Dean Higgins

Dean Higgins is an experienced healthcare leader who specializes in developing and guiding large-scale healthcare improvement initiatives, community health programs, and strategic operations aimed at improving health outcomes and equity. As Vice President, Dean oversees all aspects of CaroNova’s healthcare workforce and serious illness care portfolios including program development, implementation, evaluation, and sustainability strategy. He also serves as a key advisor in enabling the success and continued impact of the organization.

Prior to joining CaroNova in 2025, Dean spent 16 years at the North Carolina Healthcare Foundation in program management in leadership roles, most recently serving as the Executive Director of Program Development and Operations. Throughout a 27-year diverse healthcare career, ranging from community-based behavioral health service delivery, community-based hospice operations, to healthcare improvement, Dean has demonstrated his commitment to drive change through collaborative leadership and working to improve health outcomes in the Carolinas. He is currently pursuing his MPA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.