Program Leadership
Our program leadership and coordinator are here to answer your questions throughout the application process and beyond.
Dr. Chinazor O. Umerah, MD, MBA, FACP
Program Director
Dr. Chinazor O. Umerah has served as Program Director of the Cape Fear Valley Health Transitional Year Residency Program since 2018. In 2026, she became Assistant Dean of Student Experience and Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine at the Methodist University Cape Fear Valley Health School of Medicine. She is board-certified in Internal Medicine and is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians.
Dr. Umerah earned her medical degree from Nnamdi Azikiwe University College of Medicine in Nigeria. She completed her Internal Medicine residency at New York Medical College/Sound Shore Medical Center in 2012 and earned her MBA in Healthcare Administration from Methodist University in 2017.
With extensive experience in curriculum development, clinical leadership, and resident mentorship, Dr. Umerah has guided more than 100 residents through their Transitional Year training. She is committed to preparing skilled, compassionate, and culturally responsive physicians for advanced specialty training.
Beyond her clinical and academic commitments, Dr. Umerah is an avid global traveler who enjoys exploring new cultures, cuisines, and landscapes. Above all, she treasures time with her husband and their three children. Whether organizing family adventures, appreciating diverse art and community initiatives, or discovering a new destination, she balances her medical career with a vibrant and fulfilling personal life.
Dr. Karla Bullon, DO
Associate Program Director
Dr. Karla Bullon is a board-certified Family Medicine physician and hospitalist at Cape Fear Valley Health. She earned her medical degree from Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine in 2015 and completed her Family Medicine residency at Southern Regional AHEC in Fayetteville in 2018.
Dr. Bullon became Associate Program Director of the Transitional Year Residency Program in 2024 and also serves as Associate Director of Perioperative Medicine. In her role as Associate Program Director, she works closely with residents as they transition from medical school into internship and prepare for the next stage of specialty training.
Her broad Family Medicine training shapes her approach to resident education and allows her to support physicians pursuing a wide range of advanced specialties. She is passionate about helping residents strengthen their clinical judgment, build confidence, and develop the adaptability needed to succeed throughout their careers.
Her professional interests include perioperative medicine, lifestyle medicine, medical education, and community outreach. Outside of medicine, Dr. Bullon enjoys playing tennis, traveling, and experiencing new cultures and adventures.
Xamagga Whitfield
Program Administrator
📞 (910) 615-0203