Twenty-two years ago, Callie Dobbins joined Carolinas HealthCare System, now Atrium Health, as a registered nurse in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), where she fell in love with finding ways to improve care for the most fragile patients – our children. Today, she serves as senior vice president of Atrium Health Levine Children’s, and her commitment to serving the health care needs of kids and families across the Southeast remains.
“I believe no one should have to travel for high-quality pediatric health care,” said Callie. That’s why it has become her professional mission to build upon the nationally recognized pediatric health care provided at Atrium Health Levine Children’s to ensure kids receive the very best care without ever leaving Charlotte.
Proving she will do whatever it takes to support her patients, Callie has taken on a new task: training for her upcoming performance in Charlotte Ballet’s Dancing with the Stars Gala on March 2. Atrium Health Foundation recently sat down with Callie to learn more about this unique opportunity.
AHF: Tell us a little bit more about yourself.
Callie: I’m a native of North Carolina and moved to Charlotte in 2001, after graduating from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. I married my high school sweetheart, and we have a son who’s a freshman at the University of Alabama and a daughter who’s a freshman in high school.
When I’m not playing tennis and golf, or spending time on the lake, you can find me in the stands, cheering at my daughter’s volleyball games and rooting for the Tar Heels.
AHF: Why have you agreed to dance for Charlotte Ballet’s Dancing with the Stars of Charlotte Gala?
Callie: I believe that part of healing from traumatic illnesses or conditions can be enhanced by the arts, and dancing specifically. As a leader committed to helping our kids get the very best health care in Charlotte, I often say we’ll “do anything for our kids.” It only seemed right to answer the call and say “YES” to this opportunity.
AHF: What is your level of dance experience?
Callie: Outside of a few lessons in early childhood, most of my dancing experience is in times when no one else is looking!
AHF: Why did you select Atrium Health Levine Children’s as your charity?
Callie: When I started my career as a nurse in 2001, Levine Children’s didn’t exist. Though we cared for kids in the hospital, we dreamt of ensuring every child had access to the care they needed. What started as a dream quickly became reality as the community rallied to build Levine Children’s Hospital, which opened in 2007.
Since that day, I’ve seen the impact of Levine Children’s up close through our patients. I’m inspired by their abilities to fight, push harder and ultimately find ways to combat the challenges they face every day. That’s why I’m dancing for them. There’s really no one else who could get me to step this far out of my comfort zone. Our children are resilient, so I’m going to channel some of that when I slip on my dancing shoes and dance for each child in our care.
To follow Callie’s journey and learn how you can support her efforts, visit AtriumHealthFoundation.org/DancingWithCallie.