From Nurse to Hospital Leader: Land named RichmondCC's Outstanding Alumni of the Year

Oct. 1, 2022 - Christy Land graduated from Richmond Community College’s Associate Degree Nursing program 25 years ago. She is now president of FirstHealth’s southern region and administrator of Moore Regional Hospital-Richmond.

To recognize her successful and impactful career, the RichmondCC Foundation has named her the 2022 RichmondCC Outstanding Alumni. 

“I am humbled and honored to have been chosen for this distinction. I have had the pleasure of working with many successful graduates from Richmond Community College, and I feel as a fellow alumnus their successes are my successes,” Land said. “This is a full circle moment as I have remained committed to the residents of Richmond County and surrounding counties since graduation.”

Land will be honored at RichmondCC’s Convocation on Oct. 19, 2022.

“Christy’s passion for healthcare and being of service to her community make her very deserving of this award. She has taken the education she received here at RichmondCC and shown just how far that foundation can take you,” said Dr. Hal Shuler, who is over the RichmondCC Foundation. “We are happy to have her representing not only RichmondCC, but also our school of nursing.”

After earning her associate degree from RichmondCC, Land went on to earn her bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and a master’s degree in nursing with a concentration in executive nursing administration from the University of South Alabama. She also earned the respected professional credential of LEAN certification from North Carolina State University. 

Land said while it sounds like a cliché, she always wanted to help others. 

“I wanted a career that was challenging, interesting, and made a difference in people's lives daily,” she said.

Land has served in various patient care roles and leadership positions throughout her nursing career. She has worked in critical care, emergency room and cardiac cath lab nursing, and she served as clinical director of the intensive care unit at MRH-Richmond for almost five years before being promoted to the director of clinical performance. 

She also led the quality and regulatory teams for MRH-Richmond, during which the hospital earned the distinguished Leapfrog A hospital safety grade for eight consecutive quarters.

“RichmondCC provided the foundation and paved the road to a successful career in healthcare,” Land said. “The faculty prepared me with the skills necessary to transition to my professional role. I thrived as a nurse in both intensive care and emergency medicine, creating lasting relationships with colleagues and building a network that would later serve me in my executive role.”

Land serves on the board for the Richmond County Partnership for Children and the Richmond County Local Emergency Planning Committee.  She also volunteers with the Richmond County United Way, Richmond Community College and Rockingham Parks and Recreation.  She is a graduate of the State of North Carolina Leadership Richmond program.  She is a member of the Rockingham Rotary Club, and in 2020, she was recognized as Richmond County’s Leading Lady.

Land said because RichmondCC opened the door for her to success, she is passionate about helping the next generation of nurses by serving as a preceptor and mentor and hosting nursing students at the hospital for clinicals.

“As an alumnus, my vision is to be committed to making Richmond County a healthier place to live. Strengthening FirstHealth’s partnership with RichmondCC will assist future healthcare workers with rural employment opportunities; therefore, ensuring the residents of Richmond County will receive quality and compassionate healthcare,” she said.

A native of South Carolina, Land has lived in Richmond County for 24 years. Her husband, Bryan, serves as Richmond County Manager. They have two children, Winston and Ava.