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CHS Alumni of the Year
Louis Velazquez
Louis Velazquez began his education by receiving his Associate of Arts in Liberal Studies at the State University of New York. In 1990, while in his 13th year with the U.S. Coast Guard, he received his PA-C at Des Moines University. As a member of the Coast Guard for 20 years, and the first Latino Coast Guard commissioned officer Physician Assistant, Louis served on numerous missions on shore and at sea, including coordinating a response team during the first World Trade Center bombing in 1993, as well as the Exxon Valdez oil spill off the coast of Alaska.
Currently, Louis is a Physician Assistant and Clinical Director at Chowan Community Center. He coordinates the Migrant and Seasonal Farm Worker program, including training of outreach workers, as well as program growth and development. He is a preceptor to Physician Assistant and Family Nurse Practitioner students from programs at East Carolina University, Des Moines University-College of Health Sciences, and University of North Carolina-School of Nursing. As the Clinical Director, Louis is responsible for operational readiness, emergency preparedness, and is a public health liaison with the county public health authority.
Louis has been instrumental in developing additional clinical opportunities in emergency medicine and hospital medicine in his local area for DMU students, in addition to his precepting of students in family practice. He has not only developed rotations, but acts as a counselor for DMU students, and often provides free housing to them. Louis has an organized clinical curriculum that students follow during their rotation which is a rare thing for a preceptor in private practice. Additionally, he serves as an ideal role model for students during their clinical training, committing many hours to volunteer work.
In addition to being named the Alumnus of the Year 2007, he has received the Coast Guard Commendation Medal, three Coast Guard Achievement Medals, and the U.S. Department of Transportation Gold Lifesaving Award. He is currently pursuing his Masters of Public Health at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.
