Here are the finalists in the 2014 Health Care Heroes Physician category.

Honors a physician whose performance is considered exemplary by patients, peers and other health care providers.
 

Todd Kornegay

TITLE: Internal medicine physician

ORGANIZATION: New Hanover Medical Group

WHAT THE NOMINATOR SAID: “I recently moved to Wilmington and need an MD. Todd was recently featured in the ECU Alumni magazine along with his three MD brothers. I selected Todd as my MD and was not disappointed.

His genuine concern for his patients is evident. He took the time to explain things in detail and helped me feel comfortable. He's just a great doctor and a credit to Wilmington.”

According to the website for New Hanover Medical Group, part of the NHRMC Physician Group, Kornegay is board certified in internal medicine.

Kornegay, who comes from of a family of rural-based physicians in Duplin County, received his bachelor's and medical degrees from East Carolina University, where he also did his residency. “Since graduating from residency in 2009, Dr. Kornegay has been part of the ECU Physicians Faculty as Chief Resident for the Department of Internal Medicine,” the practice's website states.
 

Dean Meisel

TITLE: Family medicine, pediatrics physician

ORGANIZATION: Wilmington Health

WHAT THE NOMINATOR SAID: “Dr. Meisel has been our family physician for 15 years.
I have three children and one with a chronic illness. Dr. Meisel has always taken the time out of his very busy schedule to make sure we have time to explain our symptoms or problems to him. I have known Dr. Meisel to call colleagues, research what he's not sure of and continue to follow my child until he is sure we get the attention that is needed.

When my son was born he was very sick. Dr. Meisel was his doctor, but then he was transferred into the NICU unit. He was given five hours to live.

Even though Dr. Meisel was no longer his physician because the NICU doctors took over he was still there to give us support. He visited my son in the hospital and took time to explain to us what was happening.

As the years have passed Dr. Meisel has gained a large following of patients because of the undivided attention he gives to each person. Each time I leave his office I am confident in the decisions he is making for my family's health.”
 

Janelle Rhyne

TITLE: Chief medical officer

ORGANIZATION: Cape Fear Clinic

WHAT THE NOMINATOR SAID: “Dr. Rhyne, one of one of the state's most respected internal medicine and infectious disease physicians, began her work with Cape Fear Clinic and Cape Fear HealthNet in July of 2010 when she was hired as HealthNet's Medical Director.

Under Dr. Rhyne's leadership, HealthNet opened an ‘episodic care’ clinic originally based at three locations: Cape Fear Clinic, then called Tileston Health Clinic, St. Mary Dental's medical clinic and Wilmington Health Access for Teens.

Dr. Rhyne has also been instrumental in recruiting assistance from the community's private physicians in caring for low-income, uninsured patients.

Through these types of efforts, HealthNet and its partners have been chipping away at this issue of healthcare access and have been providing the uninsured with the human dignity of medical treatment when they are sick.

In addition to her professional responsibilities with Cape Fear HealthNet and Cape Fear Clinic, Dr. Rhyne invests her life in service to the medical profession and her community.

Her most notable service to the medical profession has been through her service as immediate past Chair of the Federation of State Medical Boards of the United States, the North Carolina Medical Society, and the North Carolina Medical Board.”