Brian Laughey graduated college with a business degree and was well into his first job working for a Charlotte-based national plumbing wholesale company selling pipes, valves, fittings and fixtures.
Life was fine, but he wasn’t truly happy. Then, in late 2009, a minor medical procedure led to a personal eureka moment. He discovered he could work with people in a challenging environment – have a positive impact on their lives and do different things every day – in medicine.
Exceptional cardiovascular care.
Laughey understands his wild career shift leaves some scratching their heads, but he believed in himself enough to know he was making the right choice. The customer service aspect of business and sales is what he most enjoyed. Now, as a doctor, he’s the ultimate customer service provider for his patients – ensuring they have an awesome experience and get the best care available.
“It wasn’t until I had a positive encounter with a doctor that it clicked, and I said, ‘I want to do that.’ That’s something that would tick all of my boxes – so I started my journey to try and figure out how to become a physician.”
That journey took him back to school for biology and chemistry prerequisites while also becoming a certified nursing assistant – all while moving back home with his parents in Winston-Salem, where he was raised since early elementary school days. He applied and was accepted to the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University. After graduating in 2017, he spent several more years completing residency and a fellowship, and he is now board-certified in internal medicine and cardiovascular disease.
Dr. Brian Laughey joined Novant Health Cardiology – Kernersville in fall 2023. He’s gone from one type of plumping fixtures to another.
“You could make a connection,” he said with a smile, “but I think it was just a coincidence that I started off in plumbing and now I'm kind of doing plumbing for the body, so to speak.”
Now, as a general cardiologist, patients come to him with concerns. He works to discover the issues and causes of concern, does surveillance as needed, and hands off to surgery when necessary. He treats all kinds of cardiac issues like heart failure, AFib, and chest pain but doesn’t do interventional procedures.
According to a recent report by the Association of American Medical Colleges, the United States will face a physician shortage of up to 86,000 by 2036. While the report cites several factors contributing to the shortage, Laughey points to the expense of medical school and work-life balance as obstacles for some people who might be interested in pursuing medicine.
Changing the course of his life wasn’t without its challenges, but the reward has been great.
“I’m able to use my people skills and interact with folks in a positive way while using my training and experience to deal with complex medical issues,” he said. “No matter what kind of work you’re in, there's a large component of customer service and customer satisfaction. We have to make people feel like they are heard and understood and that we are doing everything we can to help them.”
