Obituary of Harry Nurkin

Harry A. Nurkin Dr. Nurkin, Ph.D., former President and Chief Executive Officer of the Carolinas Medical Center (CMC) and the Carolinas Health Care System (CHS), died on October 13, 2011 after a brief but vigorous battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 67. Nurkin is survived by his very best friend and the love of his life, his wife, Elizabeth Heath (Libby) Nurkin, with whom he spent the happiest years of his life. He is, also, survived by seven children: Matthew H. Nurkin (Ashley) of Charlotte; Bradley K. Nurkin of Johnson City, TN; Scott W. Nurkin (Erin) of Chapel Hill, NC; Eliza D. Brenkus (Brett) of Arlington, VA; Patrick C. Nurkin of Sydney, Australia; Alexander J. Nurkin of Columbia, SC; and Lane K. Drury of Charlotte. Nurkin is, also, survived by four grandchildren: Harris and Taylor Nurkin of Charlotte, Jake Nurkin of Hattiesburg, MS and Finch Nurkin of Chapel Hill, NC. Also surviving are a sister, Rita Bailey (Josiah) of Pine Knoll Shores, NC; and a brother, Sidney J. Nurkin (Aurelia) of Atlanta, GA. Dr. Nurkin was born on February 15, 1944, in Durham, NC, to the late Nell Webster Nurkin and Leo Nurkin. Dr. Nurkin was educated in the Durham school system and graduated from Duke University with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 1966. In 1968, Dr. Nurkin received a Masters Degree from Duke University Graduate Program in Health Services Administration (now part of the Fuqua School of Business). Also in 1968, Dr. Nurkin was recognized as one of the most outstanding graduate students in health services administration by the MEAD-Johnson Corporation which awarded Dr. Nurkin a Post-Graduate Fellowship. Dr. Nurkin was chosen to serve the Post-Graduate Fellowship at the prestigious Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. At the completion of the Post-Graduate Fellowship in 1969, Dr. Nurkin was asked to join the management team of Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. In 1971, he was recruited to the position of Assistant Administrative Director of Memorial Mission Hospital in Asheville, NC, where he served until he was chosen to be the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the University of Alabama Hospitals (UAB) in 1973. During his eight years at UAB Hospitals, Dr. Nurkin was active as an administrator and as an educator, teaching both undergraduate and graduate students in health related professions. In, 1978, while serving as an administrator at the UAB Hospitals and as a professor in the UAB Graduate School, Dr. Nurkin enrolled in a Doctoral (Ph.D.) Program at the University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa. In 1980 Dr. Nurkin was invited to interview for the position of Executive Director of the Charlotte Memorial Hospital and Medical Center (which later became the Carolinas Medical Center) in Charlotte, and, even though he was the youngest of the candidates interviewed, he was offered the position by the Charlotte Memorial Hospital Board of Commissioners. After beginning the new job in Charlotte in early 1981, Dr. Nurkin finished two final courses, completed his doctoral dissertation, and was awarded the Ph.D. degree at University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa in May of 1983. Over the 21 years he served as President and Chief Executive Officer, the Carolinas Medical Center (CMC) expanded in scope, science, technology and talented health professionals. CMC became recognized as one of the most outstanding Academic Medical Center Teaching Hospitals in America. During his tenure as Chief Executive Officer, the Carolinas HealthCare System (CHS) grew to become the third largest public healthcare system in the USA. Prior to his retirement in 2002, Carolinas HealthCare System included over 20 owned, managed, or leased hospitals and other healthcare facilities in North and South Carolina and employed over 25,000 health professionals. Dr. Nurkin worked to improve both the quality and quantity of service and the financial position of all of the hospitals operated by CHS. Under his leadership, CHS maintained full accreditation from all hospital accrediting agencies and in 1982, obtained the highest debt rating for any hospital from the major rating. An active member of many healthcare management and educational groups, Dr. Nurkin was a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, a Member of the American Hospital Association, and a Member of the North Carolina and South Carolina Hospital Associations. Dr. Nurkin was elected to the prestigious NC Institute of Medicine in 1990. Also, he was a Member of the Dean?s Advisory Council for the School of Public Health at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a Member of the L.R. Jordan Management Society and a Member, Board of Trustees, VHA-Carolinas/Tennessee; Chairman, 1994-1995. Dr. Nurkin held teaching appointments at several universities: Professor, Graduate Program in Health Services Administration, School of Health Related Professions, University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) 2002-2004; Director, Executive Distance Learning Masters Program, Graduate Program in Health Services Administration, School of Health Related Professions, University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) 2002-2004; Adjunct Professor, Department of Social and Administrative Medicine, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 1985-2002; Research Fellow, Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1990-2002. Dr. Nurkin has served on a number of boards of educational, non-profit and investor-owned enterprises including: Member, Board of Trustees, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC, 1998-2004; Secretary, Board of Trustees, 2002-2004; Member, Board of Trustees, Johnson C. Smith University, Charlotte, NC, 2000-2004; Member, Board of Visitors, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 1983-1995; Member, Board of Visitors, Davidson College, 1985-1990; Member, Board of Directors, Soteria Imaging Services, Inc., 2005-2011; Member, Board of Directors, United Dominion Industries, Inc., 1999-2001; Member, Board of Directors, Milbank Memorial Fund, New York, 2008-2011. Dr. Nurkin also participated in programs and services for the benefit of the broader Charlotte Community including: Member, Board of Directors, Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, 1983-1984; Member, Charlotte Arts and Science Campaign Cabinet; Member, Operations Study Committee, Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools; Member, Board of Directors, Charlotte Chamber of Commerce; Member, Charlotte Organizing Committee, 1994 NCAA Men?s Final Four Tournament, 1998-1999; Member, Board of Directors, Charlotte Region, Carolinas Partnerships; Member, Steering Committee, Charlotte Organizing Committee, 1996 NCAA Women?s Final Four Tournament, 1992-1996; Member, Board of Visitors, Charlotte Country Day School, 1984-2005. Dr. Nurkin has received innumerable awards for his management, teaching and fundraising skills including: Honoree, Dinner of Champions, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, 1992; Top Management Award, Charlotte Sales & Marketing Executives, 1991; Van Zile Scott Distinguish Lecture, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1995; Broyles Distinguished Lecturer, John A. Walker College of Business, Appalachian State University, 1996; Service to Mankind Award, Leukemia Society of America, 1996; Golden Speaker Award, Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, 1996; Honoree, Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, 1999; Distinguished Service Award, NC Hospital Association, 2001. In addition to his many awards and professional accomplishments, Dr. Nurkin was a mentor to countless individuals. So many relied on his sound judgment, advice and counsel as well as his uncanny ability to see the future and understand things most others could not. He was a genuine and generous man. His mind was brilliant and his heart was large and so filled with love. Dr. Harry Nurkin was an integral part of a large, extended group of friends and family, who were privileged to have known him and to have loved him, including his faithful companions, Finley and Bundy, who never left his side. The family would like to extend a special thank you to his friend and physician, Dr. Rob Heyer, his favorite nurse, Carol Dickinson, Dr. Gary Frenette and the nursing staff of CMC 4 Tower. Thank you to the special angel nurses Miranda, Danielle and Jennifer that carried the family through to the end. The visitation will be held on Sunday, October 16th from 5:30pm-7:30pm at Hankins & Whittington Funeral Service. A service to celebrate Dr. Nurkin?s Life will be held 2:00 PM Monday, October 17, 2011 at Bethel Presbyterian Church in Cornelius, NC. Memorial donations may be made to support pancreatic cancer research at http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/harrynurkin/KeeptheMemoryAlive