Blue Shield of North Carolina to provide covered medical nutrition therapy to eligible
BCBS-NC members. Amanda Key Shore
(’ 97 AB) of Yadkinville, an agent with Allen Tate
Realtors in Clemmons, has earned the Accredited Buyer Representative designation from the
Real Estate Buyer’s Agent Council. Mark
Joseph Wilson (’ 97 AB) of Chicago, a professional golfer, has donated $30,000 to celebrate
the 30th year of the MACC Fund established
to support research in childhood cancer and
other blood disorders. Wilson first heard of the
MACC Fund when, as a boy, he attended Milwaukee Bucks games and was impressed by the
discovery that every three-pointer made by a
Bucks player meant a $50 donation to the
MACC Fund.
■ marriages
Amie Ellette Becton (’ 97 ABJM) and Niles
Damon Ray (’96 AB) of Bridgeport, Conn.
Kris W. Hergert (’ 97 BSBIO) and Natalie
Suzanne Wilde (’00 AB) of Nashville, Tenn.
Stewart Kirk Materne III (’ 97 AB) and
Anna Mari Britt (’00 AB) of New York.
Tanya Kishawn Merritte (’ 97 ABJM) and
Benjamin Jesus Villarreal of Greensboro.
■ family additions
Dr. Elizabeth Daniel Bryan (’ 97 BSBIO)
and Richard Franklin Bryan Jr. (’96 BSMS)
of Clinton; a daughter, Rebekah MacKay
Bryan, on Oct. 30, 2006. Elizabeth Yates
Living Life and Limb to the Fullest
Sam Phillips ’ 98 is fascinated by the power had to get the program accredited, develop the This project might seem
of the human body: its speed, strength, flex- curriculum, hire instructors and plan the build- like a formidable undertak-ibility. But what’s more intriguing for him is how ing, and he had to do it all before the first class ing for someone as young profile
technology can help restore these abilities for of students enrolled in August. The program as Phillips, who turned 31
people with damaged limbs. began that fall with 23 students. This year, 45 in January. But Scott Sanford, a full-time
Phillips, now the dean of orthotics and juniors and seniors are enrolled, and the instructor at the college, said he thinks Phillips’
prosthetics at St. Petersburg College, is aware school’s first graduates will receive their age makes him more willing to adapt to the
of the good that biomechanical devices can degrees in May. new, developing program.
do for amputees. Orthotics, such as braces, The Florida school is one of only four col- “There’s a lot to learn with the program, and
support damaged or weakened limbs; pros- leges in the country that offer a bachelor’s things don’t always go your way, but that does-thetics are replacements for missing or ampu- degree in orthotics and prosthetics. Five other n’t seem to get him down,” Sanford said. “He’s
tated body parts. universities offer post-baccalaureate master’s very flexible and doesn’t get easily rattled.”
Before joining the school’s administration, or certificate programs, but those are limited to Phillips has a history of being flexible. After
Phillips was practice manager of a prosthetics people who already have a four-year degree. graduating from Carolina, he began working
clinic in Baltimore. One of his patients was toward an advanced degree in prosthet-a boy with an artificial leg. At first, the ics. He delayed completing his doctorate
patient was able to wear his prosthesis, to take the clinical job in Baltimore.
which attached at the knee, for only an Becoming dean pushed its completion
hour a day. The discomfort was so great back even further, but Phillips said he
that he often resorted to crutches or a doesn’t regret the decision.
wheelchair for mobility. Phillips worked with “It has been extremely trying to finish
the patient for months, changing the socket my doctorate,” Phillips said. “This new
multiple times to improve the level of com- position is both exciting and incredibly
fort and maximize the patient’s use of his time consuming, a very bad combination
prosthesis. for getting anything else done.”
GILLIAN W YGLE/ST. PETERSBURG COLLEGE
“After about six months, he was running Phillips said he expected to complete
around the Johns Hopkins track,” Phillips his combined master’s and doctoral
said. degree from Rutgers University early this
That experience, like so many others he year. Balancing his responsibilities as a
had at the clinic, was highly rewarding for Sam Phillips ’ 98 is dean of the new orthotics and prosthetics program at St. student and as a dean has been difficult,
Phillips, but the job wasn’t quite what he Petersburg College in Florida. He’s also finishing his doctorate and training but it’s not new for Phillips. At UNC, he
was looking for. It offered few opportunities to run an ultra-marathon in 2008. majored in physics while fulfilling the
for research and no prospects for teaching. prerequisites for medical school because
While attending an international conference he thought both options had so much to offer
with others in the field, Phillips learned that St. that he couldn’t choose just one.
Petersburg College wanted to start an orthotics “I think I am unique in that most people are
and prosthetics program but had not found a ‘or’ people — should I do this or should I do
qualified person to lead it. Realizing the that?” he said. “I am an ‘and’ person. If I like
school’s vision for the program matched his more than one option, I’ll do both.”
career goals, Phillips agreed to undertake the Or all three. Phillips also is training to run
project. an ultra-marathon in Colorado in 2008. Though
Phillips was finally able to blend his three his past events have never been as long as this
passions — clinical practice, teaching and 100-mile race, it shouldn’t pose a problem for a
research — into one job. He spent most of man who knows so well how to keep the body
spring 2005 preparing a detailed plan for the in motion.
program. As the school’s charter dean, Phillips
The program’s curriculum includes courses in
anatomy, physiology, biomechanics and other
allied health sciences. Core classes in orthotics
and prosthetics focus on the evaluation, fabrication and custom fitting of artificial limbs and
braces. Phillips established relationships with
practitioners at Shriners Hospital for Children and
the Veterans Affairs hospital in Tampa so students could gain clinical experience while serving
the community. Last spring, a group of students
served as volunteers at the local extremity
games. The students helped amputees rock
climb and wakeboard, among other activities.
