Thriving in Trust: A Message from UNC Health Pardee's CEO, James M. Kirby, II
James M. Kirby, II, MHA, MBA
President & CEO, UNC Health Pardee
In the complex and often chaotic healthcare landscape of Western North Carolina, it can feel daunting to find a provider, or if you need it, a hospital that you can trust. When people think about healthcare choices in our region, they see an influx of new healthcare systems, new hospitals and new providers – all of which can be good for increasing choice and competition. But at times, the constant evolution can also create a sense of uncertainty and confusion. In this environment, people look for what they know and trust, preferring a steady option and a healthcare partner who is committed to their community.
UNC Health Pardee is a public, not-for-profit healthcare system managed by UNC Health, serving Henderson, Buncombe, Transylvania, Polk and Haywood counties with its comprehensive specialty physician network, primary care network, cancer center, three urgent care locations, and five orthopedic clinics.
Founded in 1953, Pardee Hospital is one of only two STEMI-certified hospitals in Western North Carolina that can treat a heart attack patient 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We’re taking that level of care a step further by working to gain Level III Trauma designation this summer. This matters because we provide a much-needed and trusted choice, relieving the pressure on any one emergency department to serve the most critical needs in our community.
Pardee Hospital is also the only county-owned hospital in the region. This matters because at its core, we are led, governed, and owned by our community. Our County Commissioners are dedicated to doing what is right by our community, prioritizing their well-being over the balance sheet or income statement.
Our more than 1,800 teammates are rooted in this region. From the front desk to the clinical staff, they are motivated by and committed to providing the best possible care to our patients. They know that when a patient comes through our doors, they are treating their friends, families, and their neighbors – the people that make up our community.
This foundational commitment is one of many reasons why our community and our patients place their trust in us and choose Pardee for their healthcare. They trust us as a healthcare system. They trust the people who work here, and they trust the strength of the Pardee and UNC Health brand promise to improve the health of the communities we serve.
Trust is earned through consistent, positive performance, and for Pardee, backed up by data. I’m incredibly proud of our team and their focus on patient experience and outcomes. Over the course of the past decade, our hard work and dedication to patient experience and quality care have been noticed. Healthgrades just awarded Pardee Hospital the Outstanding Patient Experience recognition for the third consecutive year, placing our community hospital among the top 5% of hospitals nationwide.
But those awards only tell part of the story. It’s the personal calls and handwritten notes that tell me what really matters. Community members view us as a trusted choice because they see our quiet and steady determination to deliver high-quality outcomes in a safe and caring environment.
Over the past decade, Pardee has demonstrated a quiet strength that is undeniable, growing from a $100 million organization to a nearly half-billion-dollar organization. This growth has allowed us to reinvest in our communities through new medical office buildings that increase access to care and specialty services – often in underserved areas. It has also allowed us to significantly invest in our medical staff to strengthen and expand key specialty areas, including oncology, neurology, and cardiology. In the first few months of 2026, we brought on 15 new providers, further increasing the depth and breadth of experience required to care for our growing region. Recognizing that patients deserve customized options to meet their needs, we recently introduced a new orthopedics model that focuses on an array of non-surgical treatments, in addition to highly specialized neurosurgery options dedicated to conditions affecting the spinal cord and peripheral nerves.
In response to the lack of options for adolescent behavioral health across our region, I’m honored to share that we are opening Pardee Adolescent Behavioral Health Center later this summer. That’s just the beginning. As critical needs emerge, we will continue to address them.
Amid rapid regional growth, Pardee continues to evolve while also staying the course. We value the trust placed in us, and our dedication to prioritizing people over profits remains, ensuring we deliver high-quality, safe, and community-focused care.
James "Jay" Kirby has served as the President and CEO of UNC Health Pardee since 2011, bringing more than 30 years of healthcare management experience to oversee the comprehensive specialty physician network, primary care network with FQHC status, cancer center, four urgent care locations and five orthopedic clinics. Under his leadership, Pardee has expanded its services to include board-certified interventional cardiologists and vascular surgeons, and only the second STEMI-certified emergency department in all of western North Carolina (WNC). Kirby also led Pardee to add pulmonology, neurology, oncology, thoracic surgery, infectious disease, and an orthopedic group to better serve the people of WNC.
