Dr. James McLeod and Physician Assistant Charles Huggins presented with 2025 Medical Staff Excellence Awards
Dr. James McLeod, center, was presented the D.E. Ward, Jr., M.D., Physician of Excellence Award by UNC Health Southeastern President and CEO Chris Ellington, left, and Vice President and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Joe Roberts, right.
Physician Assistant Charles Huggins, center, was presented the Timothy L. Bell, P.A., Advanced Practice Provider (APP) of Excellence Award by UNC Health Southeastern President and CEO Chris Ellington, left, and Vice President and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Joe Roberts, right.
Dr. James McLeod was named the 2025 UNC Health Southeastern D.E. Ward, Jr., M.D., Physician of Excellence, and Physician Assistant Charles Huggins was named Timothy L. Bell, P.A., Advanced Practice Provider (APP) of Excellence at the UNC Health Southeastern Medical Staff Holiday Party on December 5.
“Dr. McLeod is truly a brilliant physician and a pillar of the community,” said UNC Health Southeastern VP and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Joe Roberts, during the presentation.
Dr. McLeod joined the medical staff of UNC Health Southeastern, formerly Southeastern Regional Medical Center, in 2006. He first practiced at the Dr. A.J. Robinson Medical Clinic and then transitioned to UNC Health Medical Group’s UNC Health Primary Care at The Oaks. He returned to his hometown as a physician after deciding to redirect his professional life after spending 21 years as a banking executive. He decided to return to school to train for a career in medicine. After earning his medical degree from Wake Forest University School of Medicine in 2003, he completed a residency in family practice at Spartanburg Regional Medical Center in Spartanburg, S.C.
"Charles' dedication and humility are a rare combination and an inspiration to us all,” added Dr. Roberts.
Huggins completed an undergraduate degree at East Carolina University and physician assistant training at Wake Forest University. He has worked in radiology at UNC Health Southeastern since 2006. He is a member of the NC Academy of Physician Assistants and the American Academy of Physician Assistants.
The D.E. Ward, Jr., M.D., Physician of Excellence Award is named in honor of Dr. Ward’s 58 years of service on the UNC Health Southeastern Medical Staff and for his tireless devotion to providing the highest quality of care to his patients, as well as his continuous efforts to improve the health system and the community. Previous winners include Drs. Sadanand Hegde, John Rozier, Robin Peace, Samuel Britt, Obiefuna Okoye, Thomas Walden and Dennis Stuart.
The Timothy L. Bell, P.A., APP of Excellence Award was established in 2024 in memory of Tim Bell, who practiced as a physician assistant in Robeson County for 28 years and was the Executive Director of Children's Health of Carolina. The first winner of this award was Physician Assistant Don Metzger.
