About Us

Kenneth K. Steinweg, MD

Dr. Steinweg completed medical school at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and went on to complete a family medicine residency at Womack Army Hospital at Fort Bragg, NC.  Following graduation he remained in the Army for twenty-five years initially serving in the Womack Army Hospital residency program as a faculty member and became the residency program director there in 1980.  He was reassigned in 1983 to Tripler Army Medical Center in Hawaii as the Chief of the Family Medicine Department  and director of the family medicine program there until returning to North Carolina in 1986 to complete an Army sponsored geriatric fellowship at the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University.  Following this graduation he returned to the Army and Fort Bragg as Chief of the Department of Family Medicine and director of the residency program.  During this twelve year period of time Dr. Steinweg was active in family medicine resident teaching, patient care, and research.

While assigned to Fort Bragg, Dr. Steinweg deployed in Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm in Iraq as the Commander, 5th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital during 1990-1991.  Upon return he was assigned to the Army Surgeon General's office as Ambulatory Care Consultant and then Chief, Clinical Policy Division for the Army Surgeon General.  Dr. Steinweg was selected to attend the Army War College and then was served as the Commander, Ft. Leonard Wood Army Community Hospital in Fort Leonard, Wood, MO. 

Dr. Steinweg retired from the Army in 1996 and returned to the Brody School of Medicine as the Director of the Geriatric Division and program director for the geriatric fellowship where he was active in family medicine and geriatric fellowship teaching.  He has been or currently is the medical director of several nursing homes and home health agencies.  He served on the Board of Directors of the American Medical Directors Association and currently the Board of Directors of the North Carolina Academy of Family Physicians.  Dr. Steinweg became the interim chair, Department of Family Medicine in 2008, and then Chair, Department of Family Medicine at the Brody School of Medicine in 2009.  His clinical and research interests include curriculum development, long-term care, dementia, and osteoporosis.  Dr. Steinweg's spouse Sue, currently teaches at ECU in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction and they have two children, Emily and Megan.  Dr. Steinweg has three grandchildren.

Janice Paris, MSPH, MBA

Department Administrator
Adjunct Lecturer
BS State University of New York at Cortland, 1979
MSPH University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1984
MBA East Carolina University, 1993

Robert Newman, MD

Director
Clinical Associate Professor
BS College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA, 1975
MD University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 1979
Residency in Family Medicine, Charleston Naval Hospital, SC, 1982

Susan Keen, MD

Clinical Assistant Professor
BS East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, 1997
MD Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, 2003
Family Medicine Residency, East Carolina University, Department of Family Medicine, Greenville, North Carolina, 2006

Ashton Johnson, MD

Residency Division
Clinical Assistant Professor
BS Wake Forest University, Winston Salem, North Carolina, 1995
MD Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, 2002
Family Medicine Residency, East Carolina University, Department of Family Medicine, Greenville, North Carolina, 2005

Francis Buckman, MD

Hospitalist, Residency Division
Clinical Assistant Professor
MD University of Ghana Medical School, Accra, Ghana, West Africa, 1994
Family Medicine Residency, East Carolina University, Department of Family Medicine, Greenville, North Carolina, 2005

Gregory Knapp, MD

Inpatient Service Director
Hospitalist
Clinical Assistant Professor
BS North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, 1996
MD Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, 2000
Residency in Family Medicine, Pitt County Memorial Hospital, 2003

Tommy Ellis, MD

ECU Physicians Firetower Medical Office
Clinical Assistant Professor
BS North Carolina State University, 1988
MD East Carolina University School of Medicine, 1992
Residency in Family Medicine, Pitt County Memorial Hospital, 1995

Kelly W. Philpot, MD

ECU Physicians Firetower Medical Office
Clinical Assistant Professor
BA University of Missouri, 1996
MD University of Missouri, Kansas City School of Medicine, 1997
Residency in Family Medicine, Pitt County Memorial Hospital, 2000

Angela B. Mebane, MD

ECU Physicians Firetower Medical Office
Clinical Assistant Professor
BA Hampton University, 1993
MD University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1997
Residency in Family Medicine, Pitt County Memorial Hospital, 2000

Robert Ziegelmann, MD
 
Firetower Medical Office
Clinical Assistant Professor
BS University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 1996
MD University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 2001
Residency in Family Medicine, Department of Family Medicine, Brody School of Medicine at ECU, Greenville, NC 2004

Richard Rawl, MD

Director, Bethel Family Medicine Center
Assistant Professor
BS University of South Carolina, 1974
MD Bowman Gray School of Medicine, 1978
Residency in Family Medicine, Pitt County Memorial Hospital, 1981

Lars Larsen, MD

Vice Chair of Educational Development
Director of Education Division
Professor
BS Denison University, 1968
MD SUNY at Syracuse, 1973
Residency in Family Medicine, University of Utah, 1976

Christopher Duffrin, PhD

Education Specialist
Assistant Professor
BS Western Illinois University, 1991
MAEd Ohio University, 1998
MS Western Illinois State, 2009
PhD Ohio University, 2002

David Weismiller, MD, ScM

Professor
BS University of Maryland, 1985
MD Jefferson Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, 1991
Residency in Family Medicine, UVA Health Sciences Center, 1994
Clinical Fellow, MATCH, National Association of Community Health Centers, 1995
Fellowship in Maternal-Child Health, Department of Family Medicine, Brown University University, 1996
MS Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, Brown University, 1996
Faculty Development Fellowship in Family Medicine, ECU, 2001

Kathryn Kolasa, PhD, RD, LDN

Section Head, Nutrition & Education Services
Professor Emeritus
BS Michigan State University, 1970
PhD University of Tennessee, 1974

Dionne Lowder Knapp, PharmD, BCPS, CPP

Director of Pharmacy Education, Eastern AHEC
Clinical Assistant Professor
BS University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1996
PharmD University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1997
Pharmacy Practice Residency, Medical University of South Carolina, 1999 Family Medicine Pharmacy Residency, Medical University of South Carolina, 2000
Faculty Development Fellowship in Family Medicine, East Carolina University, 2001

Jamie D. Messenger, PharmD

Section Head, Pharmacotherapy
Clinical Assistant Professor
BA University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR  1997
PharmD University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 2002
Family Medicine Pharmacotherapy Residency, East Carolina University 2003

Dennis C, Russo, PhD, ABPP

Clinical Professor
BA UC Santa Barbara, 1972
PhD in Educational Psychology UC Santa Barbara, 1975

Benjamin C. Gersh, MD

Assistant Professor
B.S.,  The University of North Carolina at Pembroke, NC, 1999
M.S.,  North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, August 2002
MD, The Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University,
Greenville, NC. May 2006
MPH, The Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University,
Greenville, NC., currently enrolled
Residency in Psychiatric Medicine and Family Medicine
Pitt County Memorial Hospital, Greenville, NC
Co-Chief Resident (2010-2011), Department of Psychiatric Medicine

Jennifer Hodgson, PhD

Associate Professor
BA The University of Akron,1992
MS Northern Illinios University, 1994
PhD Iowa State University, 1997
Postdoctoral Fellowship in Medical Family Therapy, Univ of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, 1998

Tae Joon Lee, MD

Geriatric Faculty, Geriatrics Fellowship Director
Clinical Assistant Professor
BS University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, 1997
MD University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill-School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, 2001
Swedish Family Medicine Residency, University of Washington Network of Family Medicine Residencies, 2004
Fellowship in Faculty Development, University of Washington, 2005

Ann Marie Nye, PharmD

Affiliate Assistant Professor
Certificate in Aging Studies, Virginia Commonwealth University, Medical College of Virginia, 2000
PharmD, Virginia Commonwealth University, Medical College of Virginia, 2001
Residency in Geriatric Pharmacy Practice, University of Texas, Audie Murphy Veterans Hospital, 2002

Janice Daugherty, MD

Associate Professor
BS Wake Forest University, 1975
MD Bowman Gray, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, 1978
Residency in Family Medicine, Pitt County Memorial Hospital, 1981
Faculty Development Fellowship in Family Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1982

Maria Knupp, FNP

Family Nurse Practitioner
BSN University of Maryland, Baltimore, 1973
MSN University of Maryland, Baltimore, 1980
FNP University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, 2002

Qing Cao, MD

Clinical Assistant Professor
MD Hubei Medical University, China, 1991
Internal Medicine Residency, Hubei Medical University, China, 1994
Family Medicine Residency, East Carolina University, Brody School of Medicine, 2008
Fellowship in Geriatrics, East Carolina University, Brody School of Medicine, 2009

Balaji Pabbu, MD

Clinical Assistant Professor
Bachelors Medicine/Science Sri Venkateswara Medical College, India
Family Medicine Residency, Ponoma Valley Hospital Medical Center
Family Medicine/Geriatrics Fellowship, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital

Susan Schmidt, MD

Director, Medical Student Education Division
Clinical Associate Professor
BS University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, 1998
MD Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, Greenville, 2002
Family Practice Residency, East Carolina University, Department of Family Medicine, Greenville, 2005

D. Dean Patton, MD

Clinical Professor
BA Marshall University, 1969
MD West Virginia University School of Medicine, 1972
Internship in Surgery, Akron General Hospital, Akron, Ohio, 1972-1973
Residency in Family Medicine, University Hospital, Morgantown, WV, 1975-1977
Fellowship in Family Medicine Faculty Development, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, 1987-1988

Jason Foltz, DO

Clinical Assistant Professor
BS Penn State University, 1998
DO Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, 2003
Residency in Family Medicine, Eglin AFB, 2006

Stephen Willis, MD

Executive Director of Eastern AHEC
Associate Dean for CME and Distance Learning
Professor
BA University of Virginia, 1977
MD University of Virginia School of Medicine, 1981
Residency in Family Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, 1984
Faculty Development Fellowship in Family Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1985

Marian Swinker, MD, MPH

Professor
BS University of Pittsburgh, 1971
MPH University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, 1972
MD Pennsylvania State University, College of Medicine, 1978
Internship in Obstetrics & Gynecology, West Virginia University, 1979
Residency in Family Medicine, West Virginia University, 1983
Fellowship in Occupational and Environmental Medicine, West Virginia University, 1994

Doyle Cummings, PharmD

Director
Professor
BS West Virginia University School of Pharmacy, 1978
PharmD Philadelphia College of Pharmacy & Science, 1981
Residency in Hospital Pharmacy, Rush-Presbyterian St. Luke's Medical Center, 1979

Lauren Whetstone, PhD

Assistant Professor
BA Psychology, University of California, 1980
MA San Francisco State University, 1983
PhD The Claremont Graduate School, 1991

Brian Budenholzer, MD

Clinical Associate Professor
Assistant Residency Director
BA UCLA, 1976
MD USC School of Medicine, 1980
Residency in Family Medicine, USC-Charleston, 1983

Emily Bray, MD

Clinical Associate Professor
BS Wheaton College, 1970
MD University of Illinois, 1974
Residency, University of Illinois, 1977
Fellowship in Geriatrics, Rush Presbyterian St. Lukes Hospital, 1984
Minifellowship, High Risk Obstetrics, Main Medical Center, 1993
Faculty Development Fellowship in Family Medicine, East Carolina University, 2001

Justin Edwards, MD

Assistant Residency Director
Clinical Assistant Professor
BS East Carolina University, 2002
MD Brody School of Medicine/East Carolina University, 2006
Residency in Family Medicine, East Carolina University, 2009

Jonathon Firnhaber, MD

Residency Director
Clinical Assistant Professor
BA University of Colorado, Boulder, 1986
MD University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, 1990
Residency in Family Medicine, RL Thompson Strategic Hospital, Carswell AFB, TX, 1993

Gary Levine, MD

Associate Professor
BS University of Michigan, 1972
MD Wayne State University, 1976
Internship in Internal Medicine, Ohio State University, 1977
Residency in Family Medicine, University of Virginia, 1980
Faculty Development Fellowship in Family Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1983

Ricky Watson, MD

Assistant Residency Director
Clinical Assistant Professor
BS Davidson College, 1982
MSPH University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1986
MD East Carolina University, 1990
Residency in Family Medicine, Pitt County Memorial Hospital, 1993

Aaron Lambert, MD
 
Assistant Clincial Professor
BS Marshall University,  2005
MD Marshall University School of Medicine, 2008
Residency in Family Medicine, Marshall University 2011
Co-Chief Resident, 2010-2011

Joseph Armen, DO

ECU Team Physician
Sports Medicine Fellowship Director
BS Cornell University,

DO New York College of Osteopathic Medicine,
Family Medicine Residency, Carolinas Medical Center
Sports Medicine Fellowship, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Brock J. Niceler, MD

Clinical Assistant Professor
BS Brigham Young University, 2001
MD Marshall University School of Medicine, 2006
Family Medicine Residency, University of Utah
Sports Medicine Fellowship, University of Utah