WATCH program honors medical director Dr. Clark Gaither
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on April 29, 2016 1:46 PM
Dr. Clark Gaither is an artist, a gemologist, a diver, a runner, a hiker, an author, a teacher, a cheerleader and a donor.
And that doesn't even touch on his profession -- a physician who has served as medical director of the WATCH program since he came up with the idea more than 16 years ago.
He also has an "unabashed love for cake and ice cream," said Sissy Lee-Elmore, who has served alongside the doctor as executive director of WATCH, or Wayne Action Teams for Community Health.
"He seems like a regular person but he's not -- he's a hero," she said. "It's been an honor to work with him."
This week marks his last as Goldsboro Family Physicians, but he says he will continue to serve in the role with WATCH until a successor can be found.
He was honored during the WATCH board meeting Wednesday, with tributes and accolades as well as the announcement of an upcoming award. In June, he will be presented the Don Lucey Award by the N.C. Association of Free and Charitable Clinics, Mrs. Lee-Elmore said. The award recognizes influential leaders from the free clinic community.
She praised the efforts of the WATCH founder, which has left an indelible imprint on the community.
"We have touched over 130,000 people in Wayne County. That's more than one in 10 people who live here," she said. "He's been with us through thick and thin, good and bad, rich and poor, blue scrubs and blue suits.
"He originally gave office space when Kathy (Johnson, nurse practitioner) came and for a clinical team until there were six of them. He built us a parking pad and put a utility pole up (for the van). We were over there probably six or seven years. He's never asked for anything in return, just always been there."
Ms. Johnson was hired by Dr. Gaither at the inception, in July 2000. Except for a brief break from 2006-2009, she has been part of the team.
"The whole thing was his idea and he's just been larger than life, more than a supporter," she said. "He talked the labs into giving us free lab work, talked the drug companies into giving us free samples in the beginning. He talked doctors into volunteering and he's always been accessible when I have asked a question."
Board member Murray Porter credited Gaither with launching, and maintaining, the program over the years.
"Thank you for your direction in the beginning and your persistence in the end, making sure we stayed on track," he said.
Bill Paugh, former president of the hospital said he had previous experience with a similar program but soon realized that WATCH was much more unique.
"We've got the best of all worlds here," he said. "Not only do we have stationary clinics now that folks can go to, (but) we're taking this program to them. That's extraordinary and I think it's something this community ought to be real proud of.
"It's one thing to put it together. It's something else to bird-dog it and make it work over time."
Jana Blackman, director of health promotion at the hospital, recalled a time before WATCH existed, when an earlier hospital administrator asked if there was a physician who could serve as a "champion" for the cause of improving citizens' health. She said one name immediately came to mind for her and Mrs. Lee-Elmore -- Clark Gaither.
Gaither called the tributes humbling, sharing credit with the board as well as staff and countless others who helped bring the idea to reality.
One of them was his partner at Goldsboro Family Physicians, Dr. Keith Clarke, who gave Gaither "a lot of latitude" to launch and develop WATCH.
"Thank you for allowing me to serve," Gaither told the audience. "We can all claim victory for this enterprise."
Mrs. Lee-Elmore presented Gaither with a parting gift.
Most fitting, she said, and perhaps an obvious, if not literal, choice -- a watch.