You will join a comprehensive cardiovascular program at CarolinaEast that combines experienced leadership with genuine collegiality and strategic growth. Under the medical direction of Alex Kirby, MD, an interventional cardiologist who has guided the program through significant expansion, you will become part of a practice culture that prioritizes both clinical excellence and physician satisfaction. Dr. Kirby currently balances administrative responsibilities with clinical work, spending one week in the hospital, one week in clinic, and two weeks on administrative duties while still participating in the 1:4 call rotation. His hands-on involvement demonstrates the kind of physician leadership that distinguishes CarolinaEast from health systems where administrators make decisions without understanding clinical realities.
The general cardiology team currently includes two physicians with complementary practice styles, creating space for a new colleague to find their own niche. Laurence Farmer, MD and Matthew Levine, MD anchor the noninvasive cardiology service in New Bern, each bringing distinct approaches to practice. One physician emphasizes productivity and volume while the other prioritizes work-life balance and sustainable patient relationships. This diversity means you will have mentorship options that align with your own professional goals, whether you want to maximize earnings or maintain boundaries that protect personal time.
The interventional cardiology program includes physicians who handle both traditional coronary intervention and advanced structural heart procedures. Taylor Kirkman, DO performs interventional and peripheral vascular procedures, bringing versatility to the catheterization lab. Scott Sample, DO focuses on structural heart intervention, and the team anticipates additional structural expertise as the program continues to develop. The interventional team has stepped up to share general cardiology call duties during this recruitment period, demonstrating the collaborative spirit that characterizes the CarolinaEast cardiovascular program.
Two catheterization labs support the interventional volume, with plans for expansion as the program grows. The structural heart program represents a strategic priority for CarolinaEast, recognizing that patients in eastern North Carolina deserve access to TAVR and other advanced procedures without traveling to distant academic centers. Your referrals to the interventional team will receive prompt attention from colleagues who view collaboration as essential to excellent patient care.
The electrophysiology service has experienced remarkable growth, expanding from a small team to a robust program that now includes multiple physicians and dedicated lab facilities. Christopher Hudson, MD leads the EP service alongside Chase King, DO. The program operates two EP labs, including a recently installed state-of-the-art facility that reflects CarolinaEast's investment in cardiovascular technology. Angela Woo Park, MD currently serves on the EP team but has announced her departure effective late January, creating a recruitment need for a fourth electrophysiologist.
The EP program's growth from one provider to its current size over just a few years demonstrates both the referral strength in eastern North Carolina and the collaborative culture that attracts physicians to CarolinaEast. EP physicians report strong earnings, with motivated practitioners reaching the $950,000 to $1,000,000 range. The program's success validates the regional demand for cardiovascular services and suggests similar growth potential for general cardiology as the team expands.
Four cardiac surgeons provide comprehensive surgical backup and consultation services for the cardiovascular program. This surgical depth ensures that complex patients requiring CABG, valve surgery, or other cardiac surgical intervention receive timely care without transfer to distant facilities. The presence of robust surgical support enhances your ability to manage complex cardiovascular patients, knowing that surgical consultation and intervention remain readily available when clinically indicated.
The collaborative relationship between cardiology and cardiac surgery creates seamless care pathways for patients who need multidisciplinary evaluation. Heart team conferences and informal consultation allow for thoughtful decision-making about optimal treatment strategies for complex cases. This integrated approach benefits both patients and physicians, reducing the friction and delays that complicate care in fragmented healthcare systems.
The Morehead City clinic operates with its own dedicated team serving the Crystal Coast community. John Jay Gould, MD and Michael Rave, MD provide general cardiology services in a purely outpatient setting with no hospital responsibilities or call duties. Three APPs support the two-physician practice: Rebecca Harris, RN, MSN, AGNP-C and colleagues handle follow-up visits and extend physician capacity to meet patient demand.
The Morehead City physicians transitioned to outpatient-only practice following the closure of the local catheterization lab, and both report satisfaction with their current practice model. Their earnings have actually increased since leaving hospital-based work, with outpatient cardiology reimbursement proving robust. The clinic needs one additional general cardiologist to meet patient demand and provide scheduling flexibility for the existing team.
The cardiology service has invested significantly in APP support across both locations. Five APPs currently serve the program with recruitment underway for a sixth position. In New Bern, Kaitlyn Cornwall, NP-C, Dustin Grimes, MSN, RN, ACNPC-AG, and Dawneale Molladiu, AGNP-C work alongside the physician team, managing established patient follow-ups, assisting with hospital coverage, and extending physician capacity. The hospital-based APP provides coverage from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM seven days per week, ensuring consistent support during weekend rounding and reducing the burden on physicians during call periods.
These APPs function as true physician extenders who have developed genuine cardiology expertise through their tenure with the program. They manage routine matters competently, escalate appropriately, and contribute meaningfully to patient care continuity. The collaborative model allows you to focus your time on new patients, complex cases, and procedures while maintaining confidence that established patients receive excellent ongoing care.
The cardiovascular program at CarolinaEast has maintained strong physician retention despite the challenges facing healthcare nationally. Established physicians have remained with the program for years, suggesting genuine satisfaction with the practice environment, compensation, and community. The recent departures of Dr. Williams to retirement (after a long and successful career) and Dr. Park to a personal sabbatical represent life transitions rather than dissatisfaction with CarolinaEast.
The practice culture emphasizes flexibility, professional autonomy, and mutual support among colleagues. During the current recruitment period, interventional cardiologists have voluntarily assumed additional call responsibilities to ease the burden on the general cardiology team. This kind of collegial support reflects a program where physicians genuinely care about each other's well-being and work together to maintain sustainable practices. You will join a team that welcomes new colleagues, provides mentorship without micromanagement, and respects the boundaries that make long-term practice satisfying.