WNCCHS Announces New CEO
Western North Carolina Community Health Services (WNCCHS) has named Anita Case, MSW, as its new Chief Executive Officer, following a successful national search. Anita will succeed Kim Wagenaar, MSN, who is retiring after a distinguished career.
Anita brings nearly two decades of leadership experience as CEO of Affinity Health Center in South Carolina, where she expanded access to whole-person care for underserved communities. During her tenure, she led efforts to open new facilities, launch school-based clinics, and integrate comprehensive health services, including behavioral health, dental care, and HIV programs.
Under her leadership, Affinity significantly grew operational revenues and financial reserves, ensuring long-term sustainability while remaining committed to its mission of providing equitable, high-quality health care.
A Western North Carolina native, Anita grew up in Rutherford County and maintains family connections in McDowell and Buncombe counties.
“I'm excited to join the WNCCHS team and return to the mountains I love,” Anita said. “I look forward to working alongside this dedicated staff and building on the strong foundation Kim has laid. Together, we’ll focus on reducing barriers to care, improving health outcomes, and ensuring that everyone in Western North Carolina knows about the comprehensive, quality services we offer. I’m committed to ensuring WNCCHS continues to thrive and serve as a vital resource for years to come.”
Kim became WNCCHS’s CEO in 2019, leading the organization through a period of growth, financial stabilization, and programmatic expansion that positioned it as a regional leader in community health.
Her tenure saw the opening of new health centers in Candler and Marion, the launch of school-based behavioral health services, the modernization of health technology with a new electronic health records (EHR) system, and major facility renovations and expansions. She also fostered key community partnerships and spearheaded initiatives focused on value-based care and social determinants of health.
Kim also led WNCCHS’s pandemic response, during which the organization played a critical role in the regional effort, processing all county testing for the first eight months, operating a free outdoor testing and vaccination site, and ensuring Minnie Jones Health Center never closed its doors. She also guided WNCCHS through the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, ensuring that all locations fully reopened within weeks while the organization worked to distribute food, water, and essential supplies to affected residents.
“I'm grateful for the opportunity to have worked with such a talented team,” Kim said. "We've worked hard to improve access to care in Western North Carolina, and I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished together. Anita is a proven leader in community health, and I'm confident she'll build on our success. I look forward to seeing what WNCCHS accomplishes under her her leadership."
Brent Wyatt, chair of WNCCHS Board of Directors, said Kim’s leadership has been invaluable to WNCCHS over the past six years.
“We are deeply grateful for Kim’s dedication and service,” he said. “She’s steered us through challenging times and set us up for continued success. Anita's experience and passion for community health make her the ideal leader to take the reins. We're pleased to welcome her to the WNCCHS family.”
Anita will officially begin her role as CEO on March 17. She will spend her first two weeks working alongside Kim to ensure a smooth leadership transition.