Legend Award winner continues supporting his community

By MIKE BOLLINGER

From arriving in the United States with $29 in his pocket to establishing a thriving medical practice in Benson, the Johnston Now Honors Legend Award winner has accumulated quite the list of accomplishments.

Dr. P. K. Vyas landed in Lumberton in 1982 as a student, mainly because his in-laws at the time lived there. He went on to Cooke County Hospital in Chicago to perform his residency before returning to North Carolina. He worked for a time with a doctor in Fayetteville before moving to Benson to work with a doctor there. That partnership lasted 11 months until February 1987. He then decided it was time to start his own practice, Eastern Carolina Medical Center. One of the reasons behind starting the practice was to serve people who had to travel for care.

“I was the only internist in Benson at that time. We have taken care of thousands of patients since I started. We now have three total providers,” Vyas said.

The Dr. P. K. Vyas Community Park in Benson bears his name. “They came to me when they didn’t get enough funding for the park. What I funded, the state matched. I was the largest contributor, and they put my name on it,” he said. “Benson had no park before it was built.

We are trying to add tennis and pickleball courts now.”

When Dunn needed a recreation center, Vyas was asked to help. He stepped up to the plate, and the City of Dunn Dr. P. K. Vyas Recreation Center was established.

He is also a big supporter of the SECU Hospice House in Smithfield, and the family room there is named after him. In addition, he donated $1 million to the Campbell University School of Osteopathic Medicine, and the anatomy lab there is named for him. He also supports the Harnett Health Foundation.

In addition, he has purchased ambulances for Johnston County EMS to have in Benson. “EMS asked for help when they needed a new truck. Of course, I work closely with EMS, so I paid for it,” Vyas said.

The food pantry in Benson serves about 500 meals per day, and Vyas is a supporter of that as well. He also funds scholarships for students who want to study in health-related fields at South Johnston, Midway and Triton high schools.

Vyas supports productions at the Benson Little Theater and Benson Singing Grove as well. “Anything the town of Benson needs, they always come to me and I support as many events as I can,” he said.

In 2011, he added a pharmacy to the practice. “That has been the best thing I did. We have pharmacists on call 24 hours a day. People can call us and they don’t end up waiting in the emergency room,” Vyas said. “We also have employees who help patients get drugs at no cost. We provide about $5 million per year in free medications.”

This year, he received the North Carolina Department of Transportation Extra Mile Award. “We gave more than 70,000 COVID vaccines to employees across the state,” he said.

Vyas said he is grateful for what he has and what he has been able to accomplish. “Number one, I give credit to God. Also, the people of these three counties (Johnston, Harnett and Sampson) have supported us. I also credit my employees. I have a great staff. I’m blessed to have a wonderful staff,” he said.

Eastern Carolina Medical Center was able to open a new office in 1991 with on-site labs, X-rays and ultrasounds, and then additions in 1999 and 2004 brought physical therapy, CT scanning, nuclear stress testing and many specialty services to the practice. ECMC was named Benson Business of the Year in 2011.

One main philosophy, Vyas said, drives the way he practices medicine. “I try to remember what I don’t know and refer patients when needed. I never want to act like I know it all,” he said.

As if running a medical practice and endlessly supporting his

community isn’t enough, Vyas finds time to be an avid tennis fan. “(Roger) Federer, always,” he said when asked about his favorite player. He said he has been to the U.S. Open several times and hopes to travel to Wimbledon this year.

He also sings at weddings as well as engagement, anniversary and birthday parties.

“I want to sincerely thank the people in the area that have supported me all these years. I owe my practice to the people of Johnston, Harnett and Sampson counties. About 90 percent of my practice comes from these counties,” Vyas said. “They have had faith in me and put their lives in my hands.”

Vyas said he has no intention of stopping his support of the community or practicing medicine. “I will continue to support projects in Benson. As long as they meet my criteria, I will support them,” he said.

His 66th birthday was June 6. “Most practitioners would be looking to retire at this point in their career and life, but I have no interest in retiring. As long as my mind and body hold out, I will continue to do what I love, which is care for patients,” Vyas said.

Continuing to support the community and work at his practice is fitting for Vyas, because longevity is one of the things of which legends are made.