Richmond County native Mary Catherine Moree will graduate from the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University on May 7 with a doctorate of medicine.

Moree is the daughter of Phillip and Deborah Knight of Rockingham and the granddaughter of Julia Knight of Rockingham, the late John Knight and the late Barnie and Jean McDonald.

“The day that she walks across the stage will be the proudest day of my life because I know that she has achieved her life-long goal,” said Julia Knight. “I could not be happier.”

Moree is a 2002 graduate of Richmond Senior High, where she was co-valedictorian for the class.

“Growing up in Richmond County was the best,” Moree said. “It is great being able to go somewhere in town and know most of the people you meet.”

Moree also believes Richmond County played a key role in her success.

“I was presented with several opportunities because of the close-knit community that I would not have been exposed to elsewhere,” Moree said. “Throughout my high school and college careers, I was able to work with amazing mentors, Dr. Vetter and Dr. Schaeffer to name a few.”

Moree earned a bachelor of science in Biology and a bachelor of arts in Chemistry, from East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina, in December 2005 with summa cum laude distinction.

She also earned the University Honors distinction and was awarded the Phi Beta Kappa Outstanding Senior Award in May of 2005.

After graduation she will be doing her residency in family medicine at Cabarrus Family Medicine in Concord. The residency will last three years.

“I am so excited that I can finally say ‘Is there a doctor in the house’, and the answer is ‘yes!,’” said Phillip Knight.

“Scotland Memorial Hospital has been overly gracious in helping fund my medical school career and I will be working with them in the future,” Moree said.

Scotland Memorial Hospital is actively recruiting medical students to serve in under-served areas. “I am grateful for the opportunity that they have given me to serve this community,” said Moree.

Following completion of her residency, Moree and her husband Joseph Moree, a former history teacher of Rockingham Junior High, plan to make Richmond County their home.

“As most people who come from Richmond County, I still enjoy going to Raider football games with my family,” she said.

“Going into Family Medicine, it is so important to understand the community in which your patients live in. It helps to put some context to their life outside of the doctor’s office,” Moree said.

Moree has two sisters, Keri Cook and Regan Elsenpeter of Rockingham.

Hollie Nivens can be reached at (910) 997-3111 ext. 19 or by e-mailing at hnivens@yourdailyjournal.com.