing critical workforce demands across southeastern North Carolina. 

"The Endowment made this grant in support of the New Hanover Healthcare Career Partnership for exactly the purpose it is advancing: to strengthen our nursing workforce and close what was a real shortage in New Hanover County," said Sophie Dagenais, President and CEO of The Endowment. "That focus is intentional, and it's already teaching us lessons partners may apply to other sectors. But a workforce grant for healthcare is not just about the workforce; it's about every person who depends on that workforce for care. Every New Hanover County resident, each of us, is a healthcare consumer, so when we invest in the people who provide that care, we're investing in the quality of care all of us receive." 

An Invitation to Learn More 

• Public Information Session: Sept. 22, 2026 
• Time: Doors open at 5 p.m.; program at 5:30 p.m. 
• Location: UNCW's Lumina Theater in the Fisher Student Center. 
• Moderator: Dr. Umar Bowers, Dawson Med 
• Program: Progress updates from HCP partners; presentations from regional employers, students and graduates; question-and-answer session.   
• Register: Online at www.newhanoverhealthcarecareerpartnership.com. Seating is limited. 

About the HCP 

The New Hanover Healthcare Career Partnership represents one of The Endowment's largest workforce development investments, reflecting a shared commitment to ensuring that local residents have access to high-quality career opportunities while healthcare providers have access to the talent they need. By expanding nursing enrollment capacity, supporting student success and strengthening connections between education and employment, the partnership is helping create a stronger and more sustainable healthcare workforce for New Hanover County and the surrounding region. 

About the Endowment 

The Endowment’s mission is to improve the health, education, safety, and economic opportunity of every person in New Hanover County. For more about The Endowment and to stay informed about upcoming grant opportunities, visit www.theendowment.org.