Blue Cross and Blue Shield of N.C. and UNC Medical School near 10-year anniversary

Established in 2015, the partnership between Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina and the UNC School of Medicine's physician assistant program aims to continue addressing health care shortages and supporting veterans. 

Blue Cross N.C. Media Relations wrote in a statement to The Daily Tar Heel that North Carolina faces a critical shortage of health care providers, but does not recognize military medical credentials. Frontline health care experience does not meet the criteria for a career in civilian health. 

“There are so many people that are in the military, and when they come back, are short a few credits from actually getting to be able to practice,” Cheryl Parquet, director of community engagement at Blue Cross N.C., said. 

With a starting $1.2 million grant from Blue Cross N.C. and guidance from Fort Liberty, the two-year curriculum of the physician assistant program offers these veterans scholarships and special admissions preference to finish their medical training. 

“I think it's just been such a great partnership — to be able to fill the gaps around our health care needs, but also supply job opportunities for our veterans,” Parquet said.

One of these veterans, Alyssa Espinoza, is currently a second-year student in the physician assistant program. She said she was inspired to further her medical education after being exposed to tactical combat care during her time as a medical officer. 

“I figured I would give it a shot, and I just fell in love with it,” Espinoza said. 

During her first year of school, Espinoza said she maintained monthly visits with military units across the state. She said that the nontraditional framework of the program allowed her to continue serving with local reserves. 

“They were just really understanding with my service and my commitment that I was still doing at the time,” Espinoza said. “And I don't think I would have gotten that at any other program.”

In addition to financial support and scholarships, the partnership with Blue Cross N.C. aims to help UNC connect with veterans across the state. Espinoza said that veteran faculty members have been a great resource during her time with the program. 

For assistant professor Nicholas Wiley, military experience equipped him with the independence and training to consider a career in health sciences. 

“It was a natural transition to go and work as a PA,” he said.

Wiley served as an independent duty corpsman in the Navy and spent four years as an instructor with the Special Forces Medical Sergeant course. Although he was initially planning to study civil engineering, he said he heard about UNC's physician assistant program through connections with the Joint Special Operations Command and decided to apply. 

“Because I was a nontraditional student, and the UNC PA program was looking toward that, it was actually a better fit for me,” he said. 

After becoming an assistant professor in 2022, Wiley said he hopes to bring his experience in the burn specialty to the field at UNC. As an alumnus, he said he continues to endorse the program's goal of enrolling nontraditional students.

Since the partnership's inception, Blue Cross N.C. and UNC have certified 140 veterans through the physician assistant program. This December, Espinoza will graduate to join them. She said that she plans to return to active duty as a certified physician assistant after graduation. 

“I have such a soft spot in my heart for the military community,” she said.

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