UNC Health hires Novant regional president Ernie Bovio to expand coastal footprint
CHAPEL HILL, NC (WWAY) — UNC Health has named Ernie Bovio as regional president of its Southeast Coastal market, a newly created role aimed at expanding access to care in the region.
Bovio will oversee strategy and operations across the Southeast Coastal Region, including Onslow Memorial Hospital, as UNC Health works to grow its presence in eastern North Carolina. He is expected to begin the role in late April.
The appointment marks a return to UNC Health for Bovio, who previously served as president of UNC Health Rex in Raleigh and led the system’s Triangle East Region. Most recently, he was president of Novant Health’s Coastal Region in southeastern North Carolina.
UNC Health officials say the new regional president role is designed to better align leadership, clinical expertise and operations as the system expands in the region.
“Ernie’s deep ties in North Carolina, especially the Southeast coastal region, coupled with his decades of healthcare leadership across the state, will help drive future success for patients and improve community health,” said Jeff Lindsay, president and chief operating officer of UNC Health.
UNC Health said strengthening its presence in the Southeast is part of its broader mission to serve patients across all 100 North Carolina counties. The system cited existing partnerships, including collaborations with Novant Health for pediatric care and programs with the UNC School of Medicine, as a foundation for expanding services.
Officials said expanding access to specialized care closer to home is a key focus, noting that many patients in the region currently travel long distances for treatment.
UNC Health also confirmed it is in the early stages of exploring opportunities in the Cape Fear region.
“At this point, we’re still in the early stages of exploring how UNC Health can improve care and access in that region,” a spokesperson said.
The spokesperson added that Bovio’s experience in southeastern North Carolina will support efforts to expand academic-level care in the region, with the goal of increasing access to specialists and services closer to home.
