Steve North MD, MPH

Steve North grew up in Wisconsin, and was frequently told that he would be a great doctor, like his dad. Despite strong encouragement from his family and community, Steve was unsure why he was applying to medical schools. Steve was selected to be a Teach For America teacher following graduation from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He turned down medical school and decided to pursue education. He taught 5th-8th grade exceptional education in Edgecombe County, NC for two years. While teaching in this rural area, Steve began to realize that his students were not reaching their academic potential due to medical problems that were not being addressed because they lacked access to appropriate medical care. At the same time he was introduced to the concept of school-based health centers.
Steve had found his passion. He returned to school at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to pursue medicine. He completed his residency in family medicine, a fellowship in adolescent medicine, and then earned a Masters in Public Health at the University of Rochester. He then moved to North Carolina to practice family and adolescent medicine at the Bakersville Community Medical Clinic, as he continued to look for innovative ways to further help children in this community.