Paul Marini, MHA, FACHE
, Associate Chair for Administration in the UNC Department of Orthopaedics, has been elected 2026 President-Elect of the American College of Healthcare Executives of the Triangle and Eastern North Carolina (ACHE-TENC). He will serve as President of the chapter in 2027, helping guide one of the nation’s most recognized ACHE chapters during a period of continued growth and impact.
Marini currently serves as Associate Chair for Administration for the UNC Department of Orthopaedics, where he provides strategic and operational leadership across the department’s clinical, education, and research missions. He has been an active member of the ACHE chapter since 2018 and has served on the chapter’s Board of Directors since 2023. Earlier this year, Marini earned Fellow status in the American College of Healthcare Executives after successfully passing the ACHE Board of Governors Examination.
ACHE is the leading professional association for healthcare executives, with more than 50,000 members nationwide committed to advancing leadership excellence in healthcare management. ACHE of the Triangle and Eastern North Carolina (ACHE-TENC) serves approximately 1,000 members across 54 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. The chapter was formally established in October through the merger of the Triangle Healthcare Executives’ Forum (THEF) and the Sandhills Healthcare Executives Forum, expanding its geographic reach and strengthening its statewide impact.
ACHE-TENC is consistently recognized at the national level for chapter excellence, earning awards from ACHE for the past eight consecutive years. In 2025, the chapter achieved the highest Member Needs Satisfaction Survey score among all ACHE chapters nationally, reflecting the strength of its educational programming, networking opportunities, leadership development, and volunteer engagement.
As President-Elect, Marini will serve alongside 2026 President Trent Beach, PharmD, FACHE, System Executive Director of Pharmacy for UNC Health, and Immediate Past President Matt Gitzinger, MHA, FACHE, Executive Director of Population Management for UNC Health Alliance. The timing of Marini’s presidency is especially notable, coinciding with Ana-Elis Perry, MBA, MSHA, FACHE, Associate Vice President of Operations at UNC Hospitals and the chapter’s 2023 President, who was recently elected ACHE Regent for North Carolina. Together, this represents four different chapter presidents from UNC Health leadership within a five-year span.
“I am incredibly honored to be elected President-Elect and grateful for the trust placed in me,” Marini said. “This chapter has demonstrated excellence year after year, and I am deeply committed to continuing that momentum while further elevating the value we deliver to our members through education, networking, mentorship, and leadership development.”
Marini also emphasized the broader institutional impact of the role. “I am passionate about continuing to elevate the visibility of UNC School of Medicine and UNC Health not only as thought leaders, but as an organization whose work meaningfully shapes healthcare delivery, leadership development, and the future of our profession at both the local and national levels. I also look forward to engaging even more UNC Health leaders with ACHE of the Triangle and Eastern North Carolina so that together we can continue to Lead the Way with our growing impact across the state of North Carolina.”
Marini will assume the role of President-Elect in 2026 and serve as President of ACHE of the Triangle and Eastern North Carolina in 2027.