Programming and Staff
More than 20 years ago, UNC Health Southeastern’s Board of Trustees felt that a department that would focus on the improvement of health in Robeson County was an important part of health care for the community in addition to the standard health care services offered by the organization, which led to the creation of UNC Health Southeastern's Community Health Services (CHS) department.
The department today reaches beyond Robeson County throughout the region providing education, screenings and prevention services to people of all ages through schools, churches and community programs. The CHS department staff includes health education, nutrition, public health, policy, mass communications and other related professionals who are assigned different aspects of community health based on their expertise.
Lekisha Hammonds - Director
Lekisha.Hammonds@unchealth.unc.edu
Before accepting the director position in 2013, Lekisha Hammonds served as interim director of CHS for seven months. With over 15 years of experience in community health, Hammonds served as the manager/coordinator of CHS with a focus on community health needs assessments; coalition building, planning, and developing; and implementing community screens/health fairs/programs and services designed to meet the needs of the community. She is credentialed as a master certified health education specialist as well as a registered health educator.
Phillip Richardson - Manager
Phillip.Richardson@unchealth.unc.edu
CHS Manager Phillip Richardson started his UNC Health Southeastern career working at the Community Health Education Center and has advanced to an organizational manager, overseeing the center along with several other areas within the CHS department.
Tanya Underwood - Community Mobilization Specialist
Tanya.Underwood@unchealth.unc.edu
Tanya Underwood joined the staff of UNC Health Southeastern’s Community Health Services as community mobilization specialist in 2018. Underwood will facilitate collaboration between individuals, groups, stakeholders, government and business organizations to improve overall health in the community. She co-facilitates the Community Health Needs Assessment process from planning to creating, to dissemination.
Underwood graduated with honors from University of North Carolina at Pembroke in 2000 with a bachelor’s degree in psychology.
“I am pleased to serve this community,” Underwood said. “I look forward to many purposeful and productive partnerships that will benefit Robeson County and the region.”
Catherine (Cathy) Hunt - Facilitator
Nancy.Hunt@unchealth.unc.edu
Nancy Catherine “Cathy” Hunt joined UNC Health Southeastern’s Community Health Services Department in 2017 as a grant facilitator. A career educator with the public school system, Cathy transitioned into working with healthcare to address the needs of community and population health and wellness. Her current focus involves implementing policy and systems change designed to address community needs surrounding social determinants to health. She coordinates an active health collaborative embodying local agencies such as health care, human service, education, clergy, business, and the community at large with a mission to improve population health in Robeson County.
For more information about the Healthy Robeson coalition, call Hunt at (910) 272-1181.
Abby Ward - Grant Facilitator
Abby.Ward@unchealth.unc.edu
Abby Ward joined UNC Health Southeastern’s Community Health Services staff in 2021 as a Grant Facilitator.
Ward's role as Grant Facilitator involves supporting the grant lifecycle processes for her department/organization and coordinating programs and projects aimed at promoting health awareness throughout the calendar year.
Ward graduated from East Carolina University with a bachelor's degree in public health in 2021 and earned her master's degree in business administration, concentrating in healthcare administration, from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke in 2022.
As a Lumberton native, Ward intimately understands the local community and its unique needs. Leveraging a personal connection to Robeson County, Ward brings a special perspective and a passionate drive to meet the needs of her hometown. Ward and her husband, Jace, live in Lumberton with their two dogs, Scooby and Pippa.
Ivine Lucas - Healthy People, Healthy Carolinas grant assistant
Ivine.Lucas@unchealth.unc.edu
Ivine Lucas joined the UNC Health Southeastern Community Health department staff in August 2018 as the Healthy People, Healthy Carolinas grant assistant. She now serves as the grant specialist, assisting with activities to meet deliverables for awarded grants. Ivine enjoys working with children and older adult populations to help them facilitate healthy lifestyle changes.
For more information about the Healthy Robeson Task Force or the Healthy People, Healthy Carolinas grant, call Hunt at (910) 272-1181.
