DEAN’S PORTRAIT UNVEILED

Portrait of Dean Mark Stacy unveiled at ECU’s Brody School of Medicine

The Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University commemorated the tenure of its dean, Dr. Mark Stacy, with the unveiling of his official portrait on Aug. 3.

Dr. Phyllis Horns, who served as vice chancellor of ECU’s Division of Health Sciences for nearly a decade prior to stepping down on July 31, said she initiated the process of having Stacy’s likeness painted a few months ago in order to make sure the school continued its long tradition of honoring its leaders with portraits.

Dr. Mark Stacy and his wife, Dr. Tina Stacy, attended the unveiling of a portrait of the Brody School of Medicine’s dean.

Horns said those portraits, which line the walls of Brody’s lobby, are intended to represent the contributions of those leaders “to the history and the legacy of the Brody School of Medicine.

“Each of those leaders has come with unique sets of attributes and they have departed their roles having made a substantial difference in the life of this school,” she said.

Horns said Stacy – who was appointed dean in September 2017 and who was also named interim vice chancellor after Horns stepped down – is no different.

“Dr. Stacy is striving to make Brody more competitive for research funding, studying ways to advance how medicine is practiced in eastern North Carolina and working to increase not only the Brody class size, but also the diversity among its students, faculty and staff,” she said. “He is a champion for rural health, primary care, clinical excellence and service to underserved populations. He is also an advocate for innovation in health sciences education.”

The portrait – painted by ECU alumna Irene Bailey – depicts Stacy standing in his office holding a first edition of a book he authored, “Handbook of Dystonia.”

Behind Stacy in the painting are items from around his office that are particularly meaningful to him, ranging from family photos, awards and gifts from students to a Nerf Brain Ball his children gave him for Father’s Day in 1995.

Stacy – who was accompanied at the unveiling ceremony by his wife, Dr. Tina Stacy – said Bailey sat and talked with him one day to gain insight into who he is. The artist then took the aforementioned items from around his office and placed them on his bookshelf, before instructing Stacy not to smile as she photographed him.

“I think she really did a nice job,” he said. “It was as pleasant of an egocentric experience as you can have.”

Stacy said he was stunned and grateful that a room full of people would come out to see the unveiling.

“It’s humbling. I am honored to be around those other great leaders,” he said of having his portrait hanging next to those of previous Brody deans. “And it’s a challenge now to make my contribution, and I sure hope I can do that.”

The portrait of Dr. Mark Stacy joins others that line the walls of Brody’s lobby – a longtime tradition that honors the leaders of the Brody School of Medicine.