ECU Division of Health Sciences faculty, residents and students earn accolades

Dr. Danielle Walsh

Dr. Danielle Walsh, associate professor of surgery at ECU’s Brody School of Medicine and director of the surgery residency program at ECU and Vidant Medical Center, has been elected to the Executive Committee of the Board of Governors for the American College of Surgeons (ACS).

In this role, she will guide decision-making on the direction the ACS takes in advancing its mission.  She will also lead the Pillar of the Board of Governors dedicated to Quality, Research, Telehealth and Best Practices.

“The opportunity to serve in this position while a member of ECU’s Brody School of Medicine is a tremendous honor, and quite timely,” Walsh said.  “The eyes of the country are on disparities, and health care is no exception. Being part of an institution dedicated to treating the underserved and improving the pipeline of under-represented minorities in medicine and surgery will serve as a foundation for addressing these issues at a systemic level utilizing the strength and influence of the ACS.”

The American College of Surgeons (ACS) is the world’s largest professional surgical organization, dedicated to improving the care of the surgical patient and to safeguarding standards of care in an optimal and ethical practice environment. The ACS plays a significant role in education of surgeons, assessing the quality of surgical care provided, advocating for policy to improve patient care and ensuring professionalism. The ACS is led by surgeons elected to represent diverse practice types and geographic areas through a Board of Governors.

Walsh was elected in 2018 by peer surgeons in North Carolina to represent the state to the ACS Board of Governors.

She joined ECU in 2011, is board certified in both general and pediatric surgery and currently serves as the general surgery residency program director for the ECU/Vidant Medical Center training program and as director of surgical quality for the James and Connie Maynard Children’s Hospital at Vidant. She is a past president of the Association of Women Surgeons and serves on the Executive Committee of the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Surgery.

Walsh also recently was awarded the first Outstanding Mentor of the Year award by the Resident and Associate Society of the American College of Surgeons.

Dr. Luan Lawson

Dr. Luan E. Lawson, associate dean of curricular innovation in medical education at the Brody School of Medicine, was honored with the Organizational Advancement Award from the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM). Lawson earned the award for significant contributions to programs, services and leadership that have represented the ideals and mission of SAEM, an organization made up of 6,000 emergency medicine professionals who have an academic focus.

“I was incredibly honored to be selected as the recipient of the SAEM Organizational Advancement Award for my engagement with the Clerkship Directors in Emergency Medicine (CDEM) and leadership in aligning its efforts with the Society of Academic Emergency Medicine,” Lawson said. “Serving on the executive board of CDEM has provided me with immeasurable opportunities to learn from the most dedicated clerkship directors across the country while developing leadership skills to maneuver challenging circumstances. I am immensely grateful for the support of my chair and the Department of Emergency Medicine.”

Lawson helped lead Brody’s transition to virtual education early in the COVID-19 pandemic. She called the quick response of academic leaders and faculty to convert the foundational sciences curriculum online “the most complex situation we have ever encountered in modern medical education.” It was also deemed a success based on student achievement to date.

Lawson’s academic interests have focused on undergraduate education, with expertise in curriculum development, assessment, and team training. She served as the principal investigator of the American Medical Association Accelerating Change in Education (ACE) grant resulting in East Carolina University’s Redesigning Education and Accelerating Change in Healthcare (REACH) program. She has also overseen the expansion and implementation of Distinction Tracks designed to allow structured para-curricular experiences for medical students pursuing focused study in an academic area of interest.

Lawson also serves on the National Board of Medical Examiners Emergency Medicine Advanced Clinical Exam Task Force and is the immediate past president of the Clerkship Directors of Emergency Medicine.

Dr. Scarlett Hao

Dr. Scarlett Hao, surgery resident in Brody’s Department of Surgery, was selected to the Association of American Medical Colleges Organization of Resident Representatives. Hao began her term in July and will represent resident physicians in dialogue on the development of association policy.

The appointment is a two-year leadership term and is also a leadership opportunity for additional focus on academic medicine and professional development activities. Residents in the organization lead initiatives and provide a multi-disciplinary voice and opinion on behalf of other residents. Hao has chosen to serve on the organization’s teams targeting strategic areas of focus including diversity/equity/inclusion and trainee safety and wellness.

“My research with Drs. (Rebecca) Snyder and (Alexander) Parikh explores disparities in surgical cancer care, but I am also working with my program director on a sustainable wellness program for our residents and faculty,” Hao said. “We have also looked at our own recruitment and interview process to maximize diversity in our residency. I’m pleased to be able to bring my experience on these important issues to the national arena and bring about positive change to more than just my own residency program.

“Recognition is certainly an honor, but the more valuable outcome of such recognition is future opportunity and networking that can help me improve the experience of my fellow residents.”

Dr. Charleen McNeill

Dr. Charleen McNeill, associate professor and director of the PhD program in the College of Nursing, was elected director of communications for the Southern Nursing Research Society (SNRS). The society serves nursing researchers in 14 states.

In her role as director of communications, McNeill serves as strategic leader of three committees including the society’s journal, Research in Nursing and Health; the newsletter Southern Connections and social media.

“I serve in this role because I believe it’s important to our members for their work and scholarly endeavors to be publicized and celebrated among society members not only to recognize their accomplishments, but also to provide a venue for people to become familiar with one another’s work and potentially collaborate,” McNeill said. “By normalizing excellence among society members, we can serve as role models for new nurse scientists to emulate.”

McNeill’s research focus includes how emergency medical countermeasures cam be provided more effectively, so that vulnerable populations are better served after emergencies as well as improving methods of nurse response after disasters.

Dr. Wanda Wright

Dr. Wanda Wright, assistant professor and division director of dental public health at the School of Dental Medicine, was presented the Four Corners Study Club Faculty Leadership Award during the school’s Fall Convocation.

Wright was selected for the honor by a committee of her colleagues and was recognized for her service to teaching, public health, community service and research.

“This award is one of the most memorable events of my professional career,” Wright said. “To be recognized by my peers is a highlight I will remember over and over with gratitude.”

Wright has been the principal investigator on numerous grant awards focused on improving the oral health care and access to it for countless under-resourced patients and opening doors to a dental education for promising and service-minded students. She serves on the SoDM Research and Scholarship Committee and the Women and Gender Advisory Council and has served on the Chancellor’s Diversity Leadership Cabinet. She also facilitates the ECU Poverty Simulation Exercise, a critical experience for our students and residents.

She was also recently named to the dental school’s newly created position of assistant dean for diversity, equity and inclusion.

Dr. Ruth Little

Dr. Ruth Little was reappointed by Gov. Roy Cooper to the North Carolina State Board of Examiners for Nursing Home Administrators. Little, assistant professor and vice chair of Brody’s Department of Public Health, is a recognized leader in long-term care and was employed for many years as a licensed administrator and certified preceptor before joining Brody’s Department of Public Health.

Little’s collaboration with industry leaders led to the funding by the Duke Endowment establishing the long-term care focus in the Master of Public Health program where students completing their MPH degree focus in long-term care administration leading to licensure.

Prior to her work at ECU, she served as public health director for Jones County and worked with community partners to develop Grace Clinic for the uninsured with extended hours, family based counseling program, migrant outreach program, school based health education programming and certified Jones County Healthy Carolinian Task Force. She was also a nursing home administrator in facilities offering specialized rehabilitation services and focused on integrating long-term care and aging into public health.

Little and other faculty members are featured in a video from the North Carolina Health Care Facilities Association highlighting efforts to protect senior North Carolinians from COVID-19.

Israel Mendez

Third-year Physician Assistant Studies student Israel Mendez received the Scholarship of Excellence from the Association of Schools Advancing Health Professions. Israel is one of 12 recipients nationwide and was selected based on academic achievement, service to the campus and community, leadership and diversity activities and strong communication skills.

Mendez is completing part of his clinical rotation at Orthopaedics East in Greenville and will graduate in December 2020. He plans to remain in eastern North Carolina in internal and emergency medicine before securing a permanent position as a physician assistant.

“As a first-generation Guatemalan American student, it has been pretty hard navigating school with limited resources. … This scholarship made me feel seen and heard. It’s not about the recognition, but it feels nice when people notice your work. I just feel really happy with life right now.”