September 12, 2025 – The Minerva Mobile Health Unit at the UNCG School of Nursing received the North Carolina Nurses Association (NCNA) Best Practice Award for “Caring for Others” at the NCNA annual conference, which took place on September 11, 2025, in Winston-Salem, N.C. This award is presented to programs or initiatives that demonstrate nurses’ ability to deliver exceptional care to patients, their families, and the broader community.
Now in its fourth year of service to the community, the Minerva Mobile Health Unit exemplifies best practices in nursing by improving access to healthcare for all. It was initially funded by a $3.7 million grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration and receives funding from United Healthcare, partnering with community healthcare organizations, including Cone Health.
The mobile unit focuses on underserved and rural populations in need of essential healthcare services. Students in UNCG’s pre-licensure Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, the graduate-level Master of Science in Nursing program, and Nurse Practitioner programs gain clinical experience on the mobile health unit. Minerva offers pop-up clinics in several counties in the Triad, including Alamance, Forsyth, Guilford, Randolph, Rockingham, and expanding to Caswell County this month.
“Minerva’s Mobile Health is more than a clinic on wheels—it’s a living example of how nurses lead to improve health care access and ultimately health for all. We are bringing care to the people who need it most, preparing students through real-world experience, and building trust with our communities,” says Dr. Debra Barksdale, Dean of the UNCG School of Nursing. “This is nursing at its best: responsive, compassionate, and grounded in excellence and collaboration.”