Glen Webster Archives
Trish Sawyer
Director, Physician Compensation & Data Analytics
B.S. in Economics, East Carolina University
Trish Sawyer, an ECU Alumni, joined ECU in 2011 in ECU Pharmacy Services. She now proudly serves as the Director of Physician Compensation & Data Analytics. In this role, Trish works with a variety of clinical and non-clinical faculty, staff, and executive leadership to develop key analytics used for strategic decision making. Trish is a true “data chomper” who has a passion for analyzing and organizing data to provide a consolidated final product for consumption by the end user. She loves to help others automate manual processes to save time and effort.
Trish and her, husband, Anthony are the parents of 4 young children: Carter (10), Alex (9), Savannah (6) and Lily (4). She finds joy in spending time with her family, baking (especially desserts!), completing a good puzzle, and playing the piano.
Emma Gilbert
B.S. in Health Sciences, James Madison University
Ph.D. Candidate in Biomedical Sciences – Anatomy & Cell Biology
Emma Gilbert is a fourth-year Ph.D. Candidate in the Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology. She is a member of Dr. Christopher Geyer’s laboratory, which focuses on understanding various aspects of mammalian spermatogenesis. In her research, Emma studies how the germ cell-specific RNA-binding protein ‘RBM46’ is involved in post-transcriptional regulation of target mRNAs in male germ cells transitioning into meiosis.
While completing her undergraduate studies at James Madison University, Emma became interested in teaching human anatomy. The desire to conduct academic research and learn how to become an effective educator of the anatomical sciences brought Emma to East Carolina University in 2021. Under the mentorship of the anatomy teaching faculty, Emma has been able to assist in several anatomy courses on the health sciences campus, including the M1 Gross Anatomy and Embryology course. Throughout the remainder of her doctoral studies, Emma looks forward to future teaching opportunities in human anatomy.
In her free time, Emma enjoys spending time with her fiancé, finalizing details for their October wedding, going to Giddy-Up Coffeehouse, visiting “Little Washington,” and traveling back to her hometown of Barboursville, Virginia.
In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with family & friends, crocheting, reading, and getting some extra sleep!
David Wiggins
Clinical Administrative Manager, Radiation Oncology
David Wiggins joined ECU as the administrator for Radiation Oncology in 2015. Since that time, he has also provided oversight for other departments during periods of transition, serving as interim administrator for Pathology & Laboratory Medicine (2018-2021) and as interim administrator for Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (2023-present). Prior to ECU, David worked as the Assistant to the Dean in the Tillman School of Business at the University of Mount Olive where he helped to develop the university’s first graduate program (the MBA). Among his contributions as an ECU employee, he is most proud of his work in recruiting 30+ faculty, of his efforts to expand professional service offerings in the region, and of the fiscal and operational improvements he’s helped departments achieve during these last nine years. David currently serves on the Steering Committee for Radiation Oncology’s Medical Physics Residency Program and on the Clinical Services Executive Committee for Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation.
David and his wife, Michele, hail from Goldsboro, NC, and are the proud parents of Emma (9) and Nathan (4).
Linda Spell
Housekeeper
Linda Spell began employment in housekeeping at East Carolina University in 2007. Over the course of sixteen years, she has worked in various areas across the Health Sciences Campus, including the School of Medicine, Nursing, and Family Medicine buildings. She is currently working in the School of Medicine. What she especially enjoys about her work at ECU is the opportunity to grow and meet a lot of great people in her path. Before her time with ECU, she worked in home health care for 4 years.
In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband, son, daughter, grandchildren, and dog, Bebee. She and her husband enjoy going for drives and exploring Eastern North Carolina on the weekends!
Adam Burch
PhD Candidate in Biomedical Science with a concentration in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
B.S. Biochemistry ECU 2019
Adam received a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from ECU in 2019. During his time as an undergraduate, he participated in undergraduate research in the labs of Dr. Brian Love and Dr. Robert Hughes where he developed a love for the sometimes frustrating but ultimately rewarding process of research. He received the outstanding senior in biochemistry and graduated with honors leading him to further pursue a career in scientific research.
Adam is now a fourth year PhD Candidate in the department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. He works in the lab of Dr. Ruth Schwalbe, studying the role of N-glycosylation in the progression of the pediatric cancer neuroblastoma.
When he is not in the lab performing western blots or doing cell culture; Adam can be found playing music, spending time with friends/family, or “knee deep in the water somewhere.”
Dana Shefet
Current M3 and Brody Scholar, (’25)
BS, Public Health and minors in mathematics, nutrition, natural sciences, ECU, (’21)
Dana Shefet is a 3rd year medical student at the Brody School of Medicine. She graduated from East Carolina University’s Honors College as a Brinkley-Lane Scholar, the most prestigious award program offered at East Carolina University. She graduated Summa Cum Laude with a B.S. in Public Health and minors in Nutrition, Mathematics, and Natural Sciences. In undergrad, Dana was a researcher in the Food-based Early Education (FEEd) Lab, a program that focuses on childhood overweight prevention in low-income communities and has multiple publications for her work. Dana received the Michael F. Bassman Honors College Research Award and the Robert H. Wright Leadership Award, the most distinguished award given to undergraduate seniors at ECU upon graduation.
In medical school, Dana is a Brody Scholar and stays involved serving the Eastern North Carolina community through her work in the Service Learning Distinction Track and as a coordinator in the Pitt County Care Clinic, a free clinic for the underinsured and uninsured people of Pitt County. She also spent 3 weeks of her M1 summer traveling to the Himalayas providing acute medical care to patients. She holds a national role through the American Academy of Family Physicians as a Well Being Champion, a role in which she advocates for students’ mental health. She has served as the President of both the Family Medicine Interest Group and Brody Ambassadors, an organization which connects medical students with undergraduates at ECU interested in pursuing a career in medicine.
She is excited to be applying for Family Medicine residencies in her M4 year and spends her free time reading, running, traveling, spending time with family, and chatting with anyone and everyone!
Savanna Williams
PhD student in Biomedical Sciences, Pharmacology & Toxicology Concentration
BS, Biology with a concentration in Molecular and Cellular Biology and a minor in Psychology, ECU, (’18)
Savanna received a Bachelor of Science in Biology with a concentration in Molecular and Cellular Biology and a minor in Psychology from ECU in 2018. During her time as an undergraduate, she was a Chancellor’s Fellow in the ECU honors college and was given the opportunity to experience undergraduate research in both biomedical engineering and kinesiology.
She is now a second year PhD student pursuing a PhD in Biomedicine with a concentration in Pharmacology and Toxicology. Under the mentorship of Dr. Jacques Robidoux, her work seeks to understand the relationship of certain inflammatory cytokines in the pathology of cardiac fibrosis, using a 3-D organoid model.
In her free time, she enjoys baking and participating in the “Mutt Strutters” volunteer group, which exercises and socializes dogs from the Pitt County Animal Shelter.
J. Benjamin S. Wise
MD Candidate, Class of 2024
M.A. The Johns Hopkins University, Applied Economics
B.A. The College of William and Mary, Economics and Philosophy
Ben is a 4th year medical student at the Brody School of Medicine. He is applying to residency in Psychiatry and eventually hopes to pursue a Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship. He has pursued a variety of interests since moving to Greenville to study medicine including his pun-laden leadership of the local chapter of Walk with A Doc, a national organization promoting wellness and community engagement. He served as Simulation Lab Advisory Board Student Representative and as president of the Med-Peds Interest Group. More recently, he co-led a clothing drive to benefit indigent patients in the inpatient psychiatry ward and volunteering on a research project to improve pathology education. He was just selected for the NC Medical Society’s Future Clinician Leaders College, Class of 2024. He can be found around Brody from time to time because he loves mentoring the younger classes of medical students and napping in the Zen room.
Ben lives in Greenville with his wife Christine Malumphy, an assistant capital defender, their daughter Alice Wise, and their loyal hound Penny Lane. They enjoy exploring new hikes, chasing lizards and other reptiles, visiting science museums, and finding hidden restaurant gems across North Carolina.
Jedediah S. Smith
Data Analyst and Instructional Consultant, Office of Data Analysis and Strategy
MS, Instructional Technology, ECU, (’14)
Jed has been involved with education for over 25 years. He first began his career as a high school science teacher with Pitt County Schools. He went back to school to get his master’s degree so that he could further impact student outcomes by improving the development and delivery of instruction. He began working at the Brody School of Medicine in 2017 as a curriculum facilitator for the Office of Medical Education and was working deeply with data related to learner outcomes and LCME accreditation. He was hired as the first employee in the newly formed Office of Data Analysis and Strategy and is currently devoted to improving outcomes for Academic Affairs programs and offices through the development of data analytics and reporting innovations throughout Brody’s ecosystem.
Jed is a servant leader in the community. He has been an avid supporter of science opportunities for young people. He and his wife organized and ran the first elementary Science Olympiad tournament in the east. He also has devoted time to the area through his work in youth sports. He currently works with the Pitt-Greenville Soccer Association to improve the development of coaches of local teams. Dozens of his former students and players have graduated from Brody and are changing the region through their contributions to scientific advancement and health outcomes in eastern North Carolina. Their successes are the culmination of his career mission to help others grow and change the world.
Donald L. Norris II, MD, FACEP
Clinical Associate Professor
Division Chief of Education
Department of Emergency Medicine
Emergency Medicine Residency, East Carolina University (’03)
MD, Marshall University (’00)
BA, West Virginia University
Dr. Norris joined the faculty at ECU in July 2022. Dr. Norris is passionate about medical student and residency education. He currently serves on the Brody School of Medicine Admissions Committee and is actively involved in teaching both students and residents both in the emergency department and in the simulation center. In his new role as Division Chief of Education, he oversees the educational mission in the Department of Emergency Medicine. In this role he will continue to develop the EM clerkship and residency programs as well as help mentor faculty within the department.
Academic areas of interest include decision making in emergency medicine with a specific focus on cognitive errors in thinking, direct observation in the clinical setting and virtual reality simulations.