UNC Health Chatham Maternity Care Center Celebrates 1,000th Baby Born Since Opening

UNC Health Chatham is celebrating a joyful milestone at its Maternity Care Center: the birth of the 1,000th baby since the center opened on Sept. 8, 2020.

The milestone baby, Maylin, was born on Sept. 8, 2026, the six-year anniversary of the center’s opening. Proud parents Maria Garcia Avila and Homero Hernandez Guzman welcomed their new arrival with support from the Maternity Care Center team.

Since opening in 2020, the UNC Health Chatham Maternity Care Center has helped restore access to local maternity care for families in Chatham County and surrounding communities. The center offers a welcoming, family-centered environment where patients can receive high-quality care close to home, supported by a dedicated team of physicians, nurses and staff.

“The birth of our 1,000th baby is a meaningful moment for UNC Health Chatham and for the families we serve,” said Dr. Andy Hannapel, chief medical officer at UNC Health Chatham. “When the Maternity Care Center opened, it represented a commitment to sustaining safe, high-quality maternity care in our community. Six years later, this milestone reflects the skill, compassion and dedication of the entire team.”

The Maternity Care Center was designed to support patients and families through labor, delivery and postpartum care in a calm, compassionate setting. Over the past six years, the center has become an important resource for families seeking care closer to home while remaining connected to the broader expertise and resources of UNC Health. The milestone comes during a period of meaningful recognition for the center, including Baby-Friendly USA designation, a Five-Star Designation through North Carolina’s Maternity Center Breastfeeding-Friendly Designation Program and recognition on U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Maternity Care” list.

“Every baby born here represents a family who trusted us during one of the most important moments of their lives,” said Bev Carpenter, manager of the UNC Health Chatham Maternity Care Center. “Our team takes that responsibility to heart. Reaching 1,000 babies is a celebration of our patients, our teammates and the community that continues to support local maternity care.”

“We are incredibly proud of the Maternity Care Center team and grateful for the families who have allowed UNC Health Chatham to be part of their birth stories,” said Thresa Hardy, Chief Nursing Officer. “This milestone is a reminder of why local access to maternity care matters and how deeply this service touches the lives of families throughout our region.”