CLINICAL STAFF

Clinical Staff

ENT & Surgery

S. Elizabeth von Biberstein, M.D.

A native of Burgaw, Dr. von Biberstein graduated in 1986 with a bachelor's degree in biology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She earned her doctorate of medicine from East Carolina University in 1991. She then completed a general surgery internship at Bowman Gray School of Medicine, followed by a residency in Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Connecticut in Farmington, Connecticut. Dr. von Biberstein practiced general otolaryngology in Cartersville, Georgia, for two and a half years before joining Wilmington Ear Nose & Throat Associates in the summer of 1999.

Dr. von Biberstein is Board Certified in Otolaryngology. She is a member of the American Academy of Otolaryngology, the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the American Academy of Otolaryngic Allergy and she is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. Her clinical expertise includes sinus and nasal diseases and surgery, pediatric ear, nose, throat, and head and neck surgery.

She resides in Wilmington with her husband, Frank Hobart, who is a cardiologist with Cape Fear Heart Associates, and her two sons. She enjoys running, snow skiing, cooking, playing the guitar, and spending time with her family at the beach.

George M. Brinson, M.D.

A native of Tarboro, Dr. Brinson completed most of his training at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He was awarded the Morehead Scholarship and received a B.S. in chemistry and an M.D. with honors.

He remained at UNC to complete a five-year residency in Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery. After residency, he completed a fellowship in Otology/Neurotology at Pittsburgh Ear Associates. He then joined Wilmington Ear Nose and Throat Associates.

Dr. Brinson is Board Certified in Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery. His work has been published in numerous scientific publications regarding ear surgery, sinus surgery, and medical ear diseases. He is a member of the American Academy of Otolaryngology and the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. He has privileges at New Hanover Regional Medical Center, Cape Fear Hospital, and Wilmington SurgCare. His clinical expertise includes medical and surgical diseases of the ear, pediatric ENT, head and neck surgery, sinus surgery, thyroid surgery, and facial plastic and reconstructive surgery.

His interests include fishing, boating, playing guitar, and spending time with his wife, Brandy, and their two children.

Stuart M. Hardy, M.D.

Dr. Hardy moved to North Carolina in 1989 to attend Davidson College, where he majored in biology with a minor in medical humanities. After graduating magna cum laude from Davidson, Dr. Hardy worked as an instructor for the Hurricane Island Outward Bound School in the Maine Wilderness and Florida Everglades for three years.

Dr. Hardy attended the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, where he graduated with the Highest Honors. After graduating from UNC, he remained in Chapel Hill for both his general surgery internship and otolaryngology residency training. His professional interests include the medical management of allergies and sinusitis, sinus surgery, skin cancer removal and reconstruction, pediatric otolaryngology, thyroid and parathyroid surgery, and cosmetic and functional rhinoplasty. He is a member of the American Academy of Otolaryngology and the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.

Dr. Hardy lives in Wilmington with his wife, Marie, who is a dermatologist at Dermatology Associates, and his three children. His hobbies include surfing, fishing, and running.

E. Burke Haywood Jr, M.D.

Dr. Burke Haywood was born and raised in Raleigh, where he was active in numerous sports, marching band, and was an Eagle Scout. He attended the University of North Carolina as a Class of '86 Fellow and graduated in 2007 with a Bachelor of Music with distinction and with a minor in Chemistry. At Chapel Hill, he was a member of numerous musical ensembles. After UNC, he went to graduate school at North Carolina State University and was awarded a Master of Microbiology degree. When not in the lab, Dr. Haywood played in the Little German Band -- a traveling troupe of German folk musicians and dancers. Dr. Haywood earned his Doctor of Medicine degree at the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine (Medical College of Virginia) before heading to Temple, Texas, for his residency training at the Texas A&M/ Scott and White Otolarynologology program. There, he received broad exposure to all aspects of general ENT and completed his training in June 2018.

Dr. Haywood met his wife Rosa, a native Texan and a hospital pharmacist, during his internship. They live in Wilmington and enjoy many activities together, such as hiking, bike riding, travel, and attending concerts.

Audiology

Meghan Westman, AuD., CCC-A

Meghan Westman, originally from Long Island, NY, completed her undergraduate studies at The State University of New York at Cortland and received her doctorate from Salus University in the Greater Philadelphia Area. She completed her fellowship year at Stony Brook Medicine on Long Island and was extensively trained in the specialty areas of cochlear implants, auditory brainstem response testing and vestibular testing. She holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence in Audiology from the American Speech-Language Hearing Association and is also licensed by the North Carolina Board of Examiners for Audiology. Meghan is profoundly deaf in both ears and can hear with the help of a cochlear implant that she has had since she was two years old. She looks forward to treating her patients with the exceptional level of care she has received in her own life. In her free time, Meghan enjoys traveling to new cities and relaxing on the local beaches.

See below for my Today Show interview:

Kyndell Belcher, AuD., CCC-A

Kyndell Belcher, originally from Dover, Delaware, completed her undergraduate studies at The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio and received her doctorate from the Northeast Ohio Au.D. Consortium in Akron, Ohio. The consortium consisted of the University of Akron and Kent State University and an affiliation with the Cleveland Clinic. Kyndell completed her clinical externship year at the Cleveland Clinic. As an extern, Kyndell was trained in many areas of audiology including pediatric diagnostics/hearing aids, adult diagnostics/hearing aids, cochlear/bone-anchored implants, vestibular assessments, and electrophysiologic testing. She holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence in Audiology from the American Speech-Language Hearing Association, and she is licensed by the North Carolina Board of Examiners for Audiology. In her free time, Kyndell enjoys reading, watching Ohio State sports, and exploring local food and drink hotspots.

Allergy Therapists

Mechelle Coppala, CPhT

Mechelle received her Associate of Science degree from Wayne Community College before completing her Bachelor's degree at East Carolina University. After spending a few years working as a Certified Pharmacy Technician, Mechelle joined our practice in 2018 to add personal & professional care to our Allergy Dept. The ability to evaluate and treat patients of all ages attracted Mechelle to the field of Allergy/Immunology, and she hopes to continue her career in providing exceptional care here at Wilmington Ear Nose & Throat.

If you would like an appointment with our clinical staff, simply call us at 910-762-8754 to make an appointment!