Duplin Times Medical Directory - 2023

This is astory about anew health system,createdfor you. So youcan liveyour healthiestlife. Your bestlife. It ’s abouteducating tomorrow’s providersand bringing together some of medicine’s greatest minds and caring hearts forone purpose, to makehealth and health caremoreofwhatyou need it to be.

We have a brand-new story to tell. And it ’s all aboutyou.

ECU Health Specialty Physicians

Pediatrics

Elizabeth I. Blair, MD

ECU Health Pediatrics-Kenansville

144 Liberty Square Shopping Center, Kenansville, NC 28349 (910) 275-0060

Board Certi cates

American Board of Pediatrics Education

Medical School: University of North Carolina at Chapel

Hill School of Medicine

Residency: UNC Hospitals

Family Medicine

Gary S. Crawford, MD

ECU Health Family Medicine - Wallace

125 River Vine Parkway, Wallace, NC 28466 (910) 285-2134

Board Certi cates

American Board of Family Medicine

Education Medical School Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons-Ireland Residency

Self Memorial Hospital

Family Medicine

Mott P. Blair, IV, MD

ECU Health Family Medicine-Wallace

125 River Vine Parkway, Wallace, NC 28466 (910) 285-2134

Board Certi cates

American Board of Family Medicine

Education Medical School Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University Residency

Vidant Medical Center - GME

Heart & Vascular Care

Anil George, MD

ECU Health Multispecialty

Clinic – Kenansville

748 S Kenansville Bypass (910) 296-8080

ECU Health Multispecialty

Clinic - Richlands

8210 Richlands Highway (910) 324-7328

Specialties

Cardiac Electrophysiology

Internal Medicine

Board Certi cates

ABIM Cardiovascular Disease

ABIM, Clinical Cardiac

Electrophysiology

Education

Medical School

Medical College

Thiruvananthapuram Residency Saint Louis University Hospital Fellowships

Medical University of South Carolina

Albert Einstein Medical Center

Oncology

Sri Jasthy, MD

ECU Health Oncology –Kenansville

401 N. Main St. Kenansville, 28349

(910) 296-8880

Specialties

Internal Medicine, Medical Oncology

Board Certi cates

ABIM Medical Oncology

ABIM, Hematology Education Medical School

Guntur Medical College

Residency and Fellowship

Western Pennsylvania Hospital

General Surgery

Dyrek Miller, MD, FACS

ECU Health General Surgery –Kenansville

211 Duplin St. Kenansville, NC

910-275-0027

Specialty

General Surgery

Board Certi cates

American Board of Surgery

Education Medical School

University of the West Indies Internship and Residency North General Hospital

Obstetrics and Gynecology

Emmanuel Pafos, MD

ECU Health Women’s CareKenansville

417 N. Main St. Kenansville, NC

910-296-2815

Specialty

Women's Services

Board Certi cates

American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Education Medical School: SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University College of Medicine Residency North Shore University Hospital of New York

Orthopedic Surgery

Andrew Simpson, MD

ECU Health Multispecialty Clinic – Kenansville

748 S. Kenansville Bypass Kenansville, NC

910-296-8080

Specialty

Orthopedics and Sports Medicine

Board Certi cates

American Board of Orthopedic Surgery Education Medical School

Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University

Internship and Residency: Prisma Health Richland Hospital

Rural Family Medicine Residency Program provides training, increases access to care

Story by Ena Sellers

The Rural Family Medicine Residency Program at Goshen Medical in Beulaville just welcomed two new residents.

Thanks to a partnership between East Carolina University Brody School of Medicine, Goshen Medical Center in Beulaville, and ECU Health Duplin Hospital in Kenansville, the Rural Family Medicine Residency Program offers recent graduates hands-on medical experience working in rural settings as family medicine providers.

The three-year program not only benefits the recent graduates but also the community by providing more access to health care.

Dr. Danny Pate, a Beulaville native who has been a family doctor in Duplin County for nearly four decades says he is proud of

that partnership and the opportunity to train physicians at Goshen Medical.

“The impetus in the design of all this is thinking that if we could train family physicians in rural areas, hopefully, some will like to stay here and stay in

rural areas, after they’re finished. That’s the driving point,” said Dr. Pate.

Dr. Amy White-Jones and Dr. Jim Porquez just started their third and final year of residency. Up until July 1, they were both seeing about 14 patients a

day when they were at the clinic, in addition to seeing patients in the community at the pediatric clinic, the women’s clinic and even doing rotations at the local hospital.

“As an R3 they will be seeing even more patients.

Pictured above are Dr. Jim Porquez, Dr Kim Biichle, Dr. Danny Pate, Dr. Amy White-Jones. Photo by Goshen Medical

They will be seeing up to 20 patients a day,” said Patricia Davis, Goshen Medical Residency Coordinator.

“We are hoping that our program continues to grow, with the possibility of accepting three new Residents on our next match,” Davis added.

Recently, Dr. Porquez joined Goshen’s sister site in Ahoskie, N.C., on a medical mission trip to the Dominican Republic to provide care and supplies to their communities and hopes to return again in 2024.

“We spent two weeks in the Dominican Republic for a Medical Mission.

“On the first week we mainly stayed in Santo Domingo at a local school and church community,” said Dr. Porquez. They also visited a Haitian community and San Mathias where they served different towns, attending to kids, adults, and geriatric patients.

“We saw different chronic (hypertension and diabetes) and acute (ear infections, coughs, flu, wound care) and treated them accordingly,” said Porquez.

This month Dr. Kim Biichle started her second year of residency. Prior to that, she was seeing six patients every Thursday.

Dr. Kanwar Sandhu and Dr. Margaret Pearce are the two new residents who started their first-year residency.

During the first year, residents spend most of their time training in Greenville except for Thursday mornings when they come to Duplin.

The last two years of the residency program are done in Duplin County doing clinic work at Goshen Medical or at the hospital during various rotations, like the in-patient service with the emergency room, and obstetrics with the ECU Obstetrics & Gynecology group practice.

“We are hoping that this type of residency will give positions a real feel for what it’s like to be a family physician in a rural setting,” said Dr. Pate.

After completing the

three years in the program, residents are able to sit for the Family Practice Board, which encompasses a broad spectrum of services from adult medicine to pediatrics, obstetrics, and gynecology.

The Rural Family Medicine Residency Program is a state-funded program that started approximately three years ago. “With the funds supplied, we built a whole teaching addition onto our Goshen Medical office. We’ve got state-ofthe-art ultrasound equipment,” said Dr. Pate. “We’re wired in with big screen TVs, and computers so we can take advantage of lectures or presentations being done in Greenville just like if we were there, and all that is supplied with money provided by the state.”

Dr. White-Jones shared that she chose the Rural

Family Medicine Residency Program for its reputation among colleagues who want to become family physicians.

“I want to be able to be able to practice full spectrum family medicine, which includes obstetrics, pediatrics, and hospital medicine, and the best way to do that is to practice in a rural environment,” said Dr. White-Jones.

“I think for me the biggest thing is that the residency program is providing access to care... Overall I see 13 to 14 patients a day in a full clinic day so if you consider I have three full days in clinic, that is a lot of people we are impacting per month,” said Dr. WhiteJones. “To me, that is a really important piece of the residency program — how much access to care we provide.”

Dr. White-Jones shared that what had the most profound effect on her is seeing the relationship between doctor and patient and the level of care. “How he (Dr. Pate) knows the patient and knows their medications and their history ... I feel like I had a great opportunity to see what I feel primary care is in true action,” she added.

We are hoping that our program continues to grow, with the possibility of accepting three new Residents on our next match.

~ PATRICIA DAVIS

How blood type can affect your health

Most people do not give much thought to the blood running through their veins. However, it may pay to learn more about blood type, as it can affect your overall health in a variety of ways.

What is blood type?

The American Red Cross says there are four main blood types, which are determined by the presence or absence of A and B antigens on the surfaces of red blood cells and the presence of antibodies in the blood plasma. Blood type is further affected by a protein called the Rh factor, which can be present (+) or absent (-). Here’s a further breakdown:

Type A: Only the A antigen on red cells (and B antibody in the plasma).

Type B: Only the B an -

tigen on red cells (and A antibody in the plasma).

Type AB: Both A and B antigens on red cells (but neither A nor B antibodies in the plasma).

Type O: Neither A nor B antigens on red cells (but both A and B antibodies in the plasma).

COVID-19

Studies examining how blood type affects overall health are ongoing, and such research garnered extra attention from the general public during the COVID-19 pandemic. Recent research indicates that blood type can affect one’s risk of contracting COVID-19 as well as the severity of symptoms. A key finding of the genetics company 23andme indicated that people with type O had lower incidences of COVID-19 positive tests. Evidence held even when researchers took into account age, sex, body mass

index, and other factors. In a study published in 2020, researchers in China found that “blood group A was associated with a higher risk for acquiring COVID-19 compared with non-A blood groups.” Researchers at Columbia University reported similar risks associated with type A blood.

HEART DISEASE

The protective nature of type O blood also applies to heart disease. WebMD reports that risk for coronary heart disease is lower among the O group as apposed to other types.

STOMACH CANCER

Individuals with A, B and AB blood types are more likely to get stomach cancer. The link may lie in the presence of H. pylori infection, which tends to be more com -

mon in people with type A blood, according to Northwestern Medicine.

STRESS

Northwestern also reports that those with type A blood may have more trouble handling stress due to heightened levels of the stress hormone cortisol.

KIDNEY STONES

More than five million people in Sweden were studied to determine the link between blood type and health risks. Those with type O and type B were more likely to get kidney stones.

Blood type can shed light on individuals’ risk for various conditions, and researchers continue to study the link between blood type and overall health.

Are you vulnerable to cardiac arrest?

Cardiac arrest occurs when the heart suddenly and unexpectedly stops pumping. One of the dangers of cardiac arrest is that blood stops pumping to the brain and other vital organs.

A rapid response, were the person is administered CPR on the eld as the ambulance arrives cannot only save someone’s life but also preserve their neurological function.

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute notes that nine out of 10 people who have cardiac arrest outside of a hospital die.

The condition can affect anyone, even a young athlete seemingly in peak physical condition.

According to Johns Hopkins Medicine there are three main causes of cardiac arrest.

ARRHYTHMIA AND VENTRICULAR FIBRILLATION

Arrhythmia is a condition marked by problematic electrical signals in the heart that lead to an abnormal heartbeat.

Ventricular brillation is a type of arrhythmia that causes the heart to tremble rather than pump blood normally. It is the most common cause of cardiac arrest.

CARDIOMYOPATHY

Cardiomyopathy is a condition in which the heart is enlarged. Johns Hopkins notes that when a person has cardiomyopathy, the heart muscle thickens or dilates, which causes abnormal contractions of the heart.

CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE

The NHLBI indicates that most people who experience cardiac arrest have heart disease, even if they didn’t know it beforehand.

The most common type of heart disease is coronary

artery disease, which is marked by the buildup of cholesterol inside the lining of the coronary arteries. That buildup leads to the formation of plaque which can partially or completely block blood ow in the arteries of the heart.

Certain behaviors or lifestyle choices also can trigger cardiac arrest.

The NHLBI reports that heavy alcohol consumption or recent use of cocaine, amphetamines or marijuana can cause cardiac arrest.

Severe emotional stress and physical exertion, including that which is typically required of competitive athletes, also can trigger cardiac arrest. More information about cardiac arrest is available at nhlbi.nih.gov.

Symptoms

• Fatigue

• Dizziness

• Shortness of breath

• Nausea

• Chest pain

• Heart palpitations

• Loss of consciousness

These three main causes can affect anyone, even a young athlete

According to Johns Hopkins Medicine in some cases of cardiac arrest there are no symptoms. However, some individuals may experience these prior to cardiac arrest:

ECU Health Providers

Family Medicine and Primary Care

David H Allgood, PA-C

ECU Health Multispecialty Clinic - Richlands

8210 Richlands Highway

Richlands, NC

(910) 324-7328

Board Certi cates

National Commission on Certi cation of Physician Assistants

Education

University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Allied Health Professions

Oncology

Jamie Avery, FNP

ECU Health Multispecialty Clinic - Richlands

8210 Richlands Hwy

Richlands, NC

(910) 324-7328

Board Certi cates

American Academy of Nurse Practitioner Education

South University

Family Medicine and Primary Care

Kimberly Farmer, PA-C

ECU Health Family Medicine-Wallace

125 River Vine Parkway

Wallace, NC

(910) 285-2134

Board Certi cates

National Commission on Certi cation of Physician Assistants Education

Augusta University College of Allied Health Sciences

Family Medicine and Primary Care

Brittani French, NP

ECU Health Family Medicine-Wallace

125 River Vine Parkway

Wallace, NC

(910) 285-2134

Board Certi cates

American Academy of Nurse Practitioners

Education

Duke University School of Nursing

Family Medicine and Primary Care

Megan E. Germscheid, DO

ECU Health Multispecialty Clinic - Richlands

8210 Richlands Hwy

Richlands, NC

(910) 324-7328

Education

University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine

Oncology

Alyssa Hill, PA-C

ECU Health Multispecialty Clinic - Richlands

8210 Richlands Hwy

Richlands, NC (910) 324-7328

Board Certi cates

National Commission on Certi cation of Physician Assistants Education

Cumberland College

Women’s Services

Amanda Isbell, CNM

ECU Health Women’s Care - Kenansville

417 N. Main Street

Kenansville, NC (910) 296-2815

Board Certi cates

American College of Nurse-Midwives Education

Frontier Nursing University

Hematology/Oncology

Sukriti Kamboj, MD

ECU Health Multispecialty ClinicRichlands

8210 Richlands Hwy Richlands, NC (910) 324-7328

Board Certi cates

American Board of Internal Medicine Education

Medical School

Dayanand Medical College and Hospital

Residency

Guthrie Clinic / Robert Packer Hospital

Fellowship

ECU Health Medical Center / Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University

Vidant Medical Center - GME

Not Available

Adult Gerontology

Amanda D. Marshburn, AGNP-C

ECU Health Multispecialty Clinic - Richlands

8210 Richlands Hwy Richlands, NC (910) 324-7328

Board Certi cates

American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Education

Duke University School of Nursing

Heart and Vascular Care

Jennifer Murphy, NP

ECU Health Multispecialty Clinic – Kenansville

748 S Kenansville Bypass

Kenansville, NC (910) 296-8080

Board Certi cates

American Nurses Credentialing Center Education

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Family Medicine and Primary Care

Edwin P. Little, MD

ECU Health Family Medicine – Pink Hill

103 S. Central Ave. Pink Hill, NC (910) 568-4111

Board Certi cates

American Board of Family Medicine Education Medical School

Jefferson Medical College

Internship and Residency Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center

Women’s Services

Kelsey Novicki, PA-C

ECU Health Women’s Care - Kenansville 417 N. Main Street

Kenansville, NC (910) 296-2815

Board Certi cates

National Commission on Certi cation of Physician Assistants Education

Gardner-Webb University

ECU Health Providers

Family Medicine and Primary Care

Jennifer Pool, FNP

ECU Health Family Medicine-Wallace

125 River Vine Parkway

Wallace, NC

(910) 285-2134

Board Certi cates

American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Education

Maryville University

Internal Medicine

Vengamamba Polu, MD

ECU Health Multispecialty Clinic – Kenansville

748 S Kenansville Bypass

(910) 296-8080

ECU Health Endocrinology –Kinston

701 Doctors Dr., Suite D (252) 559-2200

Board Certi cates

ABIM, Endocrinology, Diabetes &

Metabolism

Education Medical School

SVS Medical College, NTR University Health Science Residency

Bassett Medical Center Fellowship

Michigan State University College of Human Medicine

Pediatrics Barbie Renchen, PNP

ECU Health PediatricsKenansville 144 Liberty Square Shopping Center Kenansville, NC (910) 275-0060

Board Certi cates

Pediatric Nursing Certi cation Board, Acute Care

Education Medical University of South Carolina College of Health Professions

Women’s Services

Christie Sanders, CNM

ECU Health Women’s Care - Kenansville 417 N. Main Street Kenansville, NC (910) 296-2815

Board Certi cates American Midwifery Certi cation Board Education Frontier Nursing University

Family Medicine

Lori W. Stroud, FNP

ECU Health Family Medicine – Pink Hill

103 S. Central Ave. Pink Hill, NC

(910) 568-4111

Board Certi cates

American Nurses Credentialing Center Education

East Carolina University College of Nursing

Adult Primary Care

Gretchen P. Vick, ANP

ECU Health Multispecialty Clinic - Richlands

8210 Richlands Hwy

Richlands, NC

(910) 324-7328

Board Certi cates

American Nurses Credentialing Center Education

Duke University School of Nursing

Adult Primary Care

Peter Watson, MD

Gretchen P. Vick, ANP Oncology

ECU Health Multispecialty Clinic - Richlands

8210 Richlands Hwy

Richlands, NC

(910) 324-7328

Board Certi cates

American Board of Internal Medicine

American Board of Internal Medicine, Medical Oncology Education

Medical School

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Internship, Residency and Fellowship: Augusta University Medical Center

21% ADULT SMOKING

4% HIGHER THAN NC

39% ADULT OBESITY

5% HIGHER THAN NC

Source: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, Duplin 2023 rankings.

28% PHYSICAL INACTIVITY

16% EXCESSIVE DRINKING

1% LOWER THAN NC

ECU Health nurses honored with

Nursing Hall of Fame scholarship

Story

by ECU Health

At ECU Health, the support team members provide to each other makes a difference –not only to those team members but also to the patients we serve across eastern North Carolina.

Recently, three ECU Health nurses were inducted into the East Carolina University (ECU) College of Nursing Hall of Fame while another earned a scholarship as she pursues her doctorate in nursing. These four ECU Health nurses each said the support of fellow nurses has uplifted them throughout their careers and the scholarship and inductions into the Hall of Fame is a re ection of that support.

Amy Campbell, quality

nurse specialist at ECU Health, has been with the system for about 18 years over two separate stops.

Campbell started at ECU Health Medical Center as an associate degree nurse in pediatrics and said she was quickly encouraged and supported by fellow nurses and leaders to join the HomeGrown program, which helps team members go back to school and balance their work and school responsibilities, and she received her bachelor’s degree from ECU in 2001. Campbell left ECU Health to teach at Pitt Community College and ultimately returned to the health system with a master’s degree. During her second stop at ECU Health, she said she was once again supported to further her education and pursue a doctorate degree, which she completed in

2020.

“A lot of executives were so encouraging for me to get my Ph.D. and I was HomeGrown and I was able to do my research here so they really were supportive all along,” Campbell said. “I also went through the Ph.D. program with a lot of my colleagues here so that was really great, too. I couldn’t have done it if people hadn’t given me time to do my research and to go to school.”

Campbell is a Williamston native and she said the rural aspect of the care ECU Health provides for the re -

gion is close to her heart. The close-knit communities of eastern North Carolina transfer over to the hospital setting where Campbell said it’s a family atmosphere for team members and the patients they serve.

“I believe that at ECU Health we really do rise by lifting others and people really try to make sure others get time in the spotlight, even though, if you ask any of the four of us, we really don’t like this spotlight,” Campbell said. “But for me, I’m able to embrace it because I want all those

I believe that at ECU Health we really do rise by lifting others and people really try to make sure others get time in the spotlight, even though, if you ask any of the four of us, we really don’t like this spotlight.

~ AMY CAMPBELL

people who supported me to have their moment with me. I’m a single mom, I’ve been a single mom for 19 years, but I’ve had a wonderful family here. Everyone has always been so good and supportive of school or whatever I was going through to help me be successful.”

Angela Still, senior administrator of Women’s Services at ECU Health Medical

The needs of the patients and families in our region, the disparities, and the social determinants of health are so different from what the rest of the state deals with every day. Our 29 counties are comparable to the size of some states but it’s rural.

~ ANGELA STILL

and is a 1986 graduate of ECU. As a Greenville native, Still said the opportunity to care for and support women in eastern North Carolina is special to her.

“The needs of the patients and families in our region, the disparities, and the social determinants of health are so different from what the rest of the state deals with every day,” Still said. “Our 29 counties are comparable to the size of some states but it’s rural. Access to care, access to healthy food, these are unique needs. At this point in my career I am not impacting the individual patient and family, I’m working to impact the region. It’s a population of mothers and babies that we want to be healthier because they are our future in the region.”

Still said that during her time at ECU Health, she’s been the bene ciary of great leadership and mentors and she’s been happy to give that back to the next generation of nurses as they rise through the system and across the state.

Center, said she was humbled to join her colleagues who have been inducted into the ECU College of

Nursing Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2023.

Still has been with the health system for 36 years

She said it’s crucial to invest time and energy into mentorship as it will make a difference for the individual, those they mentor in the

Pictured from le to right are Angela Still, Georgia Perry, and Amy Campbell.

Photo by ECU College of Nursnmg Hall of Fame.

future and the patients they serve.

“The opportunity to mentor people through my career has been just really amazing. I have people across the state I mentored that are not with the system anymore and they still call me to ask questions or just look for guidance,” Still said. “So just being able to make an impact on the people that are going to care for others is very special to me. We’re all eventually going

I think it’s wonderful that we have such great access to really all specialties right down the road. My family actually will travel and get to ECU Health Duplin Hospital and then have access to the tertiary center, so we live it. I’m really grateful for what we have here at ECU Health and I’m glad to be a piece of the impact we have on this region.

~ GEORGIA PERRY

to retire, so being able to mentor and guide folks that are going to be here long after I’ve left and are going to continue to carry that torch and make a difference for our communities, it’s a big deal.”

Georgia Perry is the nurse manager on 2 North Medicine and 2 North Progressive Care at ECU Health Medical Center and was also inducted into the ECU College of Nursing Hall of Fame this year.

Perry said the night of the induction into the Hall of Fame was special for her as she had a chance to look into the crowd gathered and see mentors, some of whom nominated Perry for the recognition.

Perry earned her bachelor’s degree from ECU in 2010 and began working at ECU Health as part of the very rst New Grad Nurse Residency Program class. She started working on 2 South, became an assistant nurse manager, and eventually became the nurse manager on her current unit. She received her master’s degree in 2015 and said the backing of fellow nurses and leaders alike made going back to school a manageable task.

“I tell people all the time, if you can dream it, you can do it here,” Perry said. “I truly feel like the support system is really what makes it easy to go back to school to be able to juggle it all. There’s a wealth of mentors here, you can pick up the phone and call anybody and it doesn’t matter if it’s across service lines.”

Perry is a Newton Grove native and said working in rural medicine is important to her because she grew up in a rural area.

“I think it’s wonderful that we have such great access to really all specialties right down the road,” Perry said. “My family actually will travel and get to ECU Health Duplin Hospital and then have access to the tertiary center, so we live it. I’m really grateful for what we have here at ECU Health and I’m glad to be a piece of the impact we have on this region.”

She added that the team around her keeps her going while the patients they serve inspire her to bring her best each day.

Lauren Nichols, a staff nurse on the Cardiac Intermediate Unit at ECU Health Medical Center, earned a scholarship from the fund for this year.

Nichols, who has been working at ECU Health for seven years, is pursuing a doctorate in nursing with a family nurse practitioner specialty at ECU.

Nichols is from Edgecombe County and said she chose to work at ECU Health and continue her education at ECU because of the health system’s commitment to rural health care and eastern North Carolina.

“ECU Health’s mission really resonates with me,” Nichols said. “Growing up in such a rural community makes me want to do my part to help improve the health of the people of eastern North Carolina.”

She said she never doubted her decision to go back to school because of the support she has received, especially from nursing leadership.

Growing up in such a rural community makes me want to do my part to help improve the health of the people of eastern North Carolina.

~ LAUREN NICHOLS

Healing the community, one elderberry at a time

Story by Lauren Branch

Tucked away in the historic town of Faison a small family is changing the overall health of their community.

Kimberly Stroud a former public school teacher who became a stay-at-home mom to care for her youngest daughter who was constantly sick as a child, never thought her next step would be to become a business owner.

In her quest to help her daughter feel better, she learned about elderberry syrup. After seeing how well it worked on her daughter Kimberly decided to start making her own, eventually she was making elderberry syrup for friends and family.

Kimberly shared it was not hard for her to get into the swing of things because she had always been somewhat of a health buff, so she was excited to be able to make a healthy product for her family.

When she decided to make it a business she began doing research on what it takes to be an LLC. She worked with the NC State Entrepreneurship program where she learned all the basics of getting her products shelf-stable.

Happy Heart Elderberry, LLC was born in 2020. Kimberly said, it took a little practice to get the consistency and taste just like she wanted because her focus was to help

children, and she knew they would want it to be sweet whereas she was not so big on it. Her kids loved it, and she knew other kids would too. Her motto, which she said came to her in a dream was, “mom made, kids craved.”

Her recipe is a little different from the average one you might nd because she uses several bene cial ingredients such as honey, ginger, and cloves just to name a few. She said she learned a lot from a health group she joined on Facebook. She learned about the bene ts of different things that she eventually used some of to add to her recipe.

Although she grows elderberries on their farm, she does not grow enough to meet her demands, so she buys some from an organic co-op. On the farm, her husband also raises hogs and chickens, and the couple plan to expand the farm to a 36-acre farm in Wayne County.

The family sells their products at local markets and festivals together, although Kim says the weekly markets can be a strain. She is now trying to focus more on getting her products into retail stores. She currently has her syrup in several locations: Bean -

Sweet, Coker Feed Mill, Illypads Boutique, Simply NC, Brewed on Broadway, Fresh Vibes, Brewer’s Ace, Southern Ground, Turtle Creek Trading, and the Country Barn. Her entire family has

been a huge help according to Kimberly. She said her husband Josh has been her biggest supporter. Her three kids love educating people about the benefits of elderberry, and go around to other vendors

giving samples when they work at festivals.

Although elderberry has been the new craze the last few years, it’s history is thought to go back as far as ancient Egyptian days, when they used different forms of elderberry to cure headaches, nerve pain, dental pain, and more.

Now you can go to almost any pharmacy and find elderberry vitamins or some form of elderberry medicine on the shelf. When her family promotes her products they tell their customers about the benefits they have seen from other people who have bought products like the fact that it’s a natural cold and flu reliever, blood sugar level balancer, diuretic, anti-inflammatory, laxative, and anti-bacterial product. She believes it’s a great thing to add to your daily wellness routine even when you are not sick.

“I always tell customers to do their research because I want them to know that I’m not just trying to sell them a product. Yes, I am happy if you buy my product, but I would rather you know what you are putting in your body and learn about it before you buy it, so you can believe in it,” Kimberly said.

Brody Graduates

Uniquely prepared to provide care in rural communities

Story by ECU Health

When Lauren Moore, a fourthyear student at the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, begins her residency training at ECU Health Medical Center in July it will mark the beginning of a new chapter in her deeply personal family medicine journey. With a love for health care passed down from her parents, including her late mother, Moore’s next step is another toward her ultimate goal: making a difference in

the lives of countless eastern North Carolina community members.

Moore’s experience with health care goes far beyond her medical school training. Her father is a physician’s assistant and she was naturally drawn to the connections he made in the community. Growing up in Farmville and attending school in Greenville, she recalls countless instances where he was stopped in places like the grocery store, catching up with a long-time patient or

offering helpful advice.

“Growing up, people would come up to us and be like, ‘Mr. Eddie, how are you doing?’ I’d ask, ‘Dad, who is that?’ He’d say, ‘Oh, a patient that I’ve had for ten years now.’ I would think, ‘That is amazing,’” Moore said. “And even recently, ever since I’ve matched at ECU Health, just within the past few weeks, I’ve had several people from my Bible study at my church that have said, ‘You know, I’ve been needing to get a primary care doctor.’ And

I’m like, ‘I’m your person!’ It just feels good that they trust me enough to one day be their doctor and to have those personal connections and be able to serve them to make sure their health is taken care of.”

She also experienced the health care profession from the patient perspective through her mother’s cancer journey. When Moore was seven years old, her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer for the rst time and was declared cancer free

~ DR. MOTT BLAIR

I feel like the mission of the medical school was a mission that I wanted to take on and I think I’ve been successful in doing that. I think the credit in being able to do that goes to the medical school and now the medical center as well. I really think that what we’re doing now, particularly as we support practices across the eastern region of the state, is a crucial thing to put in place, because health care in rural North Carolina is so difficult and we need to have true rural primary care.

after about a year of treatment.

Then, six years later, she was re-diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer, which spread to her liver and brain. Moore’s mother passed in June of 2010. She re ected on the care her mom received and how the care teams went above and beyond for patients and families alike. Moore learned what it meant to be a compassionate care giver and she said she’s prepared to bring that same compassion to her future patients.

“Seeing her go through that and seeing the way that her physicians were able to play such a vital role in not only her life, but also my family’s life and making sure that we were OK even after the fact,” Moore said. “If my dad was walking through the hospital, my mom’s physicians would check in on him and ask how he was doing and if he needed anything.

So it wasn’t that they were just taking care of my mom as a patient, but they were also taking care of the rest of her life, too. That had such a tremendous impact on me. My goal is not only to care for my patients the same way my dad does, but also to make the families feel the same way that those physicians made me feel.”

Moore is one of 77 Brody medical students poised to begin their residency at hospitals across the country.

For Moore, who wants to practice family medicine in the region in which she grew up, matching to ECU Health Medical Center was always the goal.

“Being a medical student at Brody and seeing the patient population that we have here, I think that’s really what drew me to ECU Health,” said Moore. “The fact that it serves patients throughout the 29 counties in eastern North Carolina

who otherwise wouldn’t have a primary care provider or a Level I trauma center if it wasn’t for us. I was drawn to the educational opportunities given the uniqueness of our patients and everybody in the residency program is just so welcoming and nice. I know it’s family medicine, but it is also like a family there.”

The Class of 2023 is a snapshot of Brody’s mission to serve the state. The 77 members of the graduating class represent more than 25 North Carolina counties.

ECU Health Medical Center had an excellent Match Day, according to Dr. Herb Garrison, associate dean for Graduate Medical Education, with 98 medical students matching into the 12 main residency programs. Twenty-six of the students, or 27%, will graduate from North Carolina medical schools, including 16 students from ECU’s Brody School of Medicine.

Brody’s most recent class features the most medical students who will begin their residency at ECU Health Medical Center in July.

“We’re thrilled for this class to start their residencies across the country and we’re especially excited about how many will be staying with us at ECU Health Medical Center,” Dr. Garrison said. “This group had their rst year of medical school disrupted by the start of COVID and I’m so proud of the way they supported each other through that experience. I’m just excited, as I am every year, to see these skilled and highly trained students start their careers and share everything they’ve learned here with the rest of the world.”

Dr. Mott Blair’s journey to his post as a physician at ECU Health Family Medicine – Wallace is not totally unlike Moore’s. Dr. Blair’s father was a doctor in Duplin County beginning in 1949.

Dr. Blair shared that his father was a primary care physician who also took up obstetrics and did home deliveries for many families. Seeing his father’s connection with patients and families in his home town lead him directly to his own career in medicine.

... That had such a tremendous impact on me. My goal is not only to care for my patients the same way my dad does, but also to make the families feel the same way that those physicians made me feel.

~ LAUREN MOORE

He attended the Brody School of Medicine – then called ECU School of Medicine – and graduated in 1987, alongside his brother. He matched with ECU Health Medical Center – then called Pitt County Memorial Hospital – and began practicing in Wallace after his three-year residency. He said his decisions to attend Brody, make Greenville his rst choice for residency, establish a practice in his rural hometown and eventually partner with the ECU Health system have all been rewarding for himself and bene cial for the patients he serves.

“I feel like the mission of the medical school was a mission that I wanted to take on and I think I’ve been successful in doing that,” Dr. Blair said. “I think the credit in being able to do that goes to the medical school and now the medical center as well. I really think that what we’re doing now, particularly as we support practices across the eastern region of the state, is a crucial thing to put in place, because health care in rural North Carolina is so dif cult and we need to have true rural primary care.”

Dr. Blair said that he knows his time at Brody prepared him well for the challenges

44% 52%

of residency and he has seen the same for other Brody graduates whom he’s connected with as residents.

For rst year residents, he said it’s a new kind of challenge and learning curve, just like those experienced in the rst year of medical school and the rst year of rotations, but sticking to the same habits that got residents where they are will make all the difference.

“Work hard,

study

hard.

Getting through residency

the rst year is a lot of hard work,” Dr. Blair said. “So enjoy it and it will go by fast and it will seem like a distant memory pretty quickly. Coming out of Brody, you’ll be well prepared. I found the preparation for me was excellent. You have to be

patient with the pace in medicine. It changes rapidly and has really changed a lot since I’ve been in practice and continues to do so.”

In line with the Brody School of Medicine’s mission to increase the number of primary care physicians who serve North Carolina, 52% of the 2023 Brody class matched into primary care residencies — including obstetrics and gynecology — and 44% matched to residency programs in North Carolina.

Moore and Dr. Blair are just two examples of the importance of the Brody School of Medicine and ECU Health connection. Developing high-quality, compassionate physicians for a region in need helps meet the organi-

zations’ combined mission to improve the health and well-being of eastern North Carolina.

“Developing great primary care providers for rural areas is at the core of what we do at Brody and within ECU Health” said Dr. Michael Waldrum, CEO of ECU Health and dean of Brody. “Working as rural health care professionals is hard but we’re working together to train doctors that will care for the whole patient, their physical and emotional health, and I think we’ve been successful in doing that. We have students, professors, residents and doctors that really understand that side of health care and their work in that space leaves a legacy that we can all be proud of.”

2023 Brody class in residency programs in North Carolina

2023 Brody class in Primary Care residencies

ECU Health Services Providers

AMBULANCE SERVICE

Duplin County EMS

Stations in Kenansville, Warsaw, Calypso, Rose Hill, Wallace, Chinquapin, Mount Olive 910-296-2160

Carolina Ambulance

Specialty Transport, Inc. 130 Paul Ed Dail Road Kenansville, NC 28349 910-210-0400

*For emergencies, always dial 911.

CANCER

ECU Health Oncology-Kenansville 401 N. Main St. Kenansville, NC 28349

(Inside ECU Health Duplin Hospital 2 South) 910-296-8880

ECU Health Multispecialty Clinic

8210 Richlands Hwy. Richlands, NC 28574 910-324-7328

CHIROPRACTORS

Beulaville Chiropractic

305 E. Main St. Beulaville, NC 28518 910-290-3150

Duplin County Chiropractic Center 102 North Main St. Kenansville, NC 28349 910-296-0019

Graybar Chiropractic & Rehab 116 N. Norwood St. Wallace, NC 28466 910-285-7222

Pink Hill Chiropractic 312 West Broadway St.

Pink Hill, NC 28572 252-568-6400

DENTISTS

Joseph Bologna 117 N. Rock sh St. Wallace, NC 28466 910-285-5649

Duplin Family Dentistry: Dr. Daniel Reamer/ Dr. Rick Gilliland 122 E. Main St. Beulaville, NC 28518 910-298-5111

Faison Dental Service

460 S. West Center St. Faison, NC 28341 910-267-0951

Harvey & Assoc. Family Dentistry 801 Plaza Blvd. Kinston, NC 28501 252-527-5333

Hunter C. Joh, DDS, PA 123 Bryan St. Kenansville, NC 28349 910-275-1880

Mitchell Family Dentistry 2500 N. Heritage St. Kinston, NC 28501 252-522-4313

Larry E. Price/Shelly Fussel 114 Marshall St. Rose Hill, NC 28458 910-289-2081

Pink Hill Family Dentistry 303 E. Broadway St. Pink Hill, NC 28572 252-568-3711

Southland Dental Care

522 S. Norwood St. Wallace, NC 28466 910-285-7800

Stiles Family Dentistry 118 Limestone Rd. Kenansville, NC 28349 910-296-1925

Stoppelbein & Hardison, DDS, PA 121 Professional Court Warsaw, NC 28398 910-293-4940

John F. White Orthodontics, DDS, PA 5 Marshall St. Rose Hill, NC 28458 910-289-2081

EAR, NOSE & THROAT

Daniel Ricci, MD, PA 207 E Murphy St. Wallace, NC 28466 910-285-4100

Onslow Ear, Nose & Throat 55 Of ce Park Drive Jacksonville, NC 28546 910-219-3377

Wilmington Ear, Nose & Throat Associates 2311 Delaney Ave. Wilmington, NC 28403 910-762-8754

Wilmington ENT’s Porters Neck 8068 Market St. Wilmington, NC 28411 910-681-1488

FOOT & ANKLE

Summit Podiatry 114 N. Norwood St. Wallace, NC 28466 910-285-3362

GENERAL SURGERY

ECU Health General Surgery-Kenansville

417 N. Main St., Ste. B

Kenansville, NC 28349

910-275-0027

HEART

ECU Health Multispecialty Clinic-Kenansville

748 S. Kenansville Bypass

Kenansville, NC 28349

910-296-8080

ECU Health Multispecialty Clinic-Richlands

8210 Richlands Hwy. Richlands, NC 28574

910-324-7328

HOME HEALTH & HOSPICE

Advantage Home Care & Hospice

409 N. Norwood St. Wallace, NC 28466

910-285-8449

Interim HealthCare

103 W. Hill St. Kenansville, NC 28349

800-388-5639

Interim HealthCare Wallace

615 E. Southerland St. Wallace, NC 28466

910-498-1962

Kindred at Home

206 S. Turner St.

Pink Hill, NC 28572

252-568-6022

Liberty Home Care & Hospice

115 E. Main St #105

Wallace, NC 28466

910-285-4954

ECU Health Home Health & Hospice

750 S. Kenansville Bypass

Kenansville, NC 28349

910-296-0819

KIDNEY/DIALYSIS

DaVita Sedc Kenansville

Dialysis Center

133 Limestone Road

Kenansville, NC 28349

800-424-6589

DaVita Wallace Dialysis Center

5650 Old NC 41 Hwy. Wallace, NC 28466

866-544-6741

Renal Advantage

213 W. College St.

Warsaw, NC 28398

800-881-5101 (Help Line)

910-293-9984

MENTAL HEALTH

Eastpointe

514 E. Main St. Beulaville, NC 28518

800-913-6109

New Dimensions Group

416 W. Ridge St. Rose Hill, NC 28458

910-289-2610

Tar Heel Human Services

191 N. NC Hwy. 41

Beulaville, NC 28518

910-298-6207

OBSTETRICIAN GYNECOLOGISTS

ECU Health Women’s Care

417 N. Main St. (Beside hospital)

Kenansville, NC 28349

910-296-2815

Joseph Cooper, M.D.

149 Limestone Road, Suite 2

Kenansville, NC 28349

910-296-1666

Duplin County Health Department

340 Seminary St.

Kenansville, NC 28349

910-296-2130

Goshen Medical Center-Faison

444 S. West Center St. Faison, NC 28341

910-267-0421

Goshen Medical Center-Warsaw

113 Pine St.

Warsaw, NC 28398

910-293-7246

Goshen Medical-Women’s Health

212 Duplin St.

Kenansville, NC 28349

910-296-0787

OPTICIANS/OPTOMETRISTS

Beulaville Eye Care

112 S. Thomas St. Beulaville, NC 28518

910-298-3223

Beulaville Optical Co.

112 S. Thomas St. Beulaville, NC 28518

910-298-3223

My Eye Doctor

5615 N.C. 41 Hwy. Wallace, NC 28466

910-285-5050

Duplin Eye Associates

304 N. Main St.

Kenansville, NC 28349

910-296-1781

ECU Health Services Providers

Richard Fry

110 S. Thomas St. Beulaville, NC 28518

910-298-3001

Optometric Associates, PA

321 E. Main St. Wallace, NC 28466

910-285-3167

Optometric Associates, PA 112 W. Hill St. Warsaw, NC 28398 910-293-7893

John D. Robinson, Optometrist

204 Maple Creek Drive Wallace, NC 28466

910-285-5059

ORTHOPEDICS

Coastal Carolina Foot & Ankle Associates

114 N. Norwood St. Wallace, NC 28466

910-285-3362

ECU Health Multispecialty Clinic

748 Kenansville Bypass Kenansville, NC 28349

910-296-8080

PEDIATRICS

ECU Health Pediatrics-Kenansville

144 Liberty Square Shopping Center

Kenansville, NC 28349

910-275-0060

KidzCare Pediatrics

112 Medical Village Dr., Ste. D Wallace, NC 28466

910-665-1437

Kinston Pediatrics Associates

116 E. Main St.

Beulaville, NC 28518

910-298-6550

PHYSICAL THERAPY/REHAB

Advantage Therapy & Rehabilitation

160 N. NC 241 Hwy. Beulaville, NC 28518

910-298-2331

Edwards & Associates

Physical Therapy

159 Crossover Rd. Beulaville, NC 28518

910-298-6455

ECU Health Duplin HospitalRehabilitation

401 N. Main St. Kenansville, NC 28349

910-296-0788

Wallace location

318 S. Northwood St. Wallace, NC 28466

910-285-1799

Melissa Presley, FNP-C

275 Mallard St. Kenansville, NC 28349

910-296-1087

Christina M. Pate, PT

615 E. Southerland St. Wallace, NC 28466

910-285-1799

Kenansville Health & Rehabilitation Center

209 Beasley St.

Kenansville, NC 28349

910-296-1561

PRIMARY CARE

Duplin County Health Department 340 Seminary St.

Kenansville, NC 28349

910-296-2130

Goshen Medical Center

-Beulaville

119 Crossover Rd. Beulaville, NC 28518

910-298-3125

Goshen Medical Center

-Faison

444 S. West Center St. Faison, NC 28341

910-267-0421

Goshen Medical Center

-Kenansville

212 Duplin St. Kenansville, NC 28349

910-296-0787

Goshen Medical Center

-Plainview

360 E. Charity Rd. Rose Hill, NC 28458

910-289-3086

Goshen Medical Center

-Wallace

110 Eastwood Dr. Wallace, NC 28466

910-285-2330

Goshen Medical CenterWarsaw Wellness

113 S. Pine St. Warsaw, NC 28398

910-293-7246

Hometown Primary Care

102 N Main St.

Kenansville, NC 28349

910-275-0195

Med First Kenansville

275 NC 24 50 Highway

Kenansville, NC 28349

910-296-1087

Mount Olive Family Medicine Center

201 N. Breazeale Ave.

Mount Olive, NC 28365

919-658-4954

Corazon Ngo, MD

214 Duplin St. Kenansville, NC 28349

910-296-1811

Physicians East- Beulaville

152 Crossover Rd.

Beulaville, NC 28518 910-298-4688

ECU Health Family Medicine

Pink Hill Medical

103 S. Central Ave. Pink Hill, NC 28572 252-568-4111

Primary Health Choice

302 N. Main Suite #2 Kenansville, NC 28349 910-296-1200

Daniel Ricci, MD

207 E. Murphy St. Wallace, NC 28466

910-285-4100

Rose Hill Medical Center

600 S. Sycamore St. Rose Hill, NC 28458 910-289-3027

Sessoms Medical Associates

102 SW Railroad St. Rose Hill, NC 28458 910-282-0330

ECU Health Multispecialty Clinic

- Richlands

8210 Richlands Hwy. Richlands, NC 28574

910-324-7328

ECU Health Family Medicine-Wallace

125 River Vine Parkway Wallace, NC 28466

910-285-2134

SLEEP SERVICES

ECU Health Duplin Hospital Kenansville

401 N. Main St. Kenansville, NC 28349

910-296-8875

Endocrine disruptors and how they may affect your health

National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are natural or human-made chemicals that may mimic, block, or interfere with the body’s hormones, which are part of the endocrine system. These chemicals are associated with a wide array of health issues community.

Endocrine glands, distributed throughout the body, produce the hormones that act as signaling molecules after release into the circulatory system.

The human body is dependent on hormones for a healthy endocrine system, which controls many biological processes like growth, fertility, and reproduction.

Hormones act in extremely small amounts, and minor disruptions in those levels may cause signi cant developmental and biological effects.

Endocrine disruptors are found in many everyday products, including some cosmetics, food packaging, toys, carpet, and pesticides and some chemicals that act as ame retardants.

EDCs cannot be completely avoided or removed; however, you can make informed choic-

es to reduce exposure.

The following are among the most common:

Atrazine is one of the most commonly applied herbicides.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is used to make polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins.

Dioxins can be released into the air from waste burning.

Perchlorate is used as an industrial chemical to make reworks.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) widely used in nonstick pans and textile coatings.

Phthalates are found in some food packaging, cosmetics, toys, and medical device tubing.

Phytoestrogens are naturally occurring substances with hormone-like activity found soy foods.

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) are used to make ame retardants for products.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) can be found in hydraulic uids, heat transfer uids, lubricants, and plasticizers.

Triclosan is an ingredient that used to be added to antimicrobial and personal

care products, like liquid body wash and soaps. Researchers have gained insight into how endocrine disruptors in uence the endocrine system and alter hormonal functions. Given the variety of chemicals, it is not surprising that they can act in various ways in different parts of the body. Researchers have discovered that endocrine disruptors can:

• Mimic, or partly mimic, naturally occurring hormones in the body like estrogens

(female sex hormones), androgens (male sex hormones), and thyroid hormones, potentially leading to overstimulation.

• Bind to a receptor within a cell, like a key within a lock, and block the naturally occurring hormone from performing. The normal signal then fails to occur, and the body does not respond properly. Examples of chemicals that block hormones are anti-estrogens and anti-androgens.

• Interfere or block the way

National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences

natural hormones, or their receptors, are made or handled in the body, for example, by altering their metabolism in the liver.

Assessing the public health effects of endocrinedisrupting chemicals is dif cult for several reasons.

People are typically exposed to multiple endocrine disruptors at the same time. Early-life effects of these chemicals may not manifest until much later in life.

And, in some cases, these effects can be persistent and be passed down for multiple generations.

National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) research leads to a greater understanding of how endocrine-disrupting chemicals may harm health and cause disease.

Recent NIEHS-supported research shows links between endocrine-disrupting chemicals and the ways in which well-being may be harmed.

Attention. Exposure to certain phthalates was associated with behaviors characteristic of attention de cit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Immunity. Children exposed to high levels of PFAS had a

diminished immune response to vaccines. Other research found some indication of increased risks of childhood infections, particularly following exposures to PFAS.

Metabolism. Long-term exposure to arsenic can disrupt metabolism, increasing the risk of diabetes and other metabolic disorders.

Liver disease. A large-scale study on exposure to PFAS in humans and rodents showed consistent evidence of chemical-driven liver damage.

Other research indicated that exposure to another endocrine-disrupting chemi-

cal, triclosan, worsened fatty liver disease in mice that ate a high-fat diet.

Puberty. Chemicals in lavender oil and tea tree oil were associated with premature breast development in girls, and abnormal breast development in boys.

Reproduction. DES can alter the way genes are turned on and off in reproductive organs of mice, potentially affecting fertility and reproduction. BPA substitutes have also been linked to similar reproductive issues.

For more information, visit https://niehs.nih.gov