Alumni Spotlight: Dr. Leigh Patterson (‘91)

Dr. Leigh Patterson (‘91), Associate Dean for Faculty development at East Carolina University’s Brody School of Medicine, has been named a 2018–19 Hedwig van Ameringen Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine®(ELAM®) fellow.

The ELAM program is a year-long, part-time fellowship for women faculty in schools of medicine, dentistry, public health and pharmacy which recognizes her potential for executive leadership in academic medicine.
Dr. Mark Stacy, dean at Brody School of Medicine acknowledges, “To have Brody’s first ELAM fellow in many years is a testament to Dr. Patterson’s excellent reputation and vital experiences that make her stand out as a leader.”

The highly competitive ELAM program was developed for senior women faculty at the associate or full professor level who demonstrate the greatest potential for assuming executive leadership positions at academic health centers within the next five years.
Dr. Patterson is also an associate professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine, and her interests include exploring ways to preserve and optimize medical education and better defining faculty roles and titles.

When reflecting on her time at The Donoho School, Dr. Patterson shares, “I have very fond memories of Donoho and all of my faculty. I remember the incredible patience of my algebra and calculus teachers, Mrs. Quattlebaum and Mrs. Wingo. It was shocking to arrive at college and learn that not all teachers understood their students or cared so deeply that they succeed. I remember writing countless essays for so many classes. While we, in medicine, need strong foundations in science and mathematics, we desperately need to communicate well with each other. My experiences at Donoho set me up to succeed at Davidson College and beyond.”