OFALD Notable Alumni Archives

Sarah March, NREMT, M1NREMT, M1 

Sarah March is a current first year medical student at the Brody School of Medicine (BSOM) following her 2022 graduation from East Carolina University’s Honors College. Her involvement with BSOM began in high school as a volunteer at the Simulation Center from 2015 to 2017. 

The following year, Sarah’s love for medicine continued to grow in Dr. Ken Soderstrom’s lab as a part of the BSOM Honors Medical Research Program. This program led her to pursue her undergraduate degree in biochemistry. During her time in college, COVID-19 guided her to research heart rate variability (HRV) with the Departments of Nursing and Kinesiology. 

Outside of BSOM, Sarah has also been involved with Magnolia Arts Center as an actress. In addition, she has volunteered as an EMT with Farmville Rescue and EMS, Inc. She is currently interested in either Pediatric Psychiatry or Emergency Medicine. She’s thrilled to study the intersections between these fields and primary care in relation to health disparities during her time at BSOM. In her free time, Sarah enjoys acting, writing, traveling, and practicing Spanish. 

PhD Candidate, Biomedical Science
BS, Biochemistry

In 2019, Tyler graduated summa cum laude with his Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from ECU. During his last year as an undergraduate student, Tyler worked in the Neufer Lab where he conducted research focusing on mitochondrial bioenergetics.

Following his graduation from ECU, Tyler began working towards his Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences, with a concentration in Physiology, at the Brody School of Medicine. Currently working in the Fisher-Wellman Lab, Tyler continues to conduct mitochondrial bioenergetics research in the context of Acute Myeloid Leukemia. During his time here as a graduate student, Tyler has co-authored multiple peer-reviewed publications.

Prior to his undergraduate studies at ECU, Tyler was well known on YouTube for his pop-punk music published under the artist name “Sounds Like Harmony.” He performed on multiple tours across the United States and Canada until 2016. Following this, he decided to channel his artistic creativity towards a career in science.

Assistant Professor of Medicine
Assistant Program Director, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine
BS, ECU Physician Assistant Program, 2003
MD, ECU Brody School of Medicine, 2009

Dr. Dunn began his career 27 years ago as a respiratory therapist. This led him to pursue a career in medicine.

He is board-certified in Emergency Medicine, Internal Medicine, Pulmonary and Critical Care. His interests are critical care, asthma, lung cancer and fellowship education.

Dr. Dunn says he is “so honored, privileged and blessed to call Brody ‘home’ and to be part of the wonderful Brody family.”

Dr. Dunn enjoys spending time with his wife, Lou Anne, and his daughter, three sons and three grandchildren. He likes playing guitar and piano and boating.

Director, Center for STEM Education, ECU College of Education Advisor, Exam Performance & Medical Technology, BSOM Academic Affairs
BS, Biology
MS, Cell Biology
EdD, Education Leadership

Dr. Shawn Moore began his educational journey at ECU in 1996 when he participated in Brody School of Medicine Pediatric Infectious Disease research work focused on respiratory virus identification in pre-mature newborns. This interest led him to graduate work that focused on Allergy and Immunology, and he gained an appreciation for the interaction of science and healthcare.

After nine years of teaching biology, Dr. Moore returned to ECU as the Director of the Center for STEM Education where he supports the regional STEM enterprise by leading STEM outreach programs, providing STEM services, and conducting research that has a particular focus on under-representation in STEM & Medicine.

Some of Dr. Moore’s work with BSOM include exam preparation support for M1-M4 students and participation in scholarship efforts.

Dr. Moore loves spending time with his wife and daughter, especially at game night. He enjoys reading leadership and innovation books, and he most recently discovered landscape acrylic and oil painting as a hobby.

BSBA, Management 2006
MA, Health Communication 2018

Following her undergraduate studies at ECU, Carla Williams began her career in undergraduate admissions.

Years of experience on the Main and Health Sciences campuses led her to Brody School of Medicine in 2020. She serves as Director of the BSOM Office of Admissions. In this role, she works diligently to further Brody’s mission in recruiting a compassionate and diverse student body to serve our region and state.

Ms. Williams was a 2022 recipient of a 40 under Forty award. This award recognizes emerging leaders who began at East Carolina University and have made significant impacts in their professions, local communities, and the world.

Carla enjoys photography and operates as a freelance portrait and sports photographer.

Chair, Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine

Dr. Michael Lang started out here in Greenville as a lab technician in the Department of Biochemistry. From there, he became a Brody School of Medicine medical student, Internal Medicine/Psychiatry resident, faculty member, and is currently serving as Chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine.

Dr. Lang was born and raised in Ahoskie, NC. His desire to see Eastern North Carolina communities strong and flourishing and the mission of BSOM drew him to Greenville and ECU.

Dr. Lang says: “The school and area have been supportive and allowed me to grow. I can honestly say there is no better place in my mind to live, work, and raise a family. Thank you, Brody!”

BSOM – Expected May 2022
International Studies, B.A, 2018

Tulsi Patel is a graduate of East Carolina University’s Honors College and EC Scholars Program and is currently a fourth year at Brody School of Medicine pursuing residency in Family Medicine. One of her favorite memories at ECU and BSOM is her annual attendance at the NC Academy of Family Physicians Winter Weekend with her classmates!

As a LINC Scholar in the Healthcare Transformation and Leadership Distinction Track at Brody, Patel received formal training in health systems science to help lead a quality improvement project impacting the standardization of cesarean sections at Vidant Medical Center.

Most recently, Patel completed an externship through Medical Students for Choice to gain training that will improve her ability to expand access to reproductive health as a family medicine physician.
Patel’s hobbies include traveling in pursuit of bucket-list hikes, home cooking, and baking, studying the Spanish language and Peloton cycling.

BS, Nutrition Science 2020
BA, Chemistry 2020
Graduate Researcher
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

“My time at ECU and BSOM has changed my life completely; I could not have predicted that my scientific curiosity could forge a completely new direction for myself and also that the dreams that seemed so big and unattainable were right there in front of me. My mentors have helped me achieve my goals and grow and flourish as a budding scientist.
Not only was I encouraged to research during my time as an undergraduate, but I was given the freedom to submerge myself wholly into it.”

Currently, Jaimes is studying bacterial signaling systems that result in antibiotic resistance, a global issue that requires urgent addressing. Jaimes’s research goals are to determine the structural properties of the proteins within these regulatory systems and eventually determine drug targets to circumvent growing resistance to last-line antibiotics.

Felicia’s talents also extend beyond science! She enjoys abstracts in acrylic and mixed media painting, paddle boarding, hiking, and volunteering. She has three cats: Sophie, Bean, and Puca.

Professor
Associate Chief,  Division of Research,
Emergency Medicine &
Adjunct Associate Professor,
Physiology

PhD, Physiology (Neuroscience)
East Carolina University

“When I came back as a faculty member after 2 years of post-doctoral training elsewhere, I was glad for some level of familiarity with the place and the people. Those same faculty absorbed me as a colleague with no hint of professor/student delineation and simply served as the best models of how to be a successful and caring researcher, teacher and student advocate that a new faculty member could possibly need. Turned out that the biggest challenge was being able to call my former professors by their first names!”