UNC Health Chatham Names Dr. Thresa Hardy Chief Nursing Officer
UNC Health Chatham has named Dr. Thresa Hardy its chief nursing officer following her interim service in the role since August 1.
Hardy will provide permanent nursing leadership at UNC Health Chatham while continuing to serve as chief nursing officer for UNC Health Rockingham. Her appointment strengthens alignment across the two rural hospitals while supporting consistent nursing practices, leadership development and high-quality patient care.
“Thresa has brought experienced, steady leadership to Chatham and has built strong relationships with nursing leaders and teammates across both campuses,” said Jeff Strickler, president of UNC Health Chatham and UNC Health Rockingham. “Her permanent appointment supports greater collaboration and consistency while keeping the needs of our patients and communities at the center of our work.”
“Thresa’s permanent appointment reflects her strong leadership and commitment to nursing excellence,” said Lorie Rhine, MSN, RN, NE-BC, chief nursing executive for UNC Health. “Her experience leading in a rural health care environment brings an important perspective to our nursing leadership team. I am confident she will continue to advance professional nursing practice and create opportunities for nurses to grow and lead at UNC Health Chatham.”
Hardy has served as chief nursing officer and chief operating officer at UNC Health Rockingham and stepped into the interim chief nursing officer role at Chatham as part of a leadership transition announced in July. Her extensive work in quality, patient safety outcomes and patient experience has been central to her leadership. During the interim period, she has worked with leaders and teammates to strengthen nursing alignment, increase leadership visibility and support continued collaboration between the two campuses.
“I am honored to continue serving the teammates, patients and community of UNC Health Chatham,” Hardy said. “Chatham has a strong nursing team with a deep commitment to caring for this community. I look forward to building on that foundation and continuing our work across both campuses to support our teammates and provide exceptional care close to home.”
Hardy’s permanent appointment reflects UNC Health’s continued commitment to strong local leadership and collaboration across its rural hospitals. She holds a Doctor of Nursing Practice from the University of Alabama, a Post-Master’s Certificate as an Adult Health Clinical Nurse Specialist from ECU, a Master of Science in Nursing Education from ECU and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
