About Us
About Carolina Acute Care & Wellness Center
For decades, the clinicians of Carolina Acute Care & Wellness Center have been honored to care for the people of our community. What began as a commitment to serving our neighbors has grown into a healthcare practice founded on trust, compassion, and evidence-based medicine.
Today, with the continued expansion of our Women’s Health services and the addition of experienced providers, the clinicians of Carolina Acute Care & Wellness Center collectively bring more than 100 years of combined healthcare experience to the patients and families we serve.
We recognize that our region faces significant healthcare challenges and disparities. Across the nation, healthcare is rapidly changing as large corporate systems increasingly replace the personalized relationships that once defined hometown medicine. In many rural communities, trusted local clinicians are becoming harder to find.
We believe healthcare should still be personal.
Your healthcare clinician should be someone who understands your community, values relationships, and is committed to treating patients with dignity, respect, and genuine compassion. We believe advanced medical care and personal connection should exist together.
That is why we remain deeply committed to expanding services that improve access to quality healthcare for our region. From primary care and urgent care to wellness services and the growing Health Sciences Division, our mission is to provide modern, forward-thinking healthcare while preserving the trust and familiarity of community-based medicine.
At Carolina Acute Care & Wellness Center, we combine the personalized care you want with the visionary healthcare you deserve.
We are more than a clinic.
We are your Center of Health.
More than just a clinic
Our Story
We were inspired to create Carolina Acute Care & Wellness Center, P.A. after decades of community service within the medical community.
We recognize our region has incredible health challenges.
We share your concern that across the nation, healthcare is changing as corporate interests overshadow personalized care.
Hometown clinicians are disappearing in rural communities. Health disparities are rising.
But personalized care from people you know & trust should not be a thing of the past.
That is why we are passionate about improving the health of our community. Our mission is to change the way you experience healthcare.
We believe in the idea that your health care provider is also your neighbor & friend.
We believe in quality care through the latest evidence-based practice.
So, we created a place grounded in the personalized care you want with visionary care you need.
Carolina Acute Care & Wellness Center, P.A. is more than a clinic.
We are your Center of Health.
Why Choose Carolina Acute Care & Wellness Center
Meet Our Team
Phillip Stephens, DHSc, PA-C
Phillip Stephens, DHSc, PA-C, is a Robeson County native with more than 30 years of experience in Emergency Medicine & Clinical Medicine. He earned his Doctor of Health Science (DHSc) degree from the prestigious A.T. Still University and completed his Physician Assistant training at Bowman Gray School of Medicine. He has served as a professor in several medical training & health sciences programs.
Throughout his career, Stephens has combined clinical practice, education, research, and leadership with a strong commitment to evidence-based medicine and community care. He is co-author of the emergency medicine reference textbook Emergency Medicine: The Inside Edge, published by Wolters Kluwer, and has contributed to national publications including Emergency Medicine News, The American Journal of Nursing, and the KevinMD Blog.
Stephens has served as an adjunct professor at A.T. Still University, teaching doctoral-level coursework in Evidence-Based Medicine, Research Methodology, and Population Health. He also taught for Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences School of Healthcare Business, where he designed coursework in Innovative Healthcare Technology. In addition, he served as Assistant Professor with the Campbell University School of Osteopathic Medicine Emergency Medicine Residency Program.
His clinical interests include evidence-based medical care, urgent and emergency medicine, traumatic wound management, and aesthetic procedures. Stephens has extensive experience in cosmetic closure of traumatic wounds and holds specialized training certificates in Botulinum Toxin and Dermal Filler administration. Earlier in his career, he also practiced part-time in pediatrics.
Outside of medicine, Stephens was appointed by the North Carolina Legislature to serve on the North Carolina Boxing and Combat Sports Commission, where he currently serves as a Commissioner. A lifelong martial artist and two-time World Champion, he is also the author of Winning Fights: 12 Proven Principles for Winning on the Street, in the Ring, at Life, published by YMAA Publication Center.
Stephens is also the author of the Christian fiction novels The Fifth Dimension and Nails of God. He is a member of Sigma Xi – the Scientific Research Honor Society and maintains a strong interest in research, innovation, and the future of artificial intelligence in healthcare. His work includes exploring the role of AI and large language models in advancing medical decision-making, education, and patient care while promoting responsible, evidence-based approaches to medicine.
Additional information about Stephens and his work can be found at PhillipMStephens.com.
Gina Stephens, DNP, FNP-BC
Gina Stephens, DNP, FNP-BC, is an experienced Family Nurse Practitioner with more than 30 years of clinical experience in Family Practice and Emergency Medicine. She earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree from the University of Alabama and completed her Nurse Practitioner training at Duke University.
Earlier in her career, Stephens served with Duke Life Flight and Duke Life Care, gaining extensive experience in emergency and critical care environments. She has also supervised a Cardiac Decision Unit and has maintained a longstanding commitment to patient-centered, evidence-based care.
Stephens is co-author of the emergency medicine reference textbook Emergency Medicine: The Inside Edge and has been published in the Journal of Nursing Staff Development.
In addition to her clinical work, Stephens has served as an adjunct professor for several institutions, including the University of North Carolina at Pembroke and the University of Phoenix, where she contributed to the education and mentorship of future healthcare professionals.
Her professional interests include medically supervised weight management, preventive wellness, and aesthetic medicine. She holds specialized training certificates in Botulinum Toxin and Dermal Filler administration and is committed to helping patients achieve both improved health and confidence through individualized care plans.
Stephens is an active member of the American Nurses Association, North Carolina Nurses Association, American Association of Nurse Practitioners, Obesity Medicine Association, and professional aesthetic medicine organizations focused on advancing wellness and patient care.
Matthew Stephens, MMS, PA-C
Matthew Stephens, MMS, PA-C, is a Physician Assistant with a strong background in Emergency Medicine and a passion for evidence-based patient care, fitness, and community service. He earned his Master of Medical Science degree from the Methodist University Physician Assistant Program and graduated Summa Cum Laude with a degree in Biology from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke.
Stephens has experience practicing Emergency Medicine in one of the busiest emergency departments in North Carolina, caring for a wide range of high-acuity and medically complex patients. His medical career began early through volunteer service as an Emergency Medical Technician with local rescue services, where he developed a strong foundation in emergency care and public service. He primarily focuses on managing the Urgent Care section of the medical clinic.
Outside of clinical medicine, Stephens has a longstanding interest in physical fitness, strength training, and athletic performance. As a former martial arts competitor, he appreciates the importance of discipline, wellness, and preventive health in achieving long-term quality of life.
He is a member of the American Academy of Physician Associates and remains committed to continuing education and high-quality patient-centered care.
James Michael (Mike) Cox, MS, PA-C
Mike Cox, MS-PAS, PA-C is a graduate of the New York Institute of Technology Physician Assistant program with a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies. He has a BS degree in Emergency Medical Care from Western Carolina University and an AS degree in Emergency Medical Science from Fayetteville Technical Community College. He was a National Health Service Corps scholar and has provided health care for the underserved in Robeson and Scotland County rural health centers for the past 10 years. He is experienced in providing family medicine for a diverse patient population, including all age groups from pediatrics to geriatrics.
Mike has a special interest in providing health care to emergency responders and veterans. He is a retired Fire Chief from the City of Lumberton Fire Department where he also served as a firefighter-paramedic, HazMat responder, and a confined space special rescue technician. He was a state certified firefighter, level II fire service instructor, and holds the National Fire Officer certification from the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, MD.
Mike is a current member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants, North Carolina Association of Physician Assistants, and South Carolina Association of Physician Assistants. He is also a United States Navy Veteran and served aboard the USS Voge FF1047.
Deb Beasley, FNP-C
Deb Beasley, FNP-C, is a Robeson County native who proudly calls the Prospect community home. With more than 28 years of experience as a Family Nurse Practitioner, Deb brings a compassionate, patient-centered approach to women’s healthcare and a deep commitment to serving the community she knows so well.
She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from East Carolina University in 1981 and later completed her Master of Science in Nursing at Duke University in 1996. Deb is certified through the American Nurses Credentialing Center.
Throughout her career, Deb’s clinical experience has focused primarily on pediatrics and women’s health. She previously served for many years with UNC Health Southeastern Women’s Health, where she became a trusted and familiar provider to many women and families throughout the region.
Deb now joins the Health Sciences Division of Carolina Acute Care & Wellness Center, where she provides comprehensive women’s health services in a welcoming and professional environment. Her goal is to offer personalized, evidence-based care that supports women through every stage of life.
