As one of the hospital’s first top women managers, Deborah W. Davis, senior vice president, has demonstrated her abilities in roles once considered for men only.

A gifted high-school student, she received a scholarship in computer science, but transferred to ECU, where her future husband was a student. As an undergraduate, she began working in the hospital’s department of materials management. Soon, she was assuming more responsibilities, learning new roles and revealing her versatility.

Within no time, she was working her way up from the basement of the old hospital through various departments, serving as President Jack Richardson’s assistant, where she logged every check received, every day. She learned leadership from the people around her. Soon, they asked her to join them.

After graduation, she became administrator of the Rehabilitation Center, then followed Dave McRae into Human Resources management. Meanwhile, she obtained a Master’s of Business Administration degree from ECU. Later, she assumed supervision of clinical services and then, leadership of daily operations.

As senior vice president since 1990, she oversees all hospital operations, working with executive staff members from patient services, clinical operations, support services, facility services and other departments.

She once planned to go into the private sector after college, because she saw few opportunities for women in health care. Though still considered newcomers, skilled women professionals gradually entered the upper ranks of health care, bringing new perspectives and capabilities to administration.

“I kept getting promoted, and getting additional responsibilities,” Davis says. “I’ve been in just about every area of the hospital.”

As her knowledge increased, so did her commitment. Growing up in the area in the early 1970s, she traveled hours by car from her Jacksonville home so sick family members could receive medical treatment.

“There really were no specialty services in eastern North Carolina,” she remembers. Her deep love for the area inspired her to help change its health-care future.

“I decided this really was what I wanted to do in life,” she says.

She’s grateful for the help of others who helped her attain her lofty professional goals.

“I had some good mentors, people who were really supportive and willing to take some risks with me,” she says. “They were willing to listen to a diversity of opinions. That tapped into my desire to help eastern North Carolina.”

Deborah W. Davis