Gastroenterologist Joins New FHC Practice in Richmond County

T.J. Pulliam, M.D.

ROCKINGHAM – A gastroenterologist with nearly 30 years of professional experience and a history of state health care advisory leadership will join FirstHealth of the Carolinas in a new gastroenterology specialty program scheduled to open in Rockingham in late September.

T.J. Pulliam, M.D., MMM, FACG, will provide gastroenterology care at FirstHealth Gastroenterology Services, 921 Long Drive, Suite 209, Rockingham. Most recently a staff physician with Wilkes Regional Medical Center and Wilkes Regional Gastroenterology in North Wilkesboro, he was appointed to the N.C. State Health Coordinating Council by Gov. Mike Easley almost 10 years ago and then reappointed by both Gov. Beverly Perdue (twice) and Gov. Pat McCrory.

He currently chairs the Council’s standing committee on Acute Care Services, an advisory group involved with certificate of need planning for acute care beds, operating rooms, open-heart surgery services, heart-lung bypass machines, burn intensive care services, transplantation services and inpatient rehabilitation services throughout North Carolina.

Noting that he looks forward to his work with the new Rockingham practice, Dr. Pulliam calls FirstHealth a “vibrant, growing health care system” with the same goals that describe the State Health Coordinating Council’s vision of health care for North Carolina.

“Our three primary goals are quality, access and value, everything we can do to ensure health care services for people around the state,” he says.

A native of Cowlitz County, Wash., Dr. Pulliam earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from Stanford University, Palo Alto, Calif.; his medical degree from Bowman Gray School of Medicine of Wake Forest University in North Carolina; and a master’s of medical management degree from Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine in New Orleans, La.

He served an internship and residency in internal medicine at North Carolina Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem before completing a fellowship in digestive diseases from The Francis Scott Key Medical Center of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Md.

He is board certified in internal medicine (gastroenterology).

Dr. Pulliam’s practice at FirstHealth Gastroenterology Services will focus on general diagnosis and therapy with special emphasis on colon cancer prevention and disorders of the esophagus, stomach, intestines, colon, gallbladder, bile ducts, pancreas and liver.

He and his wife, Nancy, an experienced hospice nurse, have three grown sons.

“Dr. Pulliam brings enormous professional experience as well as an impressive background in state advisory health care concerns to FirstHealth of the Carolinas and FirstHealth Gastroenterology Services,” says John Jackson, president of FirstHealth Richmond Memorial Hospital. “His expertise in gastroenterology ensures Richmond County residents of quality diagnosis and care here at home, which makes him a very welcome addition to our health care community.”

Prospective patients can make an appointment with T.J. Pulliam, M.D., by calling (910) 417-4368. Office hours are Monday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Patients seeking a routine screening colonoscopy do not have to have an office consultation with Dr. Pulliam prior to the procedure. With this “open access” process, they or their primary care provider can call his office and the appropriate forms will be sent to them.

FirstHealth Richmond Memorial Hospital is a division of FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital.