Christopher Richberg, M.D., entered medical school planning on a career as a pediatrician.
The baby he delivered on the first night of his OB/GYN rotation helped change his mind.
Now an obstetrician/gynecologist with Southern Pines Women’s Health Center, a FirstHealth clinic, Dr. Richberg is FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital’s 2017 Physician of the Year. He won the award during his first year as a FirstHealth physician, a first for the Moore Regional recognition.
“This year’s winner is a newer physician who has truly won the respect of all he interacts with,” said Karen Robeano, DNP, R.N., Moore Regional’s chief nursing officer, while announcing the winner during a recent meeting of the hospital’s medical staff.
Nominations for Moore Regional’s Physician of the Year honor come from members of the hospital’s nursing team who later select the winner. This year’s seven nominees came from several medical specialties including Pulmonology, Hospital Medicine, Cardiology and Vascular Surgery as well as OB/GYN.
“I was very surprised,” Dr. Richberg says, “but I had lots of great nurses on Labor & Delivery who helped me out for sure. I have great partners in my (medical) practice, too. I would not have been able to win the award without their support and the fact they have emphasized to me since day one that our biggest priority is taking care of the patient.”
Although obstetrics is just part of a practice that also includes gynecological surgeries and procedures, Dr. Richberg estimates he has delivered about 150 babies since joining Moore Regional’s medical staff last summer. Every newborn reminds him of the special feeling he got with that first medical school delivery.
“Overwhelmingly, it’s a positive outcome,” he says. “I think one of the things that attracted me to OB is how happy it is and what a life-changing experience it can be in many ways.”
A native of Cumberland County, Dr. Richberg graduated from Jack Britt High School and received his B.S. degree in biology, his Master of Public Health and his medical degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He completed his residency in obstetrics and gynecology at East Carolina University.
He met his wife, Erica, when both were freshmen at Carolina.
In addition to the Southern Pines Women’s Health Center location at 145 Applecross Road, Pinehurst, Christopher Richberg, M.D., also sees patients at the FirstHealth location at 313 Teal Drive, Raeford.
