Cone Health Honored with United Way Spirit of North Carolina Award

Providing health care training and jobs yielded award-winning results.

Greensboro – There are many people stuck in poverty. Not because they don’t want to work, but because many face barriers that can make it difficult to access upwardly mobile, well-paying jobs. A program at Cone Health that provides job training helped the organization receive the 2025 Spirit of North Carolina Award in the Intentional Inclusion category.

Certified Medical Assistants or CMAs take on a variety of tasks throughout health care. They may check a patient’s blood pressure and temperature or check patients in and out for example. And they are in short supply. Cone Health started a CMA academy to change that. It has successfully trained 18 people working with the United Way of Greater Greensboro and all were hired by Cone Health.

“When we began, the academy was a way for our current team members to learn new clinical skills and advance their career path,” says, Debbie Grant, DNP, RN, chief nursing officer and vice president, ambulatory and clinical services for Cone Health.  “And, working with the United Way, we found an opportunity to help people outside Cone Health to train in health care skills and to launch new careers.” The new team members broaden the diversity of Cone Health CMA workforce. 

United Way of North Carolina’s annual Spirit of North Carolina Award celebrates individuals and organizations for their exemplary partnership demonstrated through fundraising and volunteer efforts, outstanding leadership, and creative team building. Yesterday, (May 13), United Way of North Carolina recognized Cone Health and 18 other winners. The award winners were nominated by a total of 12 local United Ways.

“Cone Health’s leadership reflects the kind of partnership our community needs to create lasting impact,” said Frank McCain, president and CEO of United Way of Greater Greensboro. “This recognition speaks to a shared commitment to expanding opportunity and helping individuals and families build long-term stability.”  

Pictured from left to right:  Julia Thomas, Associate Vice President, Development, United Way of Greater Greensboro, Leslie Kern, Cone Health Nursing Manager, Brittany Pruitt Fletcher, President & CEO, United Way of North Carolina.