Known as an innovator, Chiang, 51, currently serves as president of Empire Health Foundation, an organization similar to Dogwood based in Spokane, Washington, that serves a diverse and sweeping area of eastern Washington state. Chiang will join Dogwood Health Trust in November and brings a wealth of experience working with a variety of populations and partner organizations toward improving health and health equity. 

“In Antony Chiang we’ve found a leader who has lived the journey on which Dogwood Health is about to embark,” said Dogwood Health Trust Board Chair Janice Brumit. “His commitment to health equity and inclusion, his talent for forging meaningful partnerships, and his ingenious approach to solving chronic problems that affect health and wellness will be invaluable as we enter this next important chapter for Dogwood Health Trust.”

As founding president at Empire Health Foundation, Chiang designed and built a new and high-impact health conversion foundation from the ground up, in collaboration with a mission-driven board. In his nine years there, Chiang served as a trusted grantmaker, stewarding $70 million in annual funding and helping to deliver measurable impact advancing health equity in rural, tribal and urban communities.

Chiang will play a similar role at Dogwood Health Trust, which was established as a health conversion foundation to receive proceeds from the sale of the assets of the nonprofit Mission Health System, which will be approximately $1.5 billion. Dogwood will educate and inform stakeholders, conduct research, convene experts and, beginning in late 2020, make grants to organizations aligned with its purpose, all to help collectively improve health and well-being across 18 counties in Western North Carolina. 

“The founding Board of Dogwood Health Trust has a compelling vision for dramatically improving the health, equity and well-being of the people and communities of Western North Carolina. Their commitment to authentic community engagement and bold measurable impact is inspiring,” Chiang said. “It is humbling and an honor to be chosen to help make that vision a reality in service to the diverse communities of the region. Leading Dogwood Health Trust is an incredible once-in-a-career opportunity to make a lasting and measurable difference. I could not be more excited to collaborate with the board, staff and community partners to catalyze transformative change.”

To learn more, visit www.dht.org.