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Tuesday, February 11, 2025

N.C. Healthcare Association names Dobson as CEO

The N.C. Healthcare Association named Raleigh political veteran Josh Dobson president and CEO, effective today. He succeeds Stephen Lawler, who is retiring after seven years in the post.

Dobson, 43, stepped down as N.C. Labor Commissioner last week.

The post is among the state’s most powerful trade association jobs, representing some of the state’s largest employers. Dobson will represent about 135 members, including hospital giants Advocate Health, Novant Health, UNC Health and Duke Health. The group also has physician groups and other healthcare organizations as members.

“This position reflects Josh’s lifelong dedication to creating healthy and safe North Carolina communities through effective public policy and collaborative partnerships,” NCHA Board Chair Chris Peek, CEO of Gastonia-based CaroMont Health, said in a release. “Throughout his service in three elected offices, Josh has developed strong relationships and deep policy expertise that will advance our association and our members in the years to come.

The group hired Dobson after a national search. Lawler’s resignation was announced in September 2023, with plans for him to retire at the end of 2024.

“I am deeply passionate about healthcare issues and health policy. NCHA’s vision to bring equitable, accessible healthcare to all North Carolinians aligns perfectly with the work I started as McDowell County Commissioner and as a member of the local Public Health Board,” Dobson said. “Hospitals are essential to the well-being and vibrancy of our communities – not just for care, but as economic anchors. It is crucial that we have policies in place to ensure their financial sustainability, while continuing to deliver high-quality, high-value care. I am honored to lead this effort.”

Dobson is an Avery County native who was a McDowell County commissioner for two years, then a state representative from 2013-20, representing Avery, McDowell and Mitchell counties in western North Carolina. He was a chair of the House Appropriations Committee and House Healthcare Committee.

He won the statewide election for Labor Commissioner in 2020, defeating Democratic nominee Jessica Holmes. Dobson decided against running for another term, and Raleigh lawyer Luke Farley won last week’s election, defeating former Charlotte City Councilman Braxton Winston.

Dobson has a bachelor’s degree from Gardner-Webb University and a master’s degree in public administration from Appalachian State University. He previously worked as a correctional officer and manager for the N.C. Department of Corrections. He resides in Raleigh and Nebo with his wife Valerie and daughter Kennedy.

Lawler was a former hospital executive at Vidant Health (now ECU Health) in Greenville and Atrium Health in Charlotte before joining the trade association. His career included stints leading a very small hospital and one of the state’s largest. His total compensation topped $1.1 million in 2022 at the 64-employee organization, according to the last tax filing by the N.C. Healthcare Foundation. NCHA was named by Modern Healthcare to its “Best Places to Work in Healthcare” national rankings in 2020, 2022 and 2023.

 

David Mildenberg
David Mildenberg
David Mildenberg is editor of Business North Carolina. Reach him at dmildenberg@businessnc.com.

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