Today
In February, four NCAFP members appeared in a spotlight article from Cape Fear Valley (CFV) Health: Drs. Sarah Lassiter, Morgan Hawkins, Bonnie Page, and Shelby Rhyne. These new physician members are remaining in the communities where they completed their residency training at the Harnett Health Family Medicine Residency!
“They trained locally, built relationships with our communities, and ultimately chose to stay and practice where they’re needed most,” according to the article. All four physicians had completed medical school at the Campbell University School of Osteopathic Medicine and early on demonstrated their commitment to NC Family Medicine. It is the first time that all the Family Medicine residents in one residency cohort have remained at Harnett Health.
Because their decision marks a milestone for the Harnett Health Family Medicine Residency and simultaneously demonstrates the commitment of North Carolina family physicians caring for patients in our state, I contacted these new physicians to learn more about their decision. Here’s what they told me:
“I stayed with CFV Harnett Healthcare because I am local to the area and went to medical school with the intention to practice Family Medicine in, or close to, my hometown, Dunn. While the area certainly fits my desires, the patients I built relationships with during residency solidified my commitment to our health system. I love the patient population that I get to work with, since they’re really relatable to me. I grew up in this area, so when talking to my patients I often feel like I am talking to a family member or friend. These are hard-working people who want to get to know you as a physician and trust that you’ll treat them like you’d want your family to be treated. It’s a privilege to have deep conversations with these patients and to be entrusted to provide them and their loved ones with care.
“I also enjoy the relationships that I was able to build with other providers and specialists in the system. The ones who helped shape and transform the way I practice medicine are Dr. Marta Bringhurst (who taught me everything I know about osteopathic manipulative technique), Dr. Regina Bray Brown, Dr. Varsha Songara, Dr. Christopher Stewart, Dr. Christine Khandelwhal, and Dr. Amandeep Gujral. I still communicate with them when I encounter issues, concerns, and questions in my clinic.
“CFV is large, and while Harnett Healthcare is part of that larger entity, it still feels like hometown medicine to me, which was always the dream. I look forward to building trusted and lifelong relationships with patients and families in a community that was an essential part of my upbringing.”
“This area is very meaningful to me. Not only is this the area where I went to medical school and completed my residency training, but this area is also home to my family. Seeing health disparities and the need not only for primary care, but high-quality evidenced-based primary care, has been apparent since a young age for me. I feel truly fortunate not only to carry out the mission of my medical school, Campbell University, my residency training program, Harnett Health Family Medicine, but also my long-term goal of providing care to the community that helped raise me. I am looking forward to providing the quality medical care that our area needs, as well as becoming part of a trusted team that will improve the health of our community."
“I attended medical school at Campbell University and completed my third- and fourth-year clinical rotations at Harnett Health. After spending a total of five years training within the Harnett Health system, choosing to remain with Harnett Health/Cape Fear Valley as an attending physician was an easy decision.
“During my training, I developed an appreciation for the strong need for physicians within this community. Even though this is a rural area, we see a wide variety of pathologies and sick patients, and the area has grown significantly while I have lived here and continues to grow, which means it has a greater need for increased access to primary care.
“This need gave me a passion to care for patients across all stages of life — from newborns to geriatrics. What stood out most to me during my training was the supportive environment among students, residents, attending physicians, and specialists. It is a setting that truly values learning, evidence-based medicine, and patient-centered care.
“Since July 2025, I have been practicing at Cape Fear Valley Primary Care in Lillington and have greatly enjoyed building my patient panel and seeing patients make meaningful progress in their health over time. One of the most rewarding aspects of primary care to me is the opportunity to provide comprehensive care for entire families. I have special interests in pediatrics, weight loss management, and osteopathic manipulative treatment. I am especially looking forward to continuing to work with residents and medical students and helping to train the next generation of physicians.”
Dr. Shelby Rhyne was unable to comment in time for publication.
Congratulations to these NCAFP members who have chosen to keep serving their communities!
The North Carolina Academy of Family Physicians, Inc. (NCAFP) is a nonprofit professional association headquartered in Raleigh which represents over 4,300 family physicians, family medicine residents, and medical students across the state. It is the largest medical specialty association in North Carolina and is a constituent chapter of the American Academy of Family Physicians, based in Leadwood, KS.
*A version of this article appeared in the spring 2026 issue of the NCAFP's quarterly magazine, The North Carolina Family Physician.
