Sotir to address medical graduates

An ECU family physician will present the convocation address to the graduating class of the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University on May 9. Dr. Catherine L. Sotir was chosen for the honor by the school’s Class of 2003. The convocation ceremony begins at 10 a.m. in Wright Auditorium.

A native of Boston, Sotir has an undergraduate degree from the University of Massachusetts in exercise science and a medical degree from the University of New Mexico School of Medicine. She completed her family medicine residency training at the Mountain Area Health Education Center in Asheville.

Sotir

After completing her residency, Sotir was a faculty physician at MAHEC for two years before joining the ECU faculty in 1999. Sotir is clinical assistant professor of family medicine.

Sotir is known around the school as a strong advocate for medical education, said Tim Smith of Lincolnton, class president.

After taking open nominations ranging from famous actors to local public service officials, Smith said a vast majority of the class decided that they wanted someone who had a vested interest in their class.

“We looked for someone who had nurtured us academically, clinically and personally. After that, she was the top vote-getter,” Smith said. “She is a great person. She’s not just a friend to medical education but also very service-oriented.”

In addition to her numerous teaching responsibilities, Sotir is active as a volunteer physician at the Greenville Community Shelter Clinic, where she provides patient care and supervises medical students. She also provided volunteer counseling and medical care from 1999 to 2001 to those affected by the flooding following Hurricane Floyd.

She also advises the Family Medicine Medical Student Interest Group, which was nationally recognized in 2002 as one of the top 10 such groups for stimulating interest in family medicine.

The 63 members of the Class of 2003 will officially graduate during ceremonies May 10 at Minges Coliseum. Retired Gen. Hugh Shelton will be the featured speaker.