Hospital Week: Celebrating Our People, Our Progress, and Our Purpose

At UNC Health Pardee, we are proud to care for our community every day. While we are much more than just a hospital, we know that’s where our roots began. In the nearly seventy years since Pardee first opened its doors, we’ve grown from the Henderson County Hospital into a healthcare system serving patients across Henderson, Haywood, Transylvania, and Buncombe counties.

As we celebrate Hospital Week, I want to recognize the people—the medical providers, nurses, and staff—who have been essential to sustaining Pardee over the decades. You are the the reason we’ve been able to fulfill our mission to improve the lives of the communities we serve.

Commitment in times of crisis

As a healthcare organization, we understand our role in our community to be a pillar of strength, security, and, in some cases, a place of refuge. That has never been more evident than during the extraordinary challenges we’ve recently faced – from COVID to the devastation brought on by Hurricane Helene. Through every challenge, Pardee has been a constant. Our people showed up.

In the first hours and days after Helene, our team was steadfast, continually working to meet the needs of our community. Many came into work without knowing if their homes or loved ones were safe—but they set that uncertainty aside to care for others in the most critical time. As a leader, that was so rewarding to witness.

Meeting the needs of the community

While we are always ready to respond in times of crisis, we are also focused on the long-term wellness of our community and how we can serve the evolving needs of the region. The growth we are experiencing today is exciting — and it's no accident. Every area of care we introduce, every new specialist we welcome, and every expansion we pursue is done to ensure the people of this community have access to the care they deserve.

This year, we’ve taken important steps to strengthen that access. We welcomed eight new Pardee BlueMD providers and opened a new location on Long Shoals Road in Arden, expanding our primary care footprint. We also added 12 specialists across key disciplines—including obstetrics and gynecology, cardiology, neurology, endocrinology, and orthopedics and sports medicine.

We also launched Pardee Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, a wholly-owned practice now serving patients at four locations in Asheville, Brevard, Hendersonville, and Waynesville.

Future Expansion

Looking ahead, we are making strategic investments that will shape the future of care in our region. In partnership with Henderson County Government, we are building three new medical office buildings and an ambulatory surgery center to be completed in the next five years. Two of the medical office buildings and the surgery center will be located in Henderson County; the third office building will expand our presence in Transylvania County.

Construction on our new medical office building in Brevard is underway and expected to be completed early next year, doubling the number of Pardee primary care providers in that community, and strengthening local access to essential care.

Additionally, a $30 million investment will establish a 33-bed inpatient adolescent behavioral health facility by renovating 40,000 square feet of existing space at Pardee Hospital. This facility, expected to open in January 2026, will help fill a critical gap in mental health services for young people across our region.

Each of these initiatives reflects our commitment to ensure that high-quality care is never out of reach for the people who call this region home.

A reputation of high-quality care

Pardee is known for high-quality, patient-centered care because of the deep commitment of our staff to making a lasting difference. I’m proud of the reputation we’ve built—and even more proud that it’s gaining national recognition. In 2025, Pardee was named one of Premier’s Top 100 Hospitals and included in Healthgrades’ list of America’s 100 Best Hospitals. These honors reflect the heart of who we are: a healthcare organization focused on delivering compassionate, exceptional care where it matters most—right here in our region.

The journey ahead

I am excited about the journey ahead. We will continue to expand services, embrace new technologies, and forge strong partnerships that enhance the care we provide. But no matter how large our footprint becomes, our foundation will remain the same: an abiding commitment to the people we serve.

This community is not just where we work – it’s where we live, where we raise our families, where we call home. At Pardee, our people, our progress, and our purpose will always guide us forward.