Partnering with Patients: Dr. Tess Walker Joins FirstHealth Family Medicine - Ellerbe

ELLERBE, N.C. - FirstHealth of the Carolinas is pleased to welcome Esther "Tess" Walker, M.D., to our care team at our Family Medicine clinic in Ellerbe.

Dr. Walker's Approach to Primary Care

Dr. Walker brings several years of experience to the clinic and said she enjoys fostering "partnerships" with the patients she cares for.

"Being knowledgeable about best practices is the foundation of providing excellent care, but we also need to ensure that evaluation and treatment plans are tailored to who people are, their lives and what is most important to them," Dr. Walker said.

Education, Residency and Fellowship Experience

Walker earned her Doctor of Medicine from the Indiana University School of Medicine in 2018 and completed an internal medicine residency at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine. She also completed a fellowship in Hospice and Palliative Medicine at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine. Dr. Walker said she's thrilled to join FirstHealth.

Why Dr. Walker Chose FirstHealth

"I have been so impressed by FirstHealth's commitment to prioritizing patient care, not metrics or profits," she said. "Everyone I have met has been genuinely invested in serving the community, and this is evidenced by providing the latest in technology, having easy access to specialists and gathering a robust staff to support both clinic and hospital operations."

Dr. Walker said her experiences in childhood likely shaped her decision to pursue a career in medicine and helping others.

"As a child, I spent quite a bit of time in hospitals and clinics as a patient," she said. "These experiences over many years fostered a comfort in medical settings and allowed me to see how much room there was for providers to improve the patient experience. I wanted to be a person who could bring humanity back to interactions with patients."

Outside of work, Dr. Walker said she enjoys spending time with her husband and "five fur babies."

"We enjoy going on walks with the dogs and we are working on getting the cats trained to walk in harnesses, too," Dr. Walker said. "We are hoping to spend time exploring all the various outdoor activities North Carolina offers, and I also like reading, playing video games and doing puzzles."

Schedule an Appointment with Dr. Tess Walker

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Walker at Family Medicine - Ellerbe, call 910-817-4060. The clinic is open Monday - Thursday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday from 8 a.m. to noon.