Clayton Long, MD
Please share with us where you attended medical school and tell us about why it made the top of your list.
The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. I was born and raised in a small North Carolina town not terribly far from Chapel Hill. UNC meant in-state tuition at a great school that was close to home.
Please share with us where you completed your residency and how/why you ended up choosing that location.
Carolinas Medical Center. I attended the UNC School of Medicine Charlotte campus and was always impressed with the residents and faculty at CMC. Matching there allowed me to receive excellent training while still being close to family and friends, which became even more valuable during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tell us more about how you came to choose the field of medicine.
I was an Environmental Sciences major in college with aspirations to be an ecologist. I never even considered medicine until I spent a summer working at a summer camp for children with various medical conditions. I then got involved with EMS through the National Outdoor Leadership School while attending Appalachian State University. The combination of those experiences sparked an interest in dedicating my time and energy to trying to help humans rather than studying plants and salamanders.
What about becoming a physician was attractive?
I found that I really enjoyed school and training, so taking on the challenge of becoming a physician seemed like a good fit. The hard work gave me a sense of purpose that probably kept me out of trouble.
How did you choose Emergency Medicine as your specialty?
Coming into medical school with a background in EMS, I gave a whole-hearted effort to explore other specialties outside of Emergency Medicine. My medical school classmates would often tease me that I was wasting my time because the nature of the work seemed to fit my interests and personality best. I enjoy the team-oriented aspects of our specialty, along with the broad training and focus on resuscitation and undifferentiated patients. Ultimately, I think my classmates were right.
What do you enjoy most about your day-to-day practice?
I truly enjoy interacting with patients and having the knowledge and training to intervene on their most challenging days. I also love working alongside teammates and the camaraderie that comes with working in an emergency department.
What led you to practice with MEMA? How long have you been with MEMA?
I had heard great things about MEMA throughout residency and feel very fortunate to have been granted the opportunity to work with such a strong physician-owned group in my home state. I will be starting with MEMA in June 2025.
Has there been one patient, staff member, or caregiver story that has stuck with you?
There are likely hundreds of stories that have stuck with me in the brief time I have been practicing emergency medicine. One of my favorite examples is from a time when a family member extended an extraordinarily gracious gesture. His wife of many years had presented after a prolonged out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and sadly could not be resuscitated. I gathered the family to do what I feel is one of the most difficult aspects of our job, to deliver this unfortunate news and extend my condolences. As soon as I finished speaking, he reached for my hand and thanked me for trying to help his wife, and then, in a moment of unusual grace and insight, extended his own condolences. Despite the gravity of the situation and his own grief, he recognized how difficult it must be as a provider to try your best to help someone and ultimately be unsuccessful. That one interaction is a golden nugget of humanity that I will cherish for as long as I practice medicine.
What are some of the biggest challenges of your practice for a clinician practicing in the emergency department?
I think the lack of access to care for our patients outside of the emergency department is one of the most difficult challenges we face in our practice. The pressure on our departments only increases as access to care elsewhere declines, and trying to help patients navigate an often fragmented and strained healthcare system can be very difficult.
Have you received any awards or been recognized from your peers? If so, tell us about it!
I received a “Silver Speculum Award” for best facial hair and bedside manner from the nursing staff. Two things that do not necessarily go hand in hand.
Who/what did you want to be as a child?
Steve Irwin, The Crocodile Hunter!
What about Charlotte excites you?
I have lived in Charlotte since 2017, and it has been very exciting to see the growth and change that has occurred in that time. I am excited to remain close to friends and family. I love having access to the outdoors through the US National Whitewater Center, along with the local network of trails and greenways, as well as only being a short drive from the beach or mountains. If only the Panthers could get their act together.
Do you have any hobbies, interests, or secret powers that are unique to you?
I am afraid that most of my hobbies and interests may seem painfully stereotypical for an Emergency Medicine provider, but my secret powers include homemade ice cream and the unique ability to clap with only one hand.