CAROLINAEAST CARDIOLOGIST AWARDED ORDER OF THE LONG LEAF PINE FROM GOVERNOR’S OFFICE

CarolinaEast Health System celebrates one of their own, John A. Williams, III, MD, as a recipient of the prestigious honor, The Order of the Long Leaf Pine. The award is the highest for state service granted by the Office of the Governor, recognizing the outstanding contributions of retiring individuals with 30 or more years of service in the State of North Carolina. Dr. Williams was presented the award by former Governor Beverly Perdue at a reception in New Bern on November 20, 2025.

Since 1963, North Carolina’s governors have reserved their highest honor, The Order of the Long Leaf Pine award, for persons who have made significant contributions to the state and their communities through their exemplary service and exceptional accomplishments. It is awarded to persons for exemplary service to the State of North Carolina and their communities that is above and beyond the call of duty and which has made a significant impact and strengthened North Carolina. Upon being named to The Order of the Long Leaf Pine, the honoree receives a certificate by which the Governor confers upon the recipient “…the rank of Ambassador Extraordinary privileged to enjoy fully all rights granted to members of this exalted order…”.

Dr. Williams is the recently retired Medical Director of CarolinaEast Physicians, a multispecialty group with more than 100 providers serving five counties in Eastern, North Carolina. He has been an Interventional Cardiologist for 35 years, with 31 being at CarolinaEast Medical Center, Carteret Health Care and Onslow Memorial Hospital. Dr. Williams completed his Interventional Cardiology training at Yale University School of Medicine before beginning his career as a Naval Officer at the National Naval Medical Center (now Walter Reed). While there, he was privileged to care for the President of the United States, several Supreme Court Justices and many members of the Senate and Congress.

Dr. Williams was nominated for the honor by Michael Smith, President and CEO of CarolinaEast Health System, and endorsed by John J. Gould, MC, FACC, Cardiologist, CarolinaEast Physicians, Penney Burlingame Deal, DHA, RN, FACHE, President and CEO of Onslow Memorial Hospital, Reverend Monsignor Gerald L. Lewis, Diocese of Raleigh, and Richard A. Brvenik, Retired President and CEO of Carteret Health Care. The letters of recommendation told stories of service, innovation, compassion and countless lives touched and saved.

“I could give countless examples of how Dr. Williams has changed the lives of thousands in the eastern part of NC by developing interventional cardiology programs in New Bern and Morehead City,” wrote Michael Smith. “Through his leadership, knowledge, and skill, he introduced and expanded interventional cardiology services to Craven, Onslow, and Carteret counties, offering patients and their families the advantage of remaining closer to home to receive these potentially life-saving procedures,” added Dr. John Gould. Penney Burlingame Deal stated: “Without exception, he has been highly successful in every endeavor he has undertaken and, in the process, has proven to be one of the finest natural leaders I’ve known…John is driven by a desire to serve others, to excel at everything he turns his hand to, and by an unquenchable thirst to leave things better than they were.”

After moving to New Bern in 1993, Dr. Williams became a founding partner of The Heart Center of Eastern Carolina (now CarolinaEast Physicians). Over the next three decades, he focused his passion for heart health on the rural and underserved populations. In that time, he brought electrophysiology services to the area and contributed to advances in cardiovascular imaging and overall heart failure care. He instituted the first STEMI heart attack program at Craven Regional Medical Center (now CarolinaEast Medical Center) long before it was the standard of care. He also championed the development of the structural heart program bringing TAVR and advanced interventions to the region.

As a friend of Dr. Williams and on behalf of the Governor’s office as a former Governor of North Carolina, Bev Perdue presented the award to him at an event on November 20 in downtown New Bern. During his acceptance speech, Dr. Williams spoke of being humbled and honored by the recognition, as well as recognizing CarolinaEast administration, and his family and friends for the unwavering support throughout his

career. “It’s exciting to be part of the collection of people who have received this award, but also humbling,” Dr. Williams stated. “It’s really been about the opportunity to care for the people of our region that has motivated me over the years…the families and the patients I’ve taken care of are by far and away the most important thing I’ve done,” he adds.

Dr. Williams is heavily involved in the Eastern North Carolina community, serving as a member of the Rotary Club of New Bern and on the Peer Review Subcommittee for Grant Applications for the American Heart Association. He is also on the Civilian External Peer Review for the Medical Advisory Panel, among other public service initiatives and professional societies. He lives in New Bern with his wife, Judith, and they have two adult daughters and beloved grandchildren, and plans to spend time with family and continue community involvement in his retirement.