December 9, 2025

Dear Commissioners,

On September 7, 2025, I stood before you during the public comment period to share what I know professionally about hospital quality and what I have endured personally through the loss of my husband, John Henning, at New Hanover Regional Medical Center. Both my professional expertise and my lived experience compel me to speak, because the issues raised that evening were not abstractions—they represent real people, real loss, and preventable human suffering.

When I spoke, I did so to support the resolution submitted by more than 3,600 members of our community calling for clarity, transparency, measurable benchmarks, and publicly reported outcomes regarding patient safety and quality. I also spoke to support the other individuals who bravely came forward that night, many of whom, like me, have experienced firsthand the consequences of inadequate systems of care.

The Asset Purchase Agreement signed by this Board did not simply transfer ownership; it promised that our hospital would strive for excellence in quality and patient outcomes. Those promises matter, not only in governance documents, but in the lives and futures of the people who come through those doors seeking care. I entrusted that hospital with the life of my husband, and the results were devastating. Many others have entrusted them with the lives of their loved ones and share similar stories of preventable harm.

As a community, we are not looking for blame—we are looking for accountability, transparency, and meaningful progress. Yet to date, there has been no public acknowledgment or communication from this Board explaining how you are addressing the concerns raised. Silence from leadership compounds pain, erodes trust, and sends a message that those who have suffered do not matter.

I respectfully ask for a direct response to the question posed on September 7:

What steps will the County Commissioners take to ensure that hospital quality commitments made to the people of New Hanover County are being met?

This request comes not from confrontation, but from a deep belief in collaborative problem solving. I have spent more than 31 years in higher education building partnerships grounded in mutual respect, transparency, and shared commitment to improvement. I believe this community deserves that same spirit of leadership from its elected officials.

The people of New Hanover County—not just those who lost loved ones, but all who seek care—are afraid, frustrated, and wounded. They are also hopeful. They want to see that their Board is taking this matter seriously and acting with courage and compassion.

I look forward to your acknowledgment and response, not only on behalf of my husband, but on behalf of every resident who deserves safe, reliable, high-quality care.

Respectfully,

Denise K. Henning, Ph.D.