Zachary Davis Found His Next Career in Healthcare IT

Born and raised in Wilmington, Zachary Davis had been working construction jobs since his teenage years. At the same time, he had another interest waiting in the background.

“I had been doing computer stuff since way back then, just kind of as a hobby,” Zachary said.

For years, technology stayed on the side while construction paid the bills. Zachary built computers, troubleshot hardware problems for friends and family, and spent his free time learning more about computers on his own. Eventually, after years of physically demanding work, his wife encouraged him to turn that hobby into something more.

“She was like, ‘Hey, I know you’re burnt out. Why don’t you go to school for IT? You do all this on the side and enjoy it. You wouldn’t have to work outside anymore.’ Building decks in August is not fun,” Zachary recalled.

He took her advice and enrolled at Cape Fear Community College in the fall of 2022.

Switching Career Paths

While pursuing his Information Technology degree, Zachary continued running his own construction work to support his family. Balancing school, work, and career applications was not always easy, especially as he tried to break into the IT field for the first time.

“I actually applied while I was in school, right after I got my CompTIA and Network+ certifications, but I did not get the job,” he said. “Then I applied the following year again, and I got the job.”

That second application led to his first IT position with Liberty Health, where Zachary began working in help desk support during his final semester at CFCC.

“So luckily, I had a job in IT before I finished school, which was fantastic,” he said.

Healthcare IT

Today, Zachary works as a network engineer at Novant Health, a role he stepped into after first working in field services and desktop support for the healthcare system’s clinics.

As an ambulatory field technician, Zachary supported multiple clinics, helping providers and staff stay connected and operational throughout the day. Now, as a network engineer, he works behind the scenes to help maintain critical systems across hospital campuses and medical facilities.

“I felt like I was at a point where the job was very easy, and I was ready for more of a challenge,” he said. “I learn every day now. And I think that will continue to be the case for a very long time.”

Healthcare IT has given Zachary a career that feels both meaningful and constantly evolving.

“Every day is a little bit different,” he said. “Last week, we were in scrubs in the OR in a network closet. Healthcare IT is a bit different.”

Even with how quickly his career has progressed, Zachary says becoming a network engineer was always a long-term goal.

“To be honest, I didn’t expect to be in this world as quickly as I am,” he said. “So I’m very happy and excited.”

To learn more about CFCC’s Information Technology program, visit cfcc.edu/information-technology.