Iredell Health Receives $1.27 Million Grant for Psychiatry Residency Program from The Duke Endowment
Iredell Health, with support from the Iredell Health Foundation, has received a $1.27 million grant from The Duke Endowment to help establish a psychiatry residency program that will expand behavioral health services in Iredell County and the surrounding region. The program is expected to welcome its first class of residents in June 2028.
The psychiatry residency program builds on the success of Iredell Health’s current internal medicine residency program, which is now in its second year and is already benefitting the community by expanding access to care through residents who are seeing patients locally as part of their training.
“We’ve already seen how impactful graduate medical education can be for our patients and community,” said Dr. Joseph Mazzola, Iredell Health Vice President of Medical Affairs. “Our internal medicine residents are helping meet local healthcare needs while training in the region they may one day serve. A psychiatry residency is a natural next step as we respond to the growing demand for behavioral health services and continue investing in long-term solutions for our community.”
This effort continues Iredell Health’s commitment to investing in behavioral healthcare, including the purchase of Iredell Davis Behavioral Health Hospital, the addition of behavioral healthcare at Family Care Center of Taylorsville, the launch of the internal medicine residency program, and now, the development of a psychiatry residency program.
“This grant represents a meaningful investment in the future of healthcare in our community,” said David Green, Chair of the Iredell Health Board of Directors. “By helping us build a psychiatry residency program, The Duke Endowment is supporting both the immediate care needs of our region and the long-term development of greater access to behavioral health in the region. I’m proud to be part of Iredell Health’s future as a leader in healthcare.”
The Endowment grant will support the faculty, staff, accreditation work and start-up costs
needed to develop the program before residents arrive. Because residency programs require
dedicated physician faculty before preliminary accreditation can occur, Iredell Health must make
a significant up-front investment before federal reimbursement through the Centers for Medicare
& Medicaid Services begins. That reimbursement is expected to grow gradually as more
residents enter the program. The Duke Endowment also provided start-up support for Iredell
Health’s internal medicine residency program. In total, The Duke Endowment has provided
$2.23 million to Iredell Health to help establish a sustainable physician pipeline and ensure
greater access to care.
For more information about Iredell Health’s graduate medical education programs, visit
iredellgme.org.
About The Duke Endowment
Based in Charlotte and established in 1924 by industrialist and philanthropist James B. Duke,
The Duke Endowment is a private foundation that strengthens communities in North Carolina
and South Carolina by nurturing children, promoting health, educating minds and enriching
spirits. Since its founding, it has distributed more than $5.3 billion in grants. The Endowment
shares a name with Duke University and Duke Energy, but all are separate organizations.
About Iredell Health System
Iredell Health System includes Iredell Memorial Hospital; Iredell Davis Medical Center; Iredell
Davis Behavioral Health Hospital; Iredell Mooresville; Iredell Home Health; Iredell Wound Care
& Hyperbaric Center; Community and Corporate Wellness; Occupational Medicine; the Iredell
Physician Network and more. Iredell Memorial Hospital is the largest nonprofit hospital in
Iredell County. The comprehensive healthcare organization has 391 licensed beds; over 2,300
employees; and has approximately 365 healthcare providers representing various specialties.
Centers of excellence include Women’s and Children’s; Cardiovascular; Cancer; Surgical
Services and Wellness & Prevention. The health system’s Iredell Mooresville campus is home to
the area’s only 24-hour urgent care facility, as well as an ambulatory surgery center, imaging
center, rehabilitation services, and physician practices. The mission of Iredell Health System is to
inspire wellbeing. For a comprehensive list of services and programs, visit www.iredellhealth.org.
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