A Warm Welcome: Anita Case Takes the Helm
Anita Case, LMSW, has officially begun her tenure as WNCCHS’s new CEO. After spending her first two weeks alongside Kim Wagenaar to help ensure a smooth handoff — meeting with staff, visiting our locations, learning about our programs and services, and connecting with community partners — she has now stepped fully into the role, with Kim remaining available to support as a consultant.
Many of you have had the chance to meet Anita and have started to get to know her beyond her resume, which reflects decades of work in community health, most recently as CEO of a thriving FQHC in South Carolina. She’s a social worker by training with a proven track record of expanding access to care, integrating comprehensive services, and building strong community partnerships — but who is she outside of work, and what brought her to WNCCHS?
Originally from Rutherfordton, North Carolina, Anita studied at Wake Forest University and UNC-Chapel Hill. Her dedication to serving vulnerable populations is deeply influenced by her family's experience with AIDS in the mid-1980s. This experience shaped her desire to ensure that all people, especially the most vulnerable, feel welcomed and cared for.
She first learned about WNCCHS in the 1990s while working as an HIV case manager in Hickory. Our aligning values stuck with her, so when the opportunity to join WNCCHS came up, the decision to move was both professional and personal. She’d long wanted to return to the North Carolina mountains, and it felt like the right place and the right time.
Anita now lives in Candler with her husband, David (a philosophy professor), their two daughters (10 and 12) and their energetic new puppy, Cookie. She enjoys hiking, camping, biking, dancing, yoga, and spending time with family and friends. She’s also a person of faith and appreciates being part of a welcoming, inclusive faith community.
Anita describes herself as a relationship person who values transparency, open communication, and a healthy work-life balance. She enjoys digging into data and collaborating on solutions that strengthen the wraparound care WNCCHS provides — care she believes is essential to helping patients truly thrive.
In her first few weeks, she has been impressed by the knowledge, commitment, and perseverance of the staff and looks forward to growing and learning alongside the team. Her goals for the organization include staying rooted in WNCCHS’s mission and vision, reducing barriers to care, improving health outcomes, and raising awareness about the services we offer.
Anita is committed to supporting staff, strengthening our financial sustainability, growing our patient base, and helping us deliver excellent customer service. She aims for WNCCHS to be both a provider of choice and employer of choice in Western North Carolina.
Over the coming weeks, you’ll see Anita around more — in meetings, at our sites, in your inboxes, and hopefully in a few informal conversations along the way. She’s eager to hear what’s working, learn what’s needed, answer questions, and celebrate the things we’re doing well.
Welcome aboard, Anita — we’re glad you’re here!
