UNC Greensboro has launched Minerva’s Health Chariot, a mobile health unit operated by the School of Nursing that offers primary and preventive care in Guilford, Forsyth, Alamance, Rockingham, Randolph, Davidson, Davie, and Caswell counties.
Dr. Debra Barksdale, dean of the School of Nursing; Chancellor Franklin D. Gilliam, Jr.; Anita Bachmann, CEO of UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of North Carolina; were joined by other trustees, faculty members, and community representatives to unveil Minerva’s Health Chariot outside the Nursing and Instructional Building on April 29.
The new unit was made possible by a $715,000 investment from UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of North Carolina.
The addition of Minerva’s Health Chariot is an expansion of services first initiated with the launch of Minerva’s Mobile Health Unit (MHU) in 2023. The MHU, a repurposed RV, has delivered screenings, vaccinations, primary and preventive care to housing communities, recreation centers, and other local sites, particularly in areas where demand for medical services often exceeds available resources.
Since its launch, the MHU has delivered care to over 3,000 people in the Triad who might not have received medical attention otherwise. The second unit will further increase access to essential health services in the region.
Minerva’s Health Chariot introduces a new feature to the fleet: integrated telehealth technology. This lets patients connect with a primary care provider in real time during their visit, making follow-up and ongoing care easier. The unit is a repurposed transit van, and its smaller size means it can reach more locations.
Tiffany Gibson, Ph.D., RN, a faculty member and dually certified family and women’s health nurse practitioner, has been a key part of the School of Nursing’s mobile health efforts since the MHU went into service. She sees patients on the unit several times a week and serves as its director.
“What sets Minerva’s Health Chariot apart is its ability to turn a routine screening or test result into a same-day primary care, telehealth visit. This is an essential service for rural and underserved communities where access to medical care may be limited,” said Gibson.
Both mobile health units also give UNCG nursing students valuable real-world training. Nursing students and graduate nurse practitioner students get real-world, hands-on experience working with patients through the Minerva Mobile Health Scholars program.
“Remarkable change doesn’t happen without the right tools, the right people, and partners who believe in the work. Minerva’s Health Chariot brings all of that together — giving our nurse practitioners and students the platform they need to meet our neighbors where they are and deliver care that truly transforms lives,” said Barksdale.
Bachmann, who also serves on the UNCG Board of Trustees, said, “At UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of North Carolina, we believe that everyone deserves access to quality health care, no matter where they live and Minerva’s Health Chariot will help increase access, said Anita Bachmann, CEO, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of North Carolina. “By bringing telehealth-enabled, preventive care directly into neighborhoods across the Triad, this mobile unit breaks down barriers that have kept too many people from getting the care they need.”
The Minerva Health Chariot is one part of UNCG’s growing service to underserved communities. At the ribbon-cutting, Chancellor Gilliam announced UNCG’s recent approval to participate in the Rural Residency Medical Education and Training Fund. With this funding from the UNC System, UNCG will help increase the healthcare workforce in rural communities. The School of Nursing will receive $200,000. Another $200,000 was awarded to be shared by the Department of Social Work in the School of Health and Human Sciences and Psychology in the College of Arts and Sciences.
To learn more or find out when Minerva’s Mobile Health Unit will be in your area, visit nursing.uncg.edu.
Story by Debbie Fuchs, School of Nursing
Photography by Sean Norona, University Communications
