UNC Health Pardee Marks Major Milestone with Ribbon Cutting for New Pardee Adolescent Behavioral Health Center

UNC Health Pardee celebrated an important milestone in the expansion of care with a ceremonial ribbon cutting for the new inpatient Pardee Adolescent Behavioral Health Center at Pardee Hospital on Wednesday, August 12. The ceremony marked the completion of construction while waiting for final state licensure review.

"In March of 2025, we embarked on a journey to build something extraordinary, a place where adolescents and their families could find hope, healing, and recovery during some of the most difficult moments of their lives," said Bridget Fluech, RN, Nursing Director of Psychiatry Services at UNC Health Pardee. "Today, the construction is complete, but the real work, the work of changing lives, is just beginning."

The event brought together UNC Health Pardee leaders, teammates, physicians, representatives from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS), Vaya Health, UNC School of Medicine, and state and local officials all who have been an integral part of bringing this vital need to Western North Carolina.

With the construction of the 23-bed inpatient center completed, UNC Health Pardee is one step closer to providing adolescents and their families with greater access to specialized behavioral health care. Following final approval from the state, the hospital looks forward to opening the doors of Pardee Adolescent Behavioral Health Center and providing a safe, supportive environment where adolescents can receive the care they need.