The Applied Health Architect
Corey
Mercy
Senior Health IT Executive & PhD Candidate
One of a rare few technology leaders who has held the pen on both sides of the table — as a state agency Deputy CTO directing critical public health infrastructure, and as a Big Tech executive securing and delivering enterprise transformation across federal, state, and health system accounts. 30+ years at the intersection of health data, AI, and public service.
$51M
Federal Transformation Program — Iowa CCWIS, ACF Blueprint
25M+
Annual Dashboard Hits — DHHS Business Intelligence Platform
10M+
North Carolinians Served via COVID-19 Technology Response
30+
Years Leading Health IT Across Provider, Government & Big Tech
StateScoop State Leader of the Year, 2021
StateScoop IT Innovation of the Year, 2021
CDC Health Equity Recognition, 2020
ACF Federal Technology Incubator, 2025
About
Where Rigor
Meets Real-World Impact
I've spent two decades at the place where healthcare's hardest problems meet technology's greatest possibilities. My career has been defined by a rare combination: I've been the operator — the state agency executive responsible for 140 people, 14 facilities, and the digital backbone of public health for ten million citizens. And I've been the builder and advisor — at Google, architecting a federal health modernization program that became a national blueprint, and serving as the voice of health industry strategy for one of the world's most advanced cloud platforms.
"The best technology decisions in health come from leaders who understand both the clinical reality and the technical possibility — and can hold both truths simultaneously."
I'm currently a Senior Director at Onix, and a PhD candidate in Health Informatics at UNC Chapel Hill, where my research explores immersive technology as a clinical tool for treating substance use disorder in Veterans. I also teach graduate courses in Digital Health and Health Analytics at UNC's School of Information & Library Science and previously at Kenan-Flagler Business School — because I believe the next generation of health technology leaders needs both technical depth and domain wisdom.
🏥
Health Systems
Health Systems / Provider ops, EHR, clinical workflows, interoperability
☁️
Cloud & Data
Cloud & Data / GCP, enterprise data platforms, AI/ML in health
🏛️
Public Sector
Public Sector / State & federal HHS, SLED, policy compliance
🎓
Academia
Academia / Health informatics research, graduate faculty, PhD
Expertise
Six Domains.
One Integrated Point of View.
Deep specialization that compounds across domains — because the most valuable insights in health IT come from connecting what others keep siloed.
🏥 Health System Operations & Clinical IT
Provider Ops
Fifteen years of direct experience running clinical IT for large health systems — from Epic EHR governance to ambulatory strategy, revenue cycle management, and 24/7 enterprise operations. Deep understanding of clinical workflows, provider decision-making, and the operational realities of patient care delivery.
🏛️ Public Health & Government Technology
Public Sector
Served as Deputy CTO for NC's Department of Health & Human Services — one of the state's largest agencies — through one of the most demanding technology challenges in modern history: the COVID-19 pandemic. Built the infrastructure that served 10 million North Carolinians.
📊 Health Data Strategy & Governance
Data Strategy
Built the DHHS Business Intelligence Data Platform from scratch — integrating 80+ data sources, enabling 20+ analytical dashboards, and earning CDC recognition for data reporting and health equity. Now guiding state and federal agencies on cloud-native data strategies using GCP's data and analytics portfolio.
🤖 AI & Emerging Technology in Health
Emerging Tech
Deploying AI where it matters most: equitable public health tools, conversational AI for citizen services, intelligent data platforms, and clinical decision support. PhD research explores immersive technology (VR/AR) as a clinical adjunct for Veterans with substance use disorder — at the very edge of what's possible.
☁️ Cloud Transformation & GCP
Cloud Strategy
Four years at Google architecting, selling, and delivering health cloud transformation programs. Hands-on experience with GCP's data, analytics, AI/ML, and infrastructure portfolio in regulated health environments. Built the Master Patient Index prototype with Google Health Clinical leadership.
🎓 Health Informatics Research & Education
Academia
Active adjunct faculty at UNC Chapel Hill's School of Information & Library Science and formerly Kenan-Flagler Business School, teaching Digital Health and Health Analytics. PhD candidate researching AI-assisted clinical intervention. Advisory Board member for UNC's Carolina Health Informatics Program.
Insights
Thinking Out Loud
on Health & Technology
RÉSUMÉ
Experience &
Credentials
2026 - PRESENT
Senior Director, HCLS & Public Health
Develop and drive the overarching growth strategy and practice expansion across HCLS and Public Health ecosystems. Actively positioning Onix as a preeminent thought leader in health IT modernization, anchoring our approach in a deep understanding of public and private sector dynamics while navigating shifting technological landscapes. This dual focus guarantees that our implementations go beyond merely updating systems to actually delivering lasting, measurable impact for healthcare entities and public health populations.
[GTM Strategy]
2021 – 2026
Market Leader, Federal Health
Defining and executing Google Cloud's health industry go-to-market strategy for federal and state agencies. Personally architected and closed a $51M health modernization program — the Iowa CCWIS — designated by the federal ACF as a national Technology Incubator and blueprint for rapid state modernization across the country.
[Federal Health GTM]
2017 – 2021
Deputy CTO
Led the full NC COVID-19 technology response — serving 10M+ North Carolinians. Built the Business Intelligence Data Platform (BIDP): 80+ integrations, 25M+ annual hits, CDC-recognized for health equity. Deployed SlowCOVIDNC in 8 weeks. StateScoop State Leader of the Year, 2021.
[COVID Response]
2016 – 2017
Director, Ambulatory Applications
Directed the non-acute Epic EHR ecosystem across 100+ clinics and 12,000 users. Established clinical governance structures and agile delivery methodologies for the health system's ambulatory portfolio.
[Epic EHR]
Education
PhD, Health Informatics (Expected 2027) — UNC Chapel Hill. Dissertation: Immersive Technology as a Clinical Adjunct in Treatment of Substance Use Disorder in Veterans.
MBA, Healthcare Concentration — Jack Welch Management Institute, Strayer University
BS, Management Information Systems — Champlain College
Awards
★ StateScoop 50 — State Leadership of the Year · 2021
★ StateScoop 50 — State IT Innovation of the Year · DHHS BIDP · 2021
★ CDC Data Reporting & Health Equity Recognition · 2020
★ ACF-Designated Federal Technology Incubator · Iowa CCWIS · 2025
[Clinical Governance]
[AI Innovation Hub]
[$51M Engagement]
[BIDP]
[140-Person Org]
[Thought Leadership]
[Ambulatory]
[ACF Blueprint]
[GCP]
[GCP]
NC Department of Health & Human Services · Raleigh, NC
Vidant Health · Greenville, NC
Onix · Raleigh, NC
Google · Durham, NC
Contact
Let's Talk
Health & Technology
✉
coreymercy802@gmail.com
☎
Phone
802.825.1963
in
linkedin.com/in/coreymercy
📍
Location
Raleigh, North Carolina