Mike Nagowski Retiring as CEO of Cape Fear Valley Health System in July

After nearly two decades leading one of southeastern North Carolina’s largest health systems, Cape Fear Valley Health CEO Michael Nagowski is preparing to step away from the job.

Nagowski will retire effective July 1, 2026, ending a run that began in 2008 and coincided with a period of major growth for the organization. When he took over, Cape Fear Valley was a county hospital. Today, it operates as a fully integrated system with eight hospitals and close to 100 care sites spread across multiple counties.

Much of that transformation focused on expanding both physical infrastructure and the region’s medical workforce. During Nagowski’s tenure, the health system built out graduate medical education programs that now include roughly 330 physicians in residency training across several specialties.

That emphasis on training future doctors also led to a landmark partnership with Methodist University to create the Methodist University Cape Fear Valley Health School of Medicine. The initiative was recognized in 2025 with the Highsmith Award for Innovation from the North Carolina Healthcare Association for its impact on workforce development.

"Cape Fear Valley is a much more progressive and responsive health system under Mike's vision and leadership than it was 18 years ago," said Dan Weatherly, Chief Operating Officer and President of Cape Fear Valley Medical Center. "When a leader retires, the hope is that he leaves the organization stronger than when he arrived. The growth and progress we enjoy today are a direct result of Mike’s hard work. Thank you for all you have done for the community and the Cape Fear Valley Health family. We wish you a relaxing retirement."

Inside the hospitals themselves, Nagowski oversaw large-scale construction projects, including the vertical expansion of Cape Fear Valley Medical Center’s Valley Pavilion. The project added new patient floors, 100 beds and rooftop helipads designed to improve emergency access and patient transport.

The system also made significant financial commitments to education beyond medicine. Under Nagowski’s leadership, Cape Fear Valley Health invested $2 million in Fayetteville Technical Community College, $1 million in Bladen Community College, and $2 million in Fayetteville State University. Another $900,000 was directed toward student health and wellness facilities at Fayetteville State.

Nagowski’s leadership has been recognized through several honors, including the Cumberland County Distinguished Citizen Award in 2024 and an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Methodist University, where he also served as a commencement keynote speaker.

With his departure, the health system is already shifting leadership. The Board of Trustees has named Weatherly as interim CEO, effective immediately, with Nagowski assisting during the transition.

Weatherly has been with Cape Fear Valley Health since 2011 and has served as chief operating officer since 2015. He also holds the role of president of Cape Fear Valley Medical Center and oversees systemwide operations ranging from emergency services and surgical care to behavioral health and rehabilitation.

Weatherly has more than 25 years of experience in health care leadership and played a key role in system expansion, joint ventures and operational management during the COVID-19 pandemic. He holds a master’s degree in business administration with a concentration in health care administration.

For Cape Fear Valley Health, Nagowski’s retirement closes a chapter defined by expansion, new medical training pipelines and a broader regional footprint that now reaches well beyond its origins as a single county hospital.