At Avalere Health, we recently launched our new mission – EVERY PATIENT POSSIBLE – making a bold commitment to build a world where healthcare is not a barrier, and no patient is left behind.

To support this mission, we are delighted to announce our new partnership with The University of North Carolina STAR Program to develop better solutions for rural communities living in medical deserts, without access to healthcare. The partnership marks the first of many steps we’re taking to make our vision of supporting EVERY PATIENT POSSIBLE a reality.

Between 2010 and 2021, 136 rural hospitals closed across North America. Today, more than 700 hospitals are at risk of shutting their doors, with many already closing essential services such as maternity wards.

The barriers faced by rural communities are multifaceted and complex. Partnering with the University of North Carolina STAR program, we are investigating these nuanced challenges and uncovering actionable solutions that create change for patients.

“The rate at which rural hospitals are shutting down is not just alarming, it’s completely unacceptable,” says Amar Urhekar, CEO of Avalere Health. “With our experience and the STAR program students’ energy, I am confident that EVERY PATIENT POSSIBLE will not be a distant dream, but something that we can bring to life on a day-to-day basis.”

“We have put together an amazing team of students with such a wide diversity of backgrounds, experience, and interests,” said Stevie McNeal, Professor of the Practice, Consulting and Healthcare at The University of North Carolina. “What they all share in common is that they want to make an impact. This disruptive mindset will challenge healthcare leaders to think about how to handle these problems differently.”