Larry P. Dennis, MPAS, PA-C
Associate Professor
Department Chair

BS in history and English, 1971
West Texas State University, Canyon, TX.

BS in Health Care Sciences, 1975
University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX.

MPAS with a concentration in internal medicine, 1998
University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska.

Mr. Dennis chairs the Department of Physician Assistant Studies at ECU and is the Program Director.  He spent 24 years in clinical practice which included extensive administrative duties. His clinical experiences were in family medicine, occupational medicine and orthopedics.  He helped open and operate three rural health clinics, one of which was in a remote mountain area.

Mr. Dennis has been in full-time PA education for over 9 years and has been Program Director at two different institutions.  He has been Chair at ECU since 2003.  Mr. Dennis’ academic interests lie in administration and curriculum and faculty development.

He is a native of Texas and is a serious University of Texas football fan.  And of course he is an ECU football fan.

Dale Newton, MD
Professor
Medical Director

Dr. Newton grew up on a dairy farm (unusual in tobacco country) outside of Henderson, North Carolina. He graduated from NC State University (B.S., 1969), then the University of North Carolina School of Medicine (M.D., 1973). After a combined residency in Pediatrics and Internal Medicine, he practiced primary care medicine and pediatrics in Tarboro, NC, for 14 years. During those years of small town practice, his patients helped him further his education in the real world of primary care, and in the incredible rewards of a private practice.

In 1991, Dr. Newton changed his career to an academic one, with a 35-mile move to Greenville, NC. At Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, he received academic appointments in the Departments of Pediatrics (primary) and Internal Medicine (secondary). He was the program director for the Combined Internal Medicine-Pediatrics Residency Program until 2003, and is now Associate Program Director. In 1992-1993, he participated in the Michigan State University Primary Care Fellowship Development Program.

Dr. Newton is now Professor of Pediatrics, Senior Vice Chair for Operations, Clinical Professor of Medicine, head of the Division of General Pediatrics, and Medical Director of the Physician Assistant Studies Program. The Division has grown from 5 physicians in 1995 to its current 24 physicians, one dentist, and 2 physician extenders. Clinical work continues in adult and pediatric clinics, ward, and nursery, child abuse work, and the Diagnostic Dilemma Clinic. He is a consultant to the NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources for pediatric lead poisoning. Over the years, he has also received a number of teaching awards from medical students and residents.

Research interests focus on the factors that influence medical student career choice. In addition to a number of research publications, Dr. Newton is a co-editor of Pediatric Hospital Medicine published by Lippincott, Williams, and Wilkins (2nd Edition, 2007).

Kelly Brillant, MPH, PA-C
Clinical Assistant Professor

Master Public Health, 1997; Nova Southeastern University, Davie, Florida

BS in Physician Assistant studies, 1997; Nova Southeastern University, Davie, Florida

BS in Nursing, 1990; University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont

Mrs. Brillant has been a Clinical Assistant Professor teaching in the Department of Physician Assistant Studies since the spring of 2004. Prior to joining the faculty at East Carolina University, she worked at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, Florida on the surgery/critical care/trauma team for 6 years. Her background includes over 5 years in surgery/critical care nursing and trauma case management in Dallas, Texas and the South Florida area. She is a native of Vermont but prefers the more temperate climate in the south. Her husband, Patrick, is a Colo-rectal surgeon with Physician’s East. They have “2” sons, Brandon & Nicholas, and love living in the eastern North Carolina area. Ms. Brilliants’ area of interests includes surgery, trauma, & critical care.

Spencer Cole, MPAS, PA-C
Clinical Assistant Professor
Clinical Coordinator

AS in Physician Assisting (Surgery), 1972, Cincinnati Technical College, Cincinnati, OH

BS in Management, 1981, Northern Kentucky University, Highland Heights, KY MPAS in Orthopaedic Surgery,2000, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE

Post Graduate Courses in Management, Webster University, Saint Louis, MO

Mr. Cole is Clinical Assistant Professor and Clinical Coordinator in the Department of Physician Assistant Studies. He has spent over 35 years in clinical practice and has extensive administrative experience as a health care administrator. He has been in full-time PA education for 3 years. Previously, he served as a preceptor for 8 PA programs and was appointed as adjunct faculty at 2 PA programs. He is a Kentuckian, and was appointed a Kentucky Colonel by the governor of Kentucky. His wife, Barbara, is an office nurse and is an ordained deacon. They have 4 grown children. Mr. Cole is an ordained elder and is active in church and veterans organizations. His academic interests are in orthopaedics and preventive medicine.

Julie Daniel-Yount, MHS, PA-C
Clinical Assistant Professor
Clinical Education Coordinator

BS in Biology with a minor in Chemistry, 1997; Barton College, Wilson, NC

BS in Physician Assistant Studies,1999; East Carolina University, Greenville, NC

Master of Health Sciences, 1999; Duke University, Durham, NC

Mrs. Daniel-Yount is the Clinical Education Coordinator in the Department of Physician Assistant Studies and is the course instructor for Diagnostic Methods II. She is a graduate of ECU’s first Physician Assistant class. She practiced as a PA in developmental pediatrics with ECU for over 6 years prior to joining the PA faculty. Currently, she maintains clinical practice part-time in a local private pediatric practice. Professional interests include ADHD, autism, and developmental disabilities. Her husband, Brad, is also a graduate of the 1999 ECU PA class and practices as a PA at Walter B. Jones Alcohol and Drug Abuse Treatment Center. They have one daughter, Edie. Mrs. Daniel-Yount is a NC native who enjoys spending time with her family, hiking, reading, and watching UNC basketball.

Peggy McMillen, MPAS, PA-C
Clinical Coordinator
Admissions Coordinator

BS, 2000; East Carolina University, Greenville, NC

MPAS with a concentration in geriatric internal medicine, 2001; University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska

Ms. McMillen is one of the Clinical Coordinators for the Program and the Admissions Coordinator. She has been clinically practicing part-time for the past 8 years. Currently, she is working with Carolina Internal Medicine. Her academic interests are…clinical pathology, geriatric medicine, hospice care, computer based education and student advising.

Carolyn Pugh, MHS, PA-C
Clinical Assistant Professor
Didactic Education Coordinator

BA, Russian Language and Literature, Duke University, 1985

BSPA, Physician Assistant Studies, East Carolina University, 2000

MHS, Physician Assistant Studies, Duke University, 2000

Ms. Pugh is the Didactic Education Coordinator and Clinical Assistant Professor in the Physician Assistant Studies Department. She joined the faculty in 2004. She was born at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, where her father served as a Green Beret. She was in the first graduating class of the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics in Durham, NC. She then attended Duke University, where she received a Bachelor of Art degree in Russian Language and Literature. She received her Bachelor of Science in Physician Assistant Studies, magna cum laude, from East Carolina University in 2000. She also received a Master of Health Science degree with honors from Duke University in 2000. She has clinical practice experience in family medicine, psychiatry and substance abuse/detoxification. She has two children in college in North Carolina.

Jane Trapp, MS, PA-C
Clinical Associate Professor

B.S. PA Certificate George Washington University 1986

Completion of Norwalk-Yale University Post –graduate Physician Assistant Surgical Residency Program 1988

MS.Ed. Wilkes University Master of Science in Educational Leadership

Jane Trapp is a faculty member within the Department of Physician Assistant Studies. She spent six years as a faculty member and two years as program director at Pennsylvania College of Technology in Williamsport, PA. She also has clinically practiced as a physician assistant emergency medicine and urgent care in several facilities in PA, Ohio and North Carolina. She is a native of Ohio and has one daughter.

Patricia Cannon
Administrative Support Associate