My name is Morgan Casey. I'm a health reporter and Report for America corps member at the Border Belt Independent, a nonprofit newsroom covering rural counties in southeastern  North Carolina as part of The Assembly local network.

In my time with The Assembly network, I've tracked the development of the state's newest medical schools, efforts to improve physician shortages, and the ongoing opioid crisis. On Fort Bragg, I've reported on soldiers' use of nicotine pouches and their struggles with mental health disorders.

I have a master's in investigative journalism from Arizona State University's Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. At ASU, I conducted team investigations into American lithium mining and Catholic health systems, which were published in USA Today and The Arizona Republic.

I also earned two bachelor's degrees in Media and Communications and French from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.

• I spend most of my free time running or watching professionals do it. I actually got the chance to race Olympian Emily McKay in college (she beat me handily every time).

• I watch a lot of anime. If I had to pick my current top three, they'd be: "Frieren: Beyond Journey's End," "The Apothecary Diaries" and "Hunter x Hunter" (the 2011 version).

• You'll almost always find me with my headphones on, blasting anything from Megan Thee Stallion to Stray Kids to Noah Kahan.