A Message From Our President & CEO

UNC Health Blue is a not-for-profit community healthcare system that provides advanced healthcare and wellness services from more than 40 locations in a three-county region of Western North Carolina. 

Our system includes one hospital with two locations (Morganton and Valdese) and a continuing care retirement community (Grace Ridge Retirement Community). 

Nearly 140 primary care physicians, physician specialists, and extenders in the Blue Ridge Medical Group combine with other physicians on the Medical Staff to serve patients in the region. UNC Health Blue Ridge provides graduate medical education programs for medical school graduates and students in allopathic and osteopathic medicine.  

We are affiliated with UNC Health System, a not-for-profit integrated healthcare system owned by the state of North Carolina and based in Chapel Hill.

UNC Health Blue Ridge is not just a healthcare system but a community collaboration.  Our operations are guided by a Board of Directors made up of  local citizen volunteers, ensuring we remain dedicated to our mission of serving you and our community. 

We are committed to making it possible for you to receive most of the healthcare you will need right here in your backyard. Our medical technology is state-of-the-art, and our facilities are modern, attractive, and convenient. Our key services reflect the community’s most widespread medical issues: heart disease, cancer, digestive diseases, bone and joint disease, diabetes, and women’s health. Physicians in more than 30 specialties serve on our Medical Staff.

Your care is at the center of everything we do. We know you have a choice in where you receive care, and we thank you for entrusting yours to us. We constantly seek to earn that trust as we strive to fulfill our mission. It is truly a privilege to serve you in your personal healthcare journey.

Gary Paxson

President and CEO of UNC Health Blue Ridge 

Meet the rest of our Leadership Team