LinkedIn: [Charul Haugan Profile](http://www.linkedin.com/in/charul-haugan-9b687a154)
Location: Raleigh, North Carolina, United States
Professional Roles and Responsibilities
Current Positions:
- Medical Director of Clinical Optimization, UNC Health (Since July 2019)
- Emergency Medicine Physician, UNC REX Healthcare (Since September 2001; counting over 24 years of clinical experience)
- Ongoing clinical practice primarily at smaller, critical access hospitals in North Carolina, complemented by leadership roles within the larger UNC Health system.
Previous Roles:
- Medical Director of Quality and Performance Improvement, UNC REX Healthcare (December 2015 – September 2019)
- Led hospital-wide throughput optimization projects including centralized hospital transport and turnover improvements for inpatient beds and operating rooms (ORs).
System-Level Leadership:
- Chair, UNC Health System Sepsis Program
- Oversees initiatives across 18 hospitals within UNC Health, spearheading advancements in sepsis care using data analytics and AI tools.
- Led development of a custom AI-based sepsis predictive model and clinical decision support tools.
- Implemented advanced performance dashboards and unified siloed teams into collaborative sepsis communities to improve patient outcomes.
- Co-Chair, UNC Health System Emergency Department (ED) Group
- Influences operational efficiency and clinical throughput in a group collectively caring for over 500,000 patients annually.
Expertise and Skillsets
- Clinical Specialty: Emergency Medicine with over two decades of hands-on clinical experience.
- Quality and Performance Improvement: Extensive background in operational excellence, throughput optimization, and patient flow improvements.
- Healthcare Analytics & Data-Driven Leadership: Expertise in leveraging data analytics, predictive AI modeling, and advanced dashboarding to drive clinical quality improvements and high-reliability healthcare culture.
- Process Improvement Methodologies: Trained in Lean Six Sigma, applying these principles in clinical and hospital-wide operational projects for improved care delivery.
- Strategic Healthcare Leadership: Experienced in system-wide initiatives integrating multidisciplinary collaboration and technology innovation.
Advocacy & External Roles
- Governor-Appointed Member, North Carolina State Health Coordinating Council (SHCC)
- Vice-Chair, Acute Care Services Committee
- Engages in state-level health planning and policy development focused on promotion of cost-effective, equitable, and quality healthcare expansion, particularly for medically underserved populations.
- Board Member, North Carolina Medical Society
- Provides insight into physician perspectives, shapes health policy, and influences legislative decision-making.
- Board Member, Day One Relief (Non-Profit)
- Supports vulnerable and marginalized communities across North Carolina, focusing on equitable healthcare access and services.
- Teaching Faculty, Institute for Healthcare and Quality Improvement
- Educates and mentors future healthcare leaders and clinicians on high reliability principles and quality improvement methodologies.
Education
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Emergency Medicine Residency (1998–2001)
- University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
- Doctor of Medicine (MD) (1994–1998)
- The Johns Hopkins University
- Bachelor’s Degree in Biology (1990–1994)
Professional Impact & Initiatives
- Led the successful integration of AI-enabled decision support tools to improve sepsis care across a broad multi-hospital network.
- Implemented system-wide operational and throughput improvements that address patient flow bottlenecks in Emergency Departments and hospital settings.
- Combines clinical expertise with Lean Six Sigma methodologies to improve efficiency and patient outcomes.
- Active healthcare system advocate for racial and rural health equity, focusing on legislative health policies to create cost-effective and quality healthcare services accessible to underserved populations.
- Recognized as a change agent promoting the transformation of healthcare through leadership, advocacy, innovation, and collaborative culture building.
Relevant Organizational Context: UNC Health Nash
UNC Health Nash is one of the hospitals within the UNC Health system, serving Rocky Mount, North Carolina. The health system includes multiple facilities where standardized protocols and system-wide initiatives such as the Sepsis Program and ED throughput projects are implemented. Dr. Haugan’s leadership roles affecting multiple hospitals are likely relevant to UNC Health Nash’s clinical optimization and quality improvement strategies.
Summary of Actionable Insights
- Key Influencer in Clinical Optimization and Quality Improvement within UNC Health, overseeing cross-hospital system programs.
- Strong operational leader with extensive experience in ED environments and hospital performance enhancement.
- Deeply involved in data-driven healthcare innovation through AI and analytics in critical care scenarios.
- Engages actively in state-level healthcare advocacy and policymaking with a focus on equity and access.
- Highly respected educator and mentor, promoting high reliability healthcare principles.
- Likely a primary stakeholder in initiatives aimed at improving patient outcomes and operational efficiencies at UNC Health Nash.
Profile Image: 
This profile consolidates Dr. Haugan’s comprehensive expertise, leadership roles, and strategic impact across clinical operations, quality improvement, healthcare advocacy, and education within the UNC Health system, including relevance to UNC Health Nash.
