A Healthier Brunswick

From new facilities to expanded outreach programs, Novant Health Brunswick Medical Center President Kevin Briggs is helping shape healthcare for a fast-growing county.

Kevin Briggs has spent more than two decades working inside Novant Health. Now, just a couple of months into his role as president serving Novant Health Brunswick Medical Center, he’s focused on helping people feel connected to their healthcare system and confident that it’s growing alongside their community.

“We are here for you,” Briggs says. “Novant Health is truly about creating remarkable experiences and creating a healthier future.”

That focus feels personal for Briggs. He has lived in Brunswick County for about 20 years, raised his family here and stayed active in local churches and community groups where many residents already know him. His daughter, Kerys Briggs, attends North Brunswick High School. He mentors young people across the region through the 100 Black Men of Coastal North Carolina, while also serving as chair of the trustees at New Hope Freewill Baptist Church in Leland.

These strong connections to community go back to his childhood.

“I grew up in a very small rural community in upstate South Carolina,” Briggs says. “The sense of community has always been a part of my life.”

Briggs remembers weekends riding around with his grandfather helping neighbors build ramps and porches so they could get in and out of their homes more easily.

He also watched his mother return to school after years working in textiles so she could become a nurse, and he spent Saturday mornings with his father fixing cars for people who did not have the tools or experience to do the work themselves.

“Everyone depended on each other,” he says. “Being part of that helped shape my approach to life and leadership.”

That belief shows up in the way Briggs starts many mornings. Staff members across Novant Health Brunswick Medical Center already know what he calls his “hour of power,” a daily walk through the hospital to greet employees and check in with teams before the day gets busy.

“There’s nothing like being present,” Briggs says. “It’s so important for your teams to not only know that you’re there, but to see you.”

He says the early morning conversations help him stay connected to what staff members need so he can respond quickly and support them better.

Briggs acknowledges that healthcare teams across the country have carried a heavy load over the past few years and says supporting them remains one of his top priorities.

“It’s one of the most rewarding parts of what I do each and every day,” he says. “Listening to them and interacting with them so that I get the opportunity to know what’s at top of mind for them.”

As Brunswick County grows, Briggs says residents should expect strong service, excellent quality and safe and affordable healthcare close to home.

Part of that effort includes expanding access across the county. Novant Health plans to open a new Novant Health Leland Medical Center and build a freestanding emergency department in Carolina Shores on the southern end of the county. A new cardiac catheterization lab is also coming at Novant Health Brunswick Medical Center.

“I’m really excited about the opportunity to move forward with our new facilities to bring healthcare closer to our residents,” Briggs says.

Access also means meeting people where they already are. That includes mobile mammography services, chronic illness screenings and telehealth visits that make appointments easier to schedule.

Novant Health also works with senior centers, schools, churches, physician offices and even barbershops to connect with residents and share health information in familiar settings.

“Every entity plays a role as far as helping us to be a better provider of healthcare,” he says. “At Novant Health, we strive to provide our friends and neighbors with access to their health and wellness needs as close to home as possible.”

Even with all the planning underway, Briggs says the future of healthcare still comes back to people. He wants residents to know their voices help guide decisions through community health needs assessments and outreach efforts across the county.

After more than 20 years with Novant Health in Brunswick County, Briggs is excited to serve in this role at a time when the community is growing quickly.
“I’m very grateful to be trusted and tasked with leading healthcare strategies for Brunswick County,” he says.

For him, the job is not just about managing a hospital system. It is about helping neighbors stay healthy and making sure care is easier to reach as the county continues to change.

“That sense of community has and always will stay with me,” he says.