Honors a physician whose performance is considered exemplary by patients, peers and other health care providers.
LORA PACALDO
TITLE: Clinical Physician Executive/Psychiatrist
ORGANIZATION: Novant Health
WHAT THE NOMINATOR SAID: “Dr. Pacaldo exemplifies the highest standards of excellence in psychiatry, going far beyond expectations to serve her patients, colleagues and the Wilmington/coastal community. … Her dedication to achieving positive clinical outcomes is matched by the genuine warmth and respect she shows each individual…
“As a clinical leader, Dr. Pacaldo has made a profound impact on the delivery of psychiatric services within the hospital system…. Under her leadership, the hospital has launched a pioneering psychiatric residency program, an initiative that is creating a critical pipeline of future psychiatrists to serve our growing population.
“Dr. Pacaldo has also spearheaded efforts to expand access to mental health services beyond the hospital’s main campus. She has successfully led her team in integrating psychiatric care into the Michael Jordan Family Medical Clinic, significantly increasing access for underserved populations. In addition, she is actively working to develop a new psychiatric clinic that will provide expanded services and reduce barriers to care across the region. This forward-thinking project reflects her unwavering commitment to community health and to meeting patients where they are.”
– William Tobin, director of nursing, Novant Health
HOKE POLLOCK
TITLE: MD
ORGANIZATION: Hanover Pediatrics
WHAT A NOMINATOR SAID: “Dr. Hoke Pollock was born in Durham and moved to the Wilmington area at age 5. Graduating from New Hanover High School, he went to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill on a Morehead Scholarship, where he stayed to complete medical school and specialty training in pediatrics. Following his training, he returned to his home in the Wilmington area, practicing primary care pediatrics since 2005.
“His own practice, Hanover Pediatrics, was founded in 2017. …Having practiced in small and large group practices for several years, Dr. Pollock felt that the ideal way of connecting with children and families was to provide individualized, but evidence-based, comprehensive care. This meant, and continues to mean, taking the time not only to make a diagnosis but to recognize how that diagnosis impacts a child’s overall health. ...
“Dr. Pollock builds strong relationships with his patients and gets to know their individual needs. He is calm, patient and empowering with the adolescents with which he cares. He ensures all are well-informed. As a parent to five himself, he understands the uniqueness of each child and tailors his communication to each child and their situation.”
– Erin McNally, parent of patient
DANILLE PRIME
TITLE: MD, Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine
ORGANIZATION: Wilmington Health
WHAT A NOMINATOR SAID: “Dr. Danille Prime, the first female physician at our facility, embodies the spirit of service, leadership and compassion in ways that go far beyond what is expected of a physician. …Her role has grown from being a trailblazer as the first woman in her position to serving as Chief of the Pulmonary Department, where she now leads cutting-edge initiatives that directly shape the future of care for patients with pulmonary disease….
“Despite the demanding and fast-paced nature of her specialty, she refuses to rush through visits or see patients as numbers. Instead, she takes the time to meet people exactly where they are in their health journey … Patients frequently describe her as a bright light in their care experience: someone whose positivity and warmth not only make complex medical issues easier to understand but also bring hope during some of their most difficult days….
“In addition to her clinical care, Dr. Prime has been instrumental in advancing Wilmington Health’s Pulmonary Department. She has championed new treatments for COPD, staying at the forefront of therapies that improve quality of life and reduce hospitalizations.”
– Hunter MacIntyre, director of provider relations, Wilmington Health
Read more about all of the 2025 Health Care Heroes finalists here.
