About NIHG
Mission & Vision
The Vision of NIHG.org is to be the leading healthcare organization in our nation through the creation of a community where respected Healthcare Administrators, Nurses, Physicians, and all other Healthcare Providers can come together to reshape the future of care for all Americans, based in innovation, trust and a renewed nationwide medical consciousness.
Core Values
No Silos
We believe in increased collaboration between all disciplines for improved outcomes. By breaking down barriers that have traditionally existed between a variety of healthcare stakeholders, we can align to create a unified movement focused on improving the health of patients across America and trust between patients and providers.
Medical Conscience
We view healthcare providers as individuals pursuing a higher calling. As such, there is no, “one size fits all,” and healthcare providers should never feel forced to betray their own conscience when providing care. Similarly, patients are also individuals with their own voices, which need to be listened to and respected when seeking care.
Beneficence
Healthcare providers should always put the best interest of their patients before trending ideologies. NIHG believes in protecting its members’ as well as their patients’ fundamental rights as Americans.
Non-Maleficence
“First, do no harm,” should always be applied when developing policy. It is our belief that full transparency, both clinical and financial, as well as fundamental parental rights should be the core components of healthcare decision making.
Fiscal Accountability
Our members will work to ensure fiscal accountability by identifying and eradicating waste, fraud, and misuse of healthcare funds while safeguarding resources so that they are easily available to all Americans in order to provide them with the care they require today and in the future.
Sustainability
We are aware that in order for America to reach its full potential in terms of health, we must cultivate a long-lasting, well-trained workforce, provide sufficient reimbursement for providers, and provide access to practice.
Innovation
We promote innovation in treatment of clinical conditions and support all clinicians in the creation of new techniques, technologies, and other medical breakthroughs that benefit patients.
Respect
We encourage all healthcare providers to respect each other and their patients, creating an environment of trust.
Courage
We encourage all healthcare providers to professionally lead, collaborating and providing input particularly in matters of patient safety as top advocates for both their colleagues and patients.
Board Members
Jeanette Skinner
President & Founder NIHG
jeannette.skinner@nihg.org
Jeannette Skinner is a highly accomplished and influential healthcare executive, and as the Founding President of NIHG.org, brings a proven track record of success in leading organizations to exceptional results. With over 26 years of experience in hospital executive and C-suite positions, her expertise spans various facets of the healthcare industry. Jeannette has a truly impressive background that includes the top nurse leader roles as a Chief Nurse, head of operations as Chief Operations Officer and ultimately CEO. She has led several hospital financial turnarounds, has built a hospital, and has led complex healthcare organizations. Her expertise has been utilized to include physician practices, multi-site and nationwide operations. She has been intimately involved in various under mergers and acquisitions, and new hospital/physician enterprises. Additionally, she has a keen financial acumen in healthcare, and is an expert at strategic engagements.
With their extensive knowledge and experience, our President has honed their skills in driving transformative change and delivering outstanding outcomes serving as a Senior Advisor to healthcare organizations nationwide. She brings hands on solutions, with a passion for treating all people with kindness and respect. She is a visionary leadership has empowered organizations to overcome challenges, optimize operations, and achieve remarkable growth. Her strategic mindset and collaborative approach have elevated patient care and financial performance, making a significant impact on the healthcare landscape.
Jeannette is deeply committed to making healthcare better, and sustainable for future generations. We are honored to have such an exceptional individual at the helm of our non-profit organization. With their power, influence, and unwavering dedication to advancing healthcare, our President leads us towards a future of transformative impact, improving lives across the nation.
Jeanette
Claire Paris
Vice President & Chief Medical Officer
UNC Lenoir Health Care
Kingston, NC
claireparis@chartertn.net
Dr. Claire Paris is Board Certified in Internal Medicine. After completing her residency at East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, TN, she practiced in a traditional Internal Medicine clinic for two years. Dr. Paris then realized her passion was treating more acute patients in the hospital, and she returned to East Tennessee to establish a Hospitalist practice. After growing that practice, she sold it to IPC, The Hospitalist Company, later acquired by TeamHealth.
Dr. Paris has always had a great interest in quality improvement and was honored to have been selected by the ACP Hospitalist journal as one of ten Top Docs in 2014 for her work in mortality reduction. She was able to earn her MBA in 2018 at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Kenan-Flagler Business School, and now utilizes her MBA education and skills, combined with her medical and hospital expertise, to impact patient lives on a larger scale as Vice-President and Chief Medical Officer at UNC Lenoir Healthcare in Kinston, NC.
She serves on the Kenan-Flagler School of Business at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill Center for the Business of Health Board.
She and her husband reside in Kinston, NC, where their youngest child attends high school. They also have a daughter at NC State and a son at UNC Charlotte.
Claire
Gavin Humble
Governor
ghumble@thelukenscompany.com
Gavin Humble is an accomplished political strategist with nearly a decade of experience. He has worked on highly competitive statewide and national races, including campaigns for Governor Ron DeSantis, Governor Glenn Youngkin, and President Donald J. Trump.
A graduate of Florida Gulf Coast University, Gavin’s expertise in political strategy and campaign management has earned him a reputation for delivering results. His strategic thinking, leadership skills, and dedication to his craft have made him a respected figure in the political world.
Gavin
Paula Smith
Secretary
Paula Smith is a seasoned executive function in support of top CEOs and Boards with a diverse background in Commercial Real Estate, Gaming and Casino Industry, Healthcare, and Biotechnology. With a proven track record of success brings invaluable expertise to NIHG.org.
Paula started her career in Commercial Real Estate, gaining a a comprehensive understanding of the industry’s intricacies. This experience laid the foundation for their exceptional abilities in analyzing market trends, evaluating investments, and ensuring sound business decisions in this asset class. After a successful tenure supporting as the executive admin with VCAT, LLC in the gaming industry, transitioned to the healthcare sector, leveraging her deep expertise in real estate asset management and complex regulatory and compliance background. She served as the top Executive Admin to various CEOs at Palomar Health for many years. In this role, her pivotal position closely collaborated and supported the Public Hospitals District Board and Foundation. Her role played a vital role in personally supporting top hospital leaderships business, from complex regulatory filings, overseeing contracts management, and physician payments, to monitoring critical recalls, being public and physician facing for frontline issue to supporting the CEO in matters of compliance with industry standards.
Most recently, Paula served as the Corporate Affairs Manager for Aspen Neurosciences, a groundbreaking biotechnology company. At Aspen, their focus was on developing induced-pluripotent stem cells to address diseases with high unmet medical need, particularly Parkinson’s disease (PD). Advancing autologous neuron replacement therapies for both sporadic and genetic forms of Parkinson’s disease. With Paula’s broad expertise in corporate affairs, compliance, and strategic growth initiatives, Paula Smith brings an invaluable perspective to NIHG.org. Her ability to navigate complex regulatory landscapes, collaborate with stakeholders, and drive strategic decision-making makes them an indispensable asset to our Board.
Paula
Michael Vaughn
Treasurer
Mr. Vaughn has served as Interim Vice President – Chief Financial Officer within the University of North Carolina Health System in Kinston, North Carolina. Where he successfully led 261 bed net revenue hospital operating in a high industry migrated community with significant key management turnover and profitability challenges.
He also worked with Community Hospital Corporation, Plano, TX. Primarily as Interim Chief Financial officer for Oconee Regional Health System in Milledgeville, GA, (Small rural Georgia Health System in need of a turnaround and management continuity). Saved $3M annually and improved the quality of various departments. Successfully sold the system assets to a regional buyer.
He joined Nearterm Corporation (healthcare financial management consulting services firm) located in Houston as a Senior Consultant at State University New York (SUNY) New York, NY (State of New York owned hospital and turned around Monroe County Hospital in Monroeville Alabama (not for profit rural hospital) in the role of Chief Financial Officer (made viable in twenty-one months).
Before joining Nearterm He served in various capacities with the following privately held as well as publicly held for-profit hospital companies. He served as Interim Chief Financial Officer for Rockwall Hospitals, Inc. a Richardson, Texas physician joint venture company, He served as Chief Financial Officer for Crown Hospital Partners, Inc. a McKinney, Texas healthcare consulting company. Prior to Crown he held senior executive management positions with Leland Medical Centers, Inc. served as Vice President of Finance, Vice President of Operations Finance and Regional Chief Financial Officer. He has served in various public hospital companies (Clarent, Province and Ornda) as Assistant Vice President of Operations Finance, Assistant Vice President of Corporate Finance and Director of Accounting. He has also served as Chief Financial Officer for two other acute care hospitals, one in Virginia and the other in Texas.
Mr. Vaughn is a graduate from Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas with Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting with emphasis in Finance and is a certified public accountant (CPA) licensed in the state Texas.
Michael
Max Skinner
Director of Veterans Affairs
Max Skinner, a distinguished addition to our board, brings with him a profound dedication to serving those who have honorably served in the military, building upon his impressive lineage as a third-generation military member and Army veteran. With a heartfelt commitment to veterans’ health and mental well-being, Max is fervently devoted to facilitating timely and expert care for veterans through his involvement with the NIHG (National Institutes of Health) program. His unwavering passion extends to addressing the pressing issue of homelessness among veterans and their families, recognizing the profound impact it has on their lives as well as access to timely care and needed specialties in communities where Veterans live.
Max’s extensive military background, which spans both Germany and the United States during his esteemed career in pharmacy, has endowed him with a wealth of invaluable experiences. Such experiences are emblematic of the dedication, resilience, and strength that define our armed forces.
Max’s educational achievements are equally impressive, having attended the University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, the University of Texas at El Paso, and the University of Maryland. These academic accomplishments further solidify Max’s expertise and his ability to contribute meaningfully to our board’s strategic decision-making processes.
We are delighted to welcome Max Skinner as a valued member of our board, confident that his exceptional military background, unwavering dedication to veterans’ health, and astute insights will greatly enhance our organization’s mission and impact.
Max