Advisory Council

Peggy Baddour
President/CEO, LifeSource Inc.

Peggy Baddour, owner and founder of LifeSource Inc., has over 40 years’ experience in healthcare management and operations.  She started her career with the Area Health Education Center (SEAHEC) for nine years and New Hanover Regional Medical Center in the Information Technology Department for three years when she was hired by consultants from Ernst & Young to be a part of a $21 million IT project. 

Subsequently, Baddour took a position with a national healthcare consulting firm with 1,500 consultants as one of 20 senior vice presidents. She worked with many major health systems across the country assisting them with healthcare operations, billing, finance, etc. 

After six years of traveling the country, Baddour decided to fulfill her passion for the geriatric population and founded LifeSource of North Carolina Inc., a company that provides primary care and behavioral health services to over 500 long-term care facilities across eight states with 185 clinicians on staff serving over 15,000 patients. She continues to lead and grow this company to improve the quality of life for its patients and the facilities in which they reside.

Baddour also obtained her MBA from the University of North Carolina Wilmington and also served as a professor in the Cameron School of Business teaching statistics and management science courses.

Sanjay Batish, MD, FAAFP  
Regional Medical Director, Aledade

Sanjay Batish, MD, FAAFP, is a family physician and Regional Medical Director with Aledade, where he works with independent primary care practices across North Carolina to advance value-based care and improve population health. He founded Batish Family Medicine in Leland, North Carolina, and spent 28 years caring for patients and navigating the evolving challenges of independent primary care.

He has held leadership roles with Coastal Physician Alliance and serves on the Board of the North American Primary Care Research Group (NAPCRG). Dr. Batish is also actively engaged in research and advocacy focused on firearm injury prevention and harm reduction in primary care. He is passionate about preserving and strengthening independent primary care and demonstrating its essential role in successful accountable care. 

Mary Ellen Bonczek, DNP, RN, NEA-BC ’23DNP

Mary Ellen Bonczek is a retired chief nurse executive with 50 years of progressive nursing leadership experience. She most recently served for 20 years as system chief nurse executive for Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center. Throughout her distinguished career, she led adult critical care services, advanced evidence-based nursing practice to improve patient outcomes, and guided healthcare systems as an executive leader, consistently championing shared governance and elevating the voice of nurses.

Bonczek earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Wagner College, her Master of Public Administration from Fairleigh Dickinson University, and her Doctor of Nursing Practice in Nurse Executive Leadership from UNC Wilmington. She is board certified as an advanced nurse executive through the American Nurses Credentialing Center and serves as immediate past-president of the North Carolina Organization of Nurse Leaders.

A dedicated mentor and advocate for advancing nursing leadership, Bonczek contributes locally and nationally through speaking, publications and professional development initiatives. She serves on UNCW’s Nurse Advocacy Board and Cape Fear Community College’s Foundation Board, supporting workforce development, educational advancement and philanthropy.

Dr. Umar Bowers, MD
Medical Director, Dawson Med

Dr. Umar Bowers is a board-certified Internal Medicine physician and the Medical Director of Dawson Med. Known for his compassionate, relationship-centered approach to care, Dr. Bowers is committed to helping patients feel heard, supported and empowered in their health journey.

Originally from Virginia, Dr. Bowers earned his undergraduate degree from Longwood University before completing his medical degree at Howard University College of Medicine in Washington, D.C. He went on to complete his residency in Internal Medicine at Wake Forest University School of Medicine in Winston-Salem.

Before co-founding Dawson Med, Dr. Bowers served as a research assistant with Johns Hopkins Medicine and has remained active in advancing healthcare access in North Carolina. He currently holds several leadership positions, including:

• Board of Commissioners, Wilmington Housing Authority
• Vice-Chair, UNC Wilmington College of Health and Human Services Advisory Committee
• Adjunct Faculty, University of North Carolina Wilmington
• Regional Chair, North Carolina Health Talent Alliance
• Board Officer, Good Shepherd Center
• Ambassador, Aledade Inc.

Louise Coggins, LCSW

Louise Coggins, LCSW, is a University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill alumna, earning both her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Master of Social Work. She is a clinical social worker in private practice in Wilmington and Raleigh, and has been a psychotherapist since 1974, seeing individuals, couples, families and groups. 

Louise has served as Board Chair of the UNC-CH School of Social Work Foundation; founding member of the UNCW College of Health and Human Services Advisory Council; Board Chair of VISIONS, a non-profit international anti-racism training organization, chair of the Board of Directors for the Wright's Center, an adult day health care center; Chair of Lift Up the Vulnerable (LUV), an international organization combating human trafficking and sex slavery; Capital Campaign Chair for the Girls Leadership Academy of Wilmington (GLOW); and Fundraising chair for the SOJOURNERS board, a faith and social justice organization.

She has been active on issues related to the status of women, domestic violence and child abuse, and has raised funds for many worth groups and organizations, including The Fuller Center for Housing, the American Cancer Society and the AIDS Service Agency of Wake County. She was honored with the YMCA Wake County Academy of Women Human Services Award in 1999, the UNC School of Social Work Outstanding Alumna of the Year 2006, the 2010 Philanthropist of the Year awarded by the Lower Cape Fear Society of Fundraising Professionals and the 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award by the YWCA Lower Cape Fear.

L.S. “Bo” Dean Jr.
Senior HR Analyst

Bo Dean serves in New Hanover County Government as a senior HR analyst overseeing, developing and implementing nationally recognized Learning and Development with the over 2,000 public servants. He is a Community Resilience Model and Resources for Resilience Certified educator and has embraced resilience education as a means to permeate public sector work to enable higher degrees of wellness for those who serve as well as a greater degree of compassion and connection to those being served.

For almost a decade, Dean has served on the Watson College Advisory Board, the UNCW Swain Center Advisory Board as well as the former vice chair and chair of the Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center Foundation, the Wilmington Housing Authority, board emeritus of Miracle League of Wilmington, Cape Fear Heart Association, United Way of the Cape Fear, as well a proud member and president-elect of Cape Fear Rotary.

S. Ryan Estes, MSW, MBA, LCSW, LCAS
Chief Operating Officer, Coastal Horizons

Ryan Estes is the chief operating officer of Coastal Horizons, a leader in mental health and substance use treatment, justice services, child welfare and integrated health programming. He is charged with overseeing $80 million in programming and nearly 800 staff to meet the mission of healthier lives, stronger families and safer communities.

Estes received his BA in psychology from Wake Forest University, an MSW from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and an MBA from UNC Wilmington. He has been in the behavioral health field for over 20 years as a clinician and director. Estes holds licenses in North Carolina as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist. He is the former treasurer on the National Association of Social Work board, the former NC chapter President National Association of Social Workers, and an alumnus of the Annie E. Casey Foundation Child and Family Fellowship. Estes is the current chair of the North Carolina Social Work Licensure and Certification board and was originally appointed by the Governor. He teaches part-time for the University of North Carolina at Wilmington in the College of Health and Human Services and was awarded the Adjunct Faculty of the Year in 2024.

Valerie Fields, MD
Medical Director of Cytology, Quest Diagnostics

Valerie Fields, MD serves as Medical Director of Cytology for Quest Diagnostics Laboratory and is based in Wilmington and Greensboro. Dr. Fields received her medical degree at the University of Kansas School of Medicine and completed her residency in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology at the University of Missouri at Kansas City. Her subsequent fellowship in Cytopathology was completed at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. Dr. Fields is Board-certified in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology and Cytopathology. 

Kristy Hubard, MHA, FACHE

Kristy Hubard is a healthcare strategist, executive leader, and trusted collaborator who has spent more than 25 years helping organizations navigate growth, change and complex challenges. Throughout her career, she has been drawn to work that brings people together — from leading health system transformation and strategic planning to building partnerships that expand opportunity and improve community health.

A graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, Hubard most recently served as vice president with Novant Health, where she led enterprise strategic initiatives and major integration efforts. Previously, as chief strategy officer for New Hanover Regional Medical Center, she helped guide the organization's long-term strategic direction and played a key leadership role in its transition to Novant Health. Hubard has also served on numerous nonprofit and civic boards, reflecting her longstanding commitment to strengthening the communities she calls home. Having spent the more recent portion of her career working at the intersection of healthcare strategy, community partnership and workforce development, she is excited about helping prepare the next generation of healthcare leaders and strengthening the connection between education and practice.

Alexis Hunter
Director of Community Engagement and Public Affairs, UNC Health 

Peter Jacobson, MD
Clinical Professor of Neurology, UNC-Chapel Hill and Adjunct Professor, College of Health and Human Services

Bio coming soon.

Randall Johnson, MBA
Executive Director, Southeastern Office, North Carolina Biotechnology Center

Randall Johnson serves as NC Biotechnology Center Southeastern Office Executive Director to strengthen the regional economy and improve the quality of life across North Carolina, through economic development action targeting Life Sciences innovation and commercialization in marine biotech, agricultural biotech, renewable bioproducts/energy, clinical research and industrial biotech.

Johnson has extensive experience in local, regional and state economic development, with a focus on entrepreneurship and knowledge sector development. He graduated cum laude from Wake Forest University with an undergraduate concentration in psychology, and he holds an MBA from the Babcock Graduate School of Management at Wake Forest University.

He serves on state boards, including as Chair for the North Carolina Community Colleges Foundation, and is Past President of NC Economic Development Association (NCEDA), Founding Chair of NCEDA Foundation, Past Chairman of Southeastern Economic Development Commission, and former executive committee board member for NC Sustainable Energy Association and Wilmington Rotary Club.

Johnson is a graduate of Leadership North Carolina Class XV and was awarded the U.S. President’s Volunteer Service Award, a national honor award recognizing individuals who have answered the call to make a lifelong commitment to volunteer service.

Stephanie Lanier ’03, ’07M

Stephanie Lanier is the leader of Lanier Property Group, an award-winning real estate team at Intracoastal Realty. She has been a Realtor for over 12 years. She is a winner of the Cape Fear Realtors Salesperson of the Year in 2021. The North Carolina Association of Realtors named Stephanie their 2022 Innovation & Entrepreneurial Excellence Award winner. She was named to Wilmington’s Power 100 list by the Greater Wilmington Business Journal three times and has received the Cape Fear CREW Award of Excellence for her dedication to advancing the careers of women in real estate. Since 2020, Stephanie has been annually selected as one of America’s Top 100 Real Estate Agents in North Carolina. She was previously chosen as one of Wilmington’s Most Intriguing People and voted Best Real Estate Agent by the Wilmington StarNews. She was also named to StarNews Media’s inaugural “40 Under 40” list in 2019.  

Stephanie was the Chair of the Board of Directors for the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce in 2023 and in 2024 will begin her role as Chair of the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce’s Foundation Board of Directors. She also serves on the Good Shepherd Center's Home for Good Advisory Council and UNCW’s College of Health and Human Services Advisory Committee. She is a member of Cape Fear (CREW) Commercial Real Estate Women and is a proud alumnus of Leadership Wilmington and Leadership NC.  

She holds undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of North Carolina Wilmington. In addition to her real estate business, Stephanie founded The Inspiration Lab, which provides teaching, tools and opportunities for connections for working women.

Tracy Pope
Founder and President, Professional HealthCare Consultants

Tracy Pope is the founder and president of Professional HealthCare Consultants (PHC), an award-winning healthcare recruiting and staffing firm based in Wilmington, North Carolina. Since founding PHC in 1991, Pope has dedicated more than three decades to strengthening healthcare communities by connecting hospitals, medical practices and healthcare organizations with exceptional physicians, nurses, allied health professionals and administrative leaders, from rural, underserved communities to major metropolitan centers throughout the Southeast.

Under Pope’s leadership, PHC has become a trusted healthcare partner across North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia, earning recognition from the University of North Carolina Wilmington Cameron School of Business as the Service Business of the Year. Her entrepreneurial leadership, vision and commitment to excellence have been recognized through honors including Cape Fear Woman of Achievement and the YWCA’s Entrepreneur of the Year.

A passionate community leader and philanthropist, Pope serves as a trustee of the Willie Stargell Foundation, supporting kidney disease research and patient advocacy. She has also provided leadership and service to numerous organizations, including the UNCW School of Nurse Advocacy Board, Thalian Hall Center for the Performing Arts, the Lower Cape Fear Historical Society, Wake Forest University CareNet Counseling Center, and the Cape Fear Chapters of the American Red Cross and American Heart Association.

Bio coming soon.

B. Stephens Richards MD
Retired Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery

B. Stephens Richards MD is a retired professor of pediatric orthopaedic surgery and spine deformity surgery. His 35-year career was in Dallas, Texas, at the Scottish Rite Hospital for Children and the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.   

He served as Chief Medical Officer and Assistant Chief-of-Staff at Scottish Rite Hospital where he advanced clinical operations, education and systems of care. He helped train over 200 orthopaedic residents and 150 post-residency fellows and authored more than 130 journal articles and book chapters. 

His influence extended beyond his institutions. Dr. Richards has the rare distinction of serving as President of both the Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America (POSNA) in 2008–2009 and the Scoliosis Research Society in 2011–2012. These roles provided him with numerous opportunities to travel throughout the world, meeting important talented colleagues and lecturing in strikingly different medical settings. He was recently inducted into POSNA’s Hall of Fame. 

Tina Rivenbark
Principal and Lead Consultant at Advanced Practice Solutions, LLC

Tina Rivenbark is a seasoned healthcare management professional with nearly 40 years of experience serving a broad range of practice structures and specialties. She holds a bachelor's degree in finance from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and a master's in healthcare administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Tina is a Certified Medical Practice Executive (CMPE) and is certified in Payer Contracting through the American College of Medical Practice Executives. 

Since 2010, Tina has worked almost exclusively with interventional pain providers, partnering with approximately 50 pain physicians across 20 states. She has successfully opened more than 40 practice locations, including over 60 in-office procedure suites and an ambulatory surgery center (ASC). Her expertise spans start-up consulting, strategic growth planning, payer contract negotiation, financial and operational optimization, and exit strategy development. She also supports physician recruitment and onboarding for both physician and mid-level providers. 

Tina is a member of the Medical Group Management Association and the American College of Medical Practice Executives. With her decades of hands-on experience and deep industry insight, she helps healthcare organizations navigate complexity, drive growth and achieve long-term success. 
 

Daniel Thompson, RN, BSN ’05
Vice President, Compliance and Quality, Well Care Health

Daniel Thompson graduated with his bachelor's degree in nursing from UNC Wilmington in 2005 and launched his nursing career in large emergency departments both local and nationally. While growing up in a family of nurses, there was never a doubt about his path in life, but upon joining Well Care Home Health in 2012, he found his true calling as a nurse, home health care.

Daniel quickly excelled in home health and valued the ability to change patient lives through exceptional care where the patient needs it most, in their home. He was recognized by his peers and by the management for his passion, skills and leadership. He became an Educator RN and then served as the Manager of Performance Improvement and Education.

In 2016, Daniel joined the Well Care Health leadership team as the Senior Director of Performance Improvement and Education. 
 

Leigh Venters ’88

A Raleigh native, Leigh earned her degree in sociology and social work from UNC Wilmington in 1988. She has worked as a social worker, marketing director, activities director, volunteer coordinator, probation and parole professional, director of a halfway house for women addicted to drugs and alcohol, and counselor in a methadone clinic.

Over the years Leigh has also demonstrated an enduring dedication to UNCW, serving as chair of the Board of Visitors, on the Foundation Board, on the Friends of UNCW Board and for more than a decade on the College of Health and Human Services Advisory Board.
  
Leigh and her husband, Vic, funded a scholarship in the School of Social Work, a fellowship in Creative Writing and two scholarships in Special Education. 
  
Today, Leigh continues to serve in leadership roles across North Carolina, including appointments by Gov. Roy Cooper and Gov. Josh Stein to the North Carolina Commission of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services. She also serves on the Board of Trustees for Coastal Horizons Center in Wilmington.

Laurie Whalin, PharmD, FACHE ’01
President, Coastal Region, Novant Health

Laurie Whalin, PharmD, FACHE, is senior vice president and regional president of the coastal region. She continues to serve as president of Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center.

Laurie has more than 15 years of leadership experience serving Coastal North Carolina and New Hanover Regional Medical Center. Her prior roles include serving as president and chief operating officer of Novant Health Brunswick Medical Center and vice president of clinical services at New Hanover Regional Medical Center.

She holds a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Campbell University and a bachelor’s degree in marine biology from the University of North Carolina Wilmington.

Howard Yonas, MD
Professor Emeritus Department of Neurosurgery University of New Mexico

After graduating from Ohio State Medical College, Dr. Yonas was drafted into the Air Force where he served as a flight surgeon for two years. He returned from service to complete neurosurgery training at Case Western University.

Following a fellowship focused on micro vascular surgery, Dr. Yonas joined the faculty of the University of Pittsburgh. During 25 years at UPMC, he became the vice chair and the director of cerebrovascular surgery. During that period, he established a significant research program including working with industry to develop several new technologies to improve patient care.

Feeling the need for a new challenge, Dr. Yonas moved to the University of New Mexico to build the first Department of Neurosurgery. At UNM, he hired new faculty and built a residency program that became major providers of neurosurgical care for the state. He obtained a $15 million grant from CMS in 1999 with which he built a successful statewide telemedicine program providing neurological and neurosurgical consultation.

Dr. Yonas retired to Wilmington where he now volunteers as a neurological consultant at the Cape Fear Medical clinic.