Education Committee: Expanding Opportunities for Learning and Professional Development
Under the leadership of Dr. Kaitlin Bowers and Dr. John Wooten, WEPPA’s Education Committee is launching new initiatives designed to strengthen learning and professional development across the organization. From hands-on simulation labs to a new centralized Education Hub, these efforts aim to make it easier for clinicians to stay connected, share knowledge, and engage with education in ways that fit their schedules and learning styles.
WEPPA’s Commitment to Emergency Medicine Education
The Education Committee has several exciting initiatives planned for 2026 that reflect WEPPA’s continued commitment to clinical excellence and career-long learning. Our first simulation lab and educational dinner will focus on Pediatric Critical Care, a topic selected based on feedback from our clinicians. These events are designed to provide hands-on training, practical discussion, and opportunities for collaboration across sites.
In addition to in-person programming, a new Education Hub on Microsoft Teams launched earlier this year. This centralized platform will provide a shared calendar of educational events, important updates, and an archive of past teaching materials and resources. The goal is to create a convenient, accessible space where clinicians can stay informed, revisit valuable content, and engage with educational opportunities that fit their schedule.
Guiding these efforts are two leaders deeply committed to education and mentorship:
Kaitlin Bowers, DO
Director of Education, WEPPA
Dr. Kaitlin Bowers joined WEPPA in 2020 at our UNC Nash site and brings a strong background in medical education and academic leadership. She currently serves as Chair of Emergency Medicine at Campbell University, where she is actively involved in undergraduate medical education, mentorship, and faculty development.
Beyond her local roles, Dr. Bowers contributes to emergency medicine education on a national level. She serves as Vice-Chair of Continuing Medical Education (CME) for the American College of Osteopathic Emergency Physicians (ACOEP) and is actively involved in national conference planning and educational programming. She is also Lead Editor for Academic Life in Emergency Medicine and the series lead for both the Approved Instructional Resources (AIR) Series and the ACMT Toxicology Visual Pearls.
In recognition of her leadership and contributions to education, Dr. Bowers received the 2025 State Emerging Leader Award from the American Osteopathic Foundation (AOF) and the North Carolina Osteopathic Medical Association (NCOMA).
In her new role as Director of Education for WEPPA, Dr. Bowers is excited to build upon the strong educational foundation established by Dr. Graham Snyder. Her goals include expanding educational opportunities across all WEPPA sites and developing engaging, accessible programming that supports a variety of learning styles while strengthening connections across the team.
Outside of work, Kaitlin and her husband, Josh, also a WEPPA physician, stay busy with their two young children, Caleb (5) and Emma (2). When they are not working, they enjoy spending time outdoors, building LEGO creations together, and exploring new places as a family.
John Wooten, MD
Associate Program Director – UNC Emergency Medicine Residency Program
Dr. John Wooten is a native of Greenville, North Carolina, and moved to the Triangle in 2019 to complete his residency at UNC. He joined WEPPA as an independent contractor in 2022, working primarily at Nash and Johnston while completing his EMS fellowship.
Dr. Wooten has a strong passion for both resident and paramedic education, and in his role as Director of Residency Education he is focused on preparing the next generation of emergency physicians. Building on the legacy of Drs. Graham Snyder and Craig Frater, he is working to incorporate more hands-on task training for residents, ensuring they graduate with the practical skills and confidence needed to practice independently in any emergency department setting.
He also looks forward to collaborating with the Education Committee to cultivate a department-wide learning community, encouraging WEPPA faculty to participate in conference days and share their knowledge and experience with residents.
Outside of medicine, Dr. Wooten and his wife, Elizabeth, stay busy raising their three children: Jack (9), Stephen (6), and Josephine (4). When they manage to get a few days away, you can often find the family in Morehead City, boating, fishing, sailing, and enjoying time on the coast.