Mekel Bergschneider, 33, of Fayetteville, has been named to Fayetteville’s 40 Under 40 Class of 2026. As administrative director of the Emergency Department at FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital, she oversees emergency operations and leads initiatives she say
When the next patient walks through the emergency department doors, the work starts instantly—high-acuity cases, tight timelines, and decisions that can’t wait.
Mekel Bergschneider knows what that pace demands. At 33. she has been named to Fayetteville’s 40 Under 40 for 2026. recognized for how she leads inside the Emergency Department at FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital and how she reaches beyond it—advocating for military families. supporting individuals with disabilities. and strengthening care for patients and caregivers across the region.
Her nomination letter—written by Susan Beaty—praised Bergschneider for exemplifying “the spirit of Fayetteville’s 40 Under 40” through leadership. service. and commitment to strengthening both health care and military communities. The letter credited her with improving emergency care systems. advocating for military families. and supporting individuals with disabilities. saying her work makes a meaningful impact on the lives of patients. caregivers. and families across the region.
Bergschneider lives in Fayetteville. In an interview connected to the honor. she described her day-to-day responsibility as the administrative director of the Emergency Department at FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital. She oversees daily operations in what she called a fast-paced, high-acuity environment—supporting patient care while also building staff development. Her role includes leading nursing teams. improving patient flow and throughput. coordinating care during critical situations. and ensuring safe. high-quality care for every patient who enters the department.
She also said her work focuses heavily on staff engagement and retention through mentorship, leadership rounding, and process improvement initiatives. “My job ultimately centers on serving patients, supporting my team, and continuously improving emergency care delivery,” she said.
Her professional and community involvement reflects that same blend of work and service. Professionally, she is affiliated with the Emergency Nurses Association Dogwood Chapter, where she engages in emergency nursing education, leadership, and professional development initiatives.
In the community. Bergschneider said she is involved with the North Carolina Down Syndrome Alliance. supporting advocacy. awareness. and resources for individuals and families within the Down syndrome community. She also described participating in Family Readiness Groups (FRGs) during her military leadership experience. helping support soldiers and their families through communication. mentorship. and community connection.
Asked what people misunderstand about her profession, Bergschneider said emergency healthcare is far more than treating injuries and emergencies. She described emergency nurses and healthcare teams as balancing critical thinking. rapid decision-making. compassion. and teamwork in an environment that can change in seconds. Behind “every trauma. cardiac arrest. behavioral health crisis. or waiting room full of patients. ” she said. are healthcare professionals working tirelessly to provide safe. compassionate care under immense pressure.
She also said people don’t always see the emotional weight healthcare workers carry. Emergency medicine, she said, requires resilience, adaptability, and sacrifice—but healthcare workers are still human. In her view. supporting and investing in frontline staff. creating safer workplaces. and fostering strong team cultures matter for both caregivers and the patients and communities they serve.
Her leadership philosophy is shaped by advice she said she’s carried through her career. The best advice she said she ever received was to “show your cards”—meaning that as a leader. her team should know who she is beyond her title. She said trust isn’t built by pretending to have all the answers or by keeping distance between leadership and staff. Instead. she said. it is built by being present. listening. working beside the team. admitting when things are difficult. and showing that she genuinely cares about the people she leads.
Bergschneider said “showing your cards” helped her create stronger relationships with staff because they know she understands the realities of the work and will stand beside them through hard days as well as victories. She described her approach this way: leadership is not about being above a team—it’s about serving. supporting. and creating an environment where people feel valued. respected. and safe enough to be themselves.
One goal she said she is most proud of already reflects the pressure she works with and the life she manages. She earned her Master of Science in Nursing while working full time in emergency medicine. serving as a military spouse. and raising two children—including one with special needs. She said balancing work. school. family life. and military life at times felt overwhelming. but that it taught her resilience and discipline and reinforced how important it is to lean on others.
She credited an “incredible support system” for helping her achieve the degree: her husband. who she said constantly encouraged her and helped carry the weight during difficult seasons. and friends. peers. and leaders who believed in her and supported her along the way. She also said the experience taught her the importance of giving herself grace. staying focused on the bigger picture. and taking things one step at a time.
If her path hadn’t led her to healthcare, Bergschneider said she would likely be working as a Lean Continuous Improvement Engineer or consultant—still focused, she said, on improving systems and solving operational challenges.
Outside of her professional life. she listed five things she can’t live without: LEGO. Dr Pepper Zero. her home gym. sourdough. and music. She said LEGO is a creative outlet and a way to decompress and recharge outside of work. She described Dr Pepper Zero as her go-to fuel for long days and busy schedules. and said her home gym helps her manage stress and maintain balance mentally and physically. She also described baking sourdough as a relaxing hobby that brings a sense of accomplishment and comfort.
For music, she said it helps her reset and stay grounded—whether she’s driving, working out, building LEGO sets, or unwinding after a long shift.
Asked what she does to enrich herself. Bergschneider said she enjoys activities that let her slow down. be creative. and spend meaningful time with her family. She said building LEGO sets is a favorite way to decompress after the fast pace and intensity of emergency medicine. She also enjoys baking sourdough and said that it has taught her patience and helped her appreciate slowing down and being present.
She added that fitness is another outlet, and spending time in her home gym helps her manage stress while maintaining both physical and mental wellness. Most importantly, she said, she values quality time with her family and creating shared experiences.
In the lighter moments. she pointed to a song that always puts her in a good mood: “Lemonade” by Forrest Frank. She said she loves the energy and message behind it—making the best out of life no matter what challenges come your way. She described it as upbeat and encouraging. a reminder on difficult days to keep perspective. stay grateful. and keep showing up with a positive attitude.
Bergschneider’s nomination places her at the intersection of urgent work and steady support: running the daily demands of an emergency department while continuing to advocate for communities she’s connected to. For the Fayetteville 40 Under 40 Class of 2026. the honor is built around that combination—leadership that aims to improve emergency care systems. and service that reaches into military families and disability advocacy across the region.
Mekel Bergschneider Fayetteville 40 Under 40 2026 FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital Emergency Department administrative director emergency care systems military families Emergency Nurses Association Dogwood Chapter North Carolina Down Syndrome Alliance Family Readiness Groups