Team Spotlight:
Benjamin Wiles, DO | Medical Director,
Eastern Carolina Emergency Physicians
October 22, 2024
Dr. Benjamin Wiles is an emergency medicine physician and medical director at Eastern Carolina Emergency Physicians (ECEP), which is based in Wilmington, NC, and part of the Emergency Care Partners (ECP) family of emergency practices. His educational background is marked by a progressive journey through medical training and academic excellence. He obtained his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine, graduating in the top ten percent of his class with honors. He also served as a member of the Sigma Sigma Phi Medical Honors Society. The Health Professionals Scholarship Program from the United States Airforce supported this achievement.
Following his medical degree, Dr. Wiles completed a traditional rotating internship and an emergency medicine residency at the Charleston Area Medical Center. Most recently, in 2024, he pursued a Lean Six Sigma methodology training, reflecting his dedication to improving healthcare processes and outcomes.
Dr. Wiles served with distinction in the United States Air Force Medical Corps as a Flight Surgeon and General Medical Officer. In this role, he provided outpatient clinical care to Department of Defense members and their families. Notably, during a deployment to Kandahar Air Field, Afghanistan, Dr. Wiles served as a flight surgeon for a C-130 squadron in 2009. During this time, he successfully built a primary care clinic from the ground up and established essential medical supply and resupply lines, ensuring the health and well-being of over 200 airmen in an isolated combat setting with limited resources
Clinical Leadership Experience in Emergency Medicine
Dr. Wiles currently serves as the lead Medical Director for the Novant New Hanover Regional Medical Center Emergency Department, overseeing a four-hospital system that sees more than 175,000 visits annually. His leadership in emergency medicine extends to his position as the Sepsis Medical Director for Novant New Hanover, where he has contributed significantly to improving patient outcomes. Since 2014, he has been an Attending Physician with Eastern Carolina Emergency Physicians (ECEP), demonstrating his commitment to high-quality emergency care. In addition, he serves as Medical Director for Pender EMS and Fire, providing crucial oversight for emergency medical services. Prior to these roles, Dr. Wiles served as a Flight Surgeon and General Medical Officer in the United States Air Force at Pope AFB, NC, where he gained invaluable experience in both clinical and operational settings. This diverse professional experience highlights his dedication to emergency medicine and leadership within the healthcare community.
Interview with Dr. Wiles
Q: When did you decide to become a physician?
When I was a kid, occasionally, I would visit my stepfather, who worked in the ER. The excitement and energy of that environment drew me to consider medicine as a future career. I always liked science, and it seemed like a good fit. When I went to college, I went to Wisconsin Lutheran College as I considered ministry vs medicine. However, the study of science and the medical field continued to draw me. I greatly enjoy helping people when they are in the most need and Emergency Medicine feels like the right place for me.
Q: What is your favorite part about working with Eastern Carolina Emergency Physicians (ECEP) and Emergency Care Partners (ECP)?
I love the providers at ECEP. After 10 years, we have grown significantly, and the connections within our group continue to grow. I enjoy working side by side with our staff at all of our sites as well. Wilmington is a great place to live and raise a family. ECP provides us with excellent resources for our group and assistance with recruitment and administrative support when needed. We are allowed and able to continue to focus on the management of medicine and not have to focus as much on the administrative side of the practice as previously.
Q: What do you find most challening about your job?
Every day is different. I love being able to be there for people when they are in the most need. Treating minor injuries and reassuring a worried parent is just as satisfying as resuscitating and intervening for a crashing patient. We get to do it all.
Q: Outside of work, how do you like to spend your time?
I enjoy a day on the water with the family or fishing, as well as occasional triathlons.
About Eastern Carolina Emergency Physicians (ECEP):
Eastern Carolina Emergency Physicians (ECEP) is a premiere provider of emergency care in the greater Wilmington, North Carolina region. ECEP has served its local community for over a decade providing high-quality patient care and maintaining a relationship based on trust with the patients and communities we serve. At ECEP, the goal is to maintain a reputation of integrity and excellence in the provision of quality, compassionate, patient-focused emergency medical care through a team of highly qualified emergency physicians.
About Emergency Care Partners (ECP):
Emergency Care Partners (ECP) is a leading provider of emergency medicine and emergency department management services for hospitals across the U.S. with current operations in, Arizona, Florida, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, and Illinois. ECP currently sees more than 1.4M patient visits annually, and is supported by a clinical workforce of 1,000+ physicians and mid-level providers. ECP employs a differentiated model relative to other platforms in the industry, highlighted by the ability to maintain ownership through its physician partnership model and for regional/local groups to maintain their branding and clinical autonomy while benefitting from ECP’s national resources.
Contact our team to learn more about our physician leaders or partnership and career opportunities with one of our partner groups.