Uploaded May 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Before leaving the office of Governor due to term limits earlier this year, Roy Cooper expanded North Carolina’s Medicaid program, enrolling more than 650,000 residents, many in rural areas. He also worked with hospitals to create a medical debt relief program aimed at helping nearly 2 million residents get out from under the weight of $4 billion in medical bills that they couldn’t afford to pay. In this conversation, Gov. Cooper will explain the value he sees in Medicaid and the potential impact of federal funding cuts to public health. He will also discuss his experience building coalitions across party lines to address healthcare needs in his state.
#HarvardChanStudio
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SPEAKER
■ Roy Cooper, Former Governor of North Carolina and Richard L. and Ronay A. Menschel Senior Leadership Fellow, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
MODERATOR
■ Adrianna McIntyre, Assistant Professor of Health Policy and Politics, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Opening
00:24 Introduction
00:43 Why Public Health
02:13 Medicaid Expansion in North Carolina
12:16 Medical Debt
20:29 Building Bridges
23:52 Advice for Students
27:37 Closing
─────────────────────
Sharing diverse perspectives on public health.
Speakers do not speak for Harvard.
Before leaving the office of Governor due to term limits earlier this year, Roy Cooper expanded North Carolina’s Medicaid program, enrolling more than 650,000 residents, many in rural areas. He also worked with hospitals to create a medical debt relief program aimed at helping nearly 2 million residents get out from under the weight of $4 billion in medical bills that they couldn’t afford to pay. In this conversation, Gov. Cooper will explain the value he sees in Medicaid and the potential impact of federal funding cuts to public health. He will also discuss his experience building coalitions across party lines to address healthcare needs in his state.
#HarvardChanStudio
SUBSCRIBE to our newsletter:
hsph.me/Studiosignup
SPEAKER
■ Roy Cooper, Former Governor of North Carolina and Richard L. and Ronay A. Menschel Senior Leadership Fellow, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
MODERATOR
■ Adrianna McIntyre, Assistant Professor of Health Policy and Politics, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Opening
00:24 Introduction
00:43 Why Public Health
02:13 Medicaid Expansion in North Carolina
12:16 Medical Debt
20:29 Building Bridges
23:52 Advice for Students
27:37 Closing
─────────────────────
Sharing diverse perspectives on public health.
Speakers do not speak for Harvard.
