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About Us
The mission of UNC Health Wayne Diabetes HealthCheck Program is to improve the health and wellness of the community and promote healthy lifestyles. The program focuses on the prevention of type 2 diabetes and the management of individuals with prediabetes in Wayne County, NC.
Dr. Billy Tart, a native of Wayne County, North Carolina, has dedicated his career to enhancing the health and wellness of his community. With more than 34 years of experience as a registered nurse, Dr. Tart has worked in diverse areas of healthcare, including medical/surgical nursing, mental health nursing, and home health care. His extensive background in patient care, combined with his passion for community health, has made him a trusted advocate for primary prevention and wellness. Dr. Tart’s commitment to education is a hallmark of his career. He has significantly impacted the nursing field as an educator, having taught at the Wayne Community College Nursing Program and served as the Department Chair for Nursing, where he mentored future nurses and shaped the curriculum to reflect the highest standards of nursing education. He has also shared his expertise with aspiring nurses as an instructor at East Carolina University College of Nursing. Through his educational roles, Dr. Tart has inspired countless students to pursue excellence in patient care and community health. As a Certified Lifestyle Coach for the CDC-recognized Diabetes Prevention Program, Dr. Tart empowers individuals to make sustainable lifestyle changes to reduce their risk of developing type 2 diabetes. His role in the program exemplifies his dedication to disease prevention and his ability to translate evidence-based practices into practical guidance for those at risk. With a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree, Dr. Tart brings advanced clinical knowledge and a deep understanding of health promotion to UNC Health Wayne’s Diabetes HealthCheck program. His work is driven by a genuine concern for the citizens of Wayne County, and he is passionate about equipping them with the tools they need to lead healthier lives. Proud to serve his community, Dr. Tart is committed to making a lasting impact through the Diabetes HealthCheck program, supporting individuals in their journey toward improved health and wellness.
Dr. Billy Tart, DNP, RN, Certified Life Coach
Director, Diabetes Prevention & Wellness Program UNC Health Wayne
Randy's Story
This program is made possible by the family of Randy McCall Byrd. Donations to the Diabetes HealthCheck Program help residents of Wayne County learn more about the risks and complications of diabetes, in hopes of preventing the onset of diabetes.
If you would like to contribute to this program in memory or honor of someone please contact the Wayne Memorial Hospital Foundation at 919-440-1801 or visit www.waynememorialhospitalfoundation.org
Randy was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in the 70’s when she was in college. She received some diabetes education but apparently nothing on needed lifestyle changes. After years of eating disorders and a sedentary lifestyle, she developed diabetic complications of retinopathy, neuropathy and kidney failure. She was fortunate to receive a double transplant—a kidney and pancreas—at Pitt Memorial Hospital in Greenville at age 39. She thrived for 20 years as a non-diabetic but then her organs started failing. The pancreas failed first and that made her a diabetic once again. This time she did not receive any education on all the new developments in diabetic treatments. So, she pricked her fingers multiple times a day to track blood sugar levels and used the same insulin she had 20 years prior. Then her kidneys failed, and she was placed on dialysis at age 62. Three years later she received a second kidney transplant. Though her new kidney was functioning well, her diabetes got out of control. She was labeled a brittle diabetic and was unable to keep her blood sugar levels controlled. She had frequent episodes of low blood sugar resulting in unconsciousness.
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Her health steadily declined in late 2019. A toe infection led to multiple hospital stays, emergency room visits and five surgeries, starting with a vein bypass in her leg to improve blood flow. But the toe didn’t heal and was amputated. The infection continued to spread, and she then had a partial foot amputation. After her foot amputation, she was transferred to a nursing/rehab center for physical therapy where she was exposed to coronavirus. She returned home two weeks later and within two days developed respiratory problems. She was admitted to Wayne Memorial Hospital with pneumonia. Her condition worsened and she died 13 days later on March 26, 2020. She was 68 years old.