UNC Health Rex Welcomes Lorie Rhine as new Chief Nurse
Rhine’s background in improving care will build on Rex’s long nursing legacy
RALEIGH, N.C. – Dec. 2, 2022 – UNC Health Rex is proud to welcome Lorie Rhine as the hospital’s new chief nursing officer.
Rhine will help oversee a team of more than 3,000 compassionate and dedicated nurses at Rex’s main Raleigh hospital, the Holly Springs hospital that recently celebrated its one-year anniversary, and other surgery centers and clinics across Wake County.
She has an extensive background in quality and performance improvement and is a board-certified nurse executive. Rhine replaces Joel Ray, who retired last summer after nearly a decade as Rex’s chief nursing officer.
“We wanted to hire a nursing leader who will continue to elevate Rex as the best place for nurses to work and patients to receive care,” said Ernie Bovio, president of UNC Health Rex. “Lorie brings outstanding leadership skills and a commitment to improving care.”
Rex is nationally known for its high quality of nursing. It is one of only 2 percent of hospitals nationwide to be re-designated Magnet status four times, a prestigious award given by the American Nurses Credentialing Center. Rex is also one of only a handful of hospitals across the country to receive its Magnet designation, a 5-star rating from CMS and straight A’s for patient safety from the Leapfrog Group.
“I’m excited to join a nursing team with a national reputation for providing the best care for patients,” Rhine said. “Rex has long been a destination for the best and brightest nurses and I look forward to building on that legacy.”
Rhine comes to Rex from the Summa Health System in Ohio, where she previously served as CNO of the Akron and St. Thomas campuses. Prior to joining Summa Health, Lorie served several executive roles at Forum Health and Valley Care Health Systems, including the Executive CNO for five years.
Rhine earned her bachelor of science in nursing from Kent State University, and a master’s of science in nursing at The Ohio State University. Rhine is married with two adult sons.
About UNC Health
UNC Health is a state entity and an affiliated enterprise of the University of North Carolina system, comprised of 16 hospitals, 20 hospital campuses and more than 900 clinics along with the clinical patient care programs of the UNC School of Medicine (SOM). It exists to improve the health and well-being of North Carolinians and others we serve and to further the teaching mission of the University of North Carolina SOM. Over the past three years, UNC Health has provided more than $400 million in uncompensated or charity care to the citizens of North Carolina. Our hospitals have received numerous awards and recognition for quality care, patient safety and the overall patient experience. For more information, please visit unchealth.org.
