Joseph McNeill Bumgarner, MD, FACC, FHRS

I was born and raised in Wichita, Kansas but have called North Carolina home since I went to Duke University for my undergraduate studies. I was first drawn to the field of medicine after my grandfather passed away suddenly from a heart attack when I was just a young boy. From that time on, I wanted to help others through a career in medicine. I feel privileged to practice cardiology in a time where the medical advances within our field have completely changed our approach to cardiovascular diseases. My wife and I live in the Research Triangle Park (RTP) area and have three beautiful children, ages 10, 12 and 14 years old. We follow their activities, from travel Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) basketball, to competitive swim, to dance class. We love to travel and spend as much time as we can outdoors. We are also college basketball aficionados and love the madness that accompanies the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) tournament every March.

I became a Nurse Practitioner in 2018 after gaining experience in both the inpatient and outpatient settings as a Registered Nurse. I knew I wanted to continue to provide direct patient care, especially to oncology and hematology patients who may be facing some of their most difficult days. I'm passionate about cancer care, particularly the field of research and clinical trials. I previously worked on clinical trials, and I saw firsthand the impact patient participation can have on future outcomes for other patients. Many of the immunotherapies we now use routinely were part of the clinical trials I helped manage just a few years ago. In my short career thus far, I've seen significant paradigm shifts in cancer treatment thanks to research and clinical trials. Outside of work, I've really enjoyed spending time with my family and learning about Rocky Mount. We moved here from Washington, DC in 2021, and it has been a great change for our family. My husband and I have two young sons. The restaurants and breweries at the Mill and the Farmer's Market and Children's Museum downtown are some of our favorites. I look forward to providing you unparalleled care! I approach each patient as if they were my own family member. Having open and honest discussions about your health and goals ensures you're receiving the best care possible. It's my honor to be part of your healthcare team.

Prior to becoming a nurse practitioner, I spent seven years at the bedside as a cardiac intensive care nurse (ICU) nurse. Those seven years provided invaluable wisdom and experience. Now, as a nurse practitioner, I work to approach every person’s health care journey with empathy and grace. Outside of work, I love to spend my time outdoors with my husband and our three dogs. You can usually find me gardening or growing cut flowers in my spare time.