WakeMed To Hold Public Forums On Proposed Atrium Health Partnership

RALEIGH, N.C. — WakeMed Health & Hospitals will begin hosting a series of public listening sessions next week to gather community feedback and answer questions about its proposed strategic combination with Atrium Health.

The forums, branded as “WakeMed Listens,” are scheduled at locations across Wake County and will include one virtual session. According to WakeMed, the meetings are intended to give residents an opportunity to hear directly from hospital leadership and members of the WakeMed Board of Directors about the proposed partnership while also allowing community members to voice concerns and ask questions.

The first session is scheduled for Tuesday, May 19, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Andrews Conference Center on WakeMed’s Raleigh campus on New Bern Avenue.

WakeMed officials said each forum will begin with a presentation outlining the proposed strategic combination, followed by a public question-and-answer session. Additional meetings could be added depending on community interest and participation.

The proposed combination between WakeMed and Atrium Health would bring together two of North Carolina’s largest healthcare organizations. WakeMed officials have said the partnership is intended to strengthen patient care, expand services, and improve long-term financial stability while maintaining WakeMed’s commitment to the local community.

The currently scheduled forums include:

• Tuesday, May 19 — WakeMed Raleigh Campus, Andrews Conference Center, 3024 New Bern Ave., Raleigh, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
• Wednesday, May 20 — Virtual forum at noon
• Thursday, May 21 — Tarboro Road Community Center, 121 N. Tarboro St., Raleigh, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
• Tuesday, May 26 — WakeMed North Hospital Conference Center, 10000 Falls of Neuse Rd., Raleigh, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
• Wednesday, May 27 — WakeMed Cary Hospital Conference Center, 1900 Kildaire Farm Rd., Cary, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
• Thursday, May 28 — John Chavis Memorial Park Community Center, 505 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Raleigh, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Additional information, including the virtual meeting link and an online form for residents to submit comments, is available on WakeMed’s website.