Our team combines a wealth of knowledge and experience with a passion for delivering compassionate, high-quality care. Led by Dr. William Buchanan, a cardiologist with over 30 years of experience, we are committed to helping you achieve your healthiest life.
Dr. William Buchanan
Dr. William Buchanan is a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology, and is board certified in Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Diseases, and Interventional Cardiology. Born in Sumter, SC, he graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry from the College of Charleston, and attended Medical School at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston before completing his Internal Medicine residency at New Hanover Regional Medical Center and his Cardiology Fellowship at Wake Forest University.
In 1992, Dr. Buchanan founded Coastal Cardiology Associates, PA in Wilmington, and continued to practice under New Hanover Regional Medical Center and Novant until 2024. He has now founded Coastal Cardiovascular Associates, PA, which will provide outpatient cardiology care for the Wilmington area.
In his free time, Dr. Buchanan enjoys aviation, swimming, and kiteboarding. He has a passion for music and enjoys playing the guitar at church with the worship band. Dr. Buchanan is blessed with a large family and enjoys spending time with his five children and two grandchildren, all of whom live in Wilmington. Dr. Buchanan is the owner of several patents, and is cofounder and board member for a medical device company, Salus Scientific LLC in Charleston, SC. He is also a board member for the local Breakthrough T1D board.
Dr. Buchanan believes that healthcare should return to being patient-focused. His goal with Coastal Cardiovascular Associates is to assemble a team of compassionate and caring professionals who provide the highest quality of cardiovascular care for the local community.
Christina Lafoon
Christina Lafoon, AG/ACNP-BC is a board-certified adult Gerontology acute care Nurse Practitioner specializing in Cardiovascular and Critical Care Medicine. A native of Wilmington, Christina graduated from Hoggard High School. She attended East Carolina University obtaining a Bachelor’s degree in nursing. Christina’s first job was in the Emergency Department at NHRMC serving two years before transitioning to the intensive care units. In 2006 she accepted a position as a travel nurse where she used her skills in various ICUs and leadership positions nationwide. While traveling she met her now husband (22-year Air Force veteran) Brandon, whom she married in 2009. In 2017, she graduated from Walden University with her Master’s degree as a Nurse Practitioner. Christina’s passion for Cardiology led her to join Cardiothoracic Surgery in Sumter, S.C. where she worked until her husband retired from the Air Force in 2019. She and her family were excited to return to the Wilmington Area to be near her family. The Lafoon Family settled in Hampstead, N.C.. Novant Health Cardiology welcomed her to their practice in 2019, where she excelled as a provider focused on patients. We are privileged to have Christina join the Coastal Cardiovascular Family and are confident that our patients and our community will benefit from Christina’s expertise. Faith is a cornerstone for Christina and her family’s life. In their free time, they enjoy being on the water searching for dolphins.
Rebecca Jones Westendorff
Kay Malpass, LPN
Kay began her career in the medical field in 1989 as an appointment secretary but always knew that nursing was her true passion. She pursued education in medical assistant and phlebotomy, allowing her to transition to hands-on patient care. Upon graduating from nursing school in 2011, Kay began her career as an infusion nurse but soon joined Cape Fear Heart Associates, becoming Dr. William Buchanan’s nurse and right hand. Kay credits Dr. Buchanan for developing her skills as a cardiology nurse. Kay was a long-time employee of Cape Fear Heart Associates, and during her tenure, she served on several committees to drive patient-focused efficiency. The most rewarding achievements of Kay’s career is being chosen as the recipient of two Angel awards in recognition of outstanding patient care. Inspired by nurse and family member Renee, Kay’s dedication to patients and their individual needs has always been a top priority. Kay prides herself on building strong connections with her patients and their families. She truly strives to ensure patients thrive from both a Cardiology perspective and all aspects of their well-being. Kay looks forward to continuing her work in Cardiology with Dr. Buchanan and the team at Coastal Cardiovascular Associates.
Angela Steele - Patient Access Specialist
Angela Steele has always known that she wanted to help others; this sincere desire led her to the medical field more than 40 years ago. Angie has always loved working with patients; she approaches every patient as if they were family. She has worked in various specialties, including in-home aide and optometry but she found her home in Cardiology 22 years ago. While Angie’s expertise is clerical, acting as a receptionist and scheduling patients for their appointments, she strives to ensure that every patient she encounters feels like they have the help they need. Simply helping others brings her great satisfaction and joy. Angie’s warm smile and kind demeanor put everyone around her at ease, and we are so fortunate to have her on the Coastal Cardiovascular team. Angie has lived in Wilmington for 26 years and has been married to her husband, Harry, for over 41 years. She is very proud of her family and enjoys spending time with her grandchildren and all the family pets.
Penny Philligin - Patient Access Coordinator
Penny was born and raised in Wilmington and has worked in healthcare and served her community for 31 years. Penny joined the Cardiology family 18 years ago and is skilled both clinically and administratively. You may find her at the front desk checking patients in for their appointments, taking vital signs, sitting with patients to ease your anxiety during an imaging study, or helping people to and from their car. As long as she’s taking care of people, she’s happy. Penny works tirelessly for patients and their families and has received a great deal of recognition throughout her career. She was most recently recognized by her peers with the Dr. Henry Patel Award at Novant Health for her selfless acts of kindness to her team and community. She credits her mother with teaching them to give back to their community at an early age. Community outreach is a top priority for Penny. Don’t be surprised if she’s not leading a Nourish NC Thanksgiving Drive, delivering Christmas Trees with Ben’s Branches, providing meals on wheels with her mother, or simply serving the homeless and hungry. When Penny heard that Dr. Buchanan was planning to form a practice dedicated to providing a more patient-focused healthcare practice, she knew immediately that she wanted to be a part of a team. Patient care is her top priority. In her free time, Penny cherishes moments with her family. She takes immense pride in her sons, but those who know her well understand that being a Yaya to her granddaughter, Paislee Marie, is what truly completes her.
Hillary Wilson - Family Nurse Practitioner
As a cardiac nurse practitioner for 10 years, Hillary is dedicated to providing exceptional care to patients with various cardiac conditions. Known for a compassionate approach and expertise in cardiovascular health, Hillary works to ensure the best outcome for each patient. She is certified by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners and is a member of the American College of Cardiology. She has lived in Wilmington for almost 20 years, graduating from the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a minor in Spanish (2010). She received a Master of Science in Nursing – Family Nurse Practitioner degree from UNCW in 2014. She is married with two children. Outside of work, Hillary enjoys playing tennis, reading, going to the beach, traveling, volunteering, and spending quality time with her family, bringing balance and well-being to both personal and professional life.
Dylan Page, MBA, CNMT, RT(N), NMTCB(CT)
Dylan Page, originally from Sampson County, N.C., moved to Wallace in 2017 after meeting his wife during his time at UNC Chapel Hill. Dylan holds an undergraduate degree from UNC Chapel Hill and an MBA in healthcare management from UNCW. Dylan has been working with Novant NHRMC Cardiovascular Diagnostics for eight years, and while he is an excellent nuclear medicine technologist, he also has a keen business acumen. He applied his skills by assisting heart vascular leadership with data-driven decision-making. His dedication to serving patients through his medical expertise is unwavering, and he is committed to advancing cardiovascular care through analytics and process improvement. Outside of his professional life, Dylan is a dedicated family man and enjoys a variety of hobbies. He is an avid hunter and fisherman, a passionate traveler, and cherishes the quality time he spends with his loved ones. These personal interests enrich his life and contribute to his well-rounded perspective in his professional endeavors.
Dylan’s leadership potential is undeniable, and we are confident he will be an integral part of our team and lead us into the future.
Melody H. Dawkins, BSRT-R, CNMT, NCT
Melody is a native of the Sandhills; she moved to Wilmington, N.C., in 2006 to Coastal Cardiology. After completing the Radiologic Technology program at Sandhills Community College in 1985, she worked in Diagnostic Imaging for many years in both the hospital and private practice. In 1995, she began her career in nuclear medicine and was exposed to cardiovascular diagnostics. Melody knew immediately she had found her calling. She went on to specialize in Nuclear Cardiology and, in 2001, became one of the first Nuclear Cardiology technologists in the Nation. Melody worked in the Cardiovascular Service line at NHRMC/Novant NHRMC, stepping into leadership in 2010 and ultimately serving as the Director of Cardiac Diagnostics and Intervention. Always holding a firm belief that caring for the employees and patients in Cardiac Services was of the utmost importance, she made that endeavor her purpose. Retirement did not dampen Melody’s spirit or her belief in the power of a dedicated team. When the opportunity to work with Dr. William Buchanan at Coastal Cardiovascular Associates presented itself, she eagerly returned to the workforce. She is excited about the potential of the team at Coastal Cardiovascular to make a real difference for patients and their families. Her optimism and belief in the team’s ability to effect positive change are infectious.
Family is at the center of everything Melody does. She enjoys spending her spare time with her family, especially her new Grandson Monroe. Her family has highly supported Coastal Cardiovascular Associates, offering their time and resources to assist in various initiatives. We consider the Coastal Cardiovascular Family an extension of our own.
Frances C. Jacobs (Fran), Registered Nurse
Fran started her medical career as a volunteer at New Hanover Regional Medical Center. This experience led her to a job at NHRMC as a medical assistant on a medical-surgical floor. She was chosen to work in special testing, where she was trained to do EKGs and EEGs; Fran was one of five people chosen to obtain on-the-job training as a cardiac monitor tech. Her early work with Cardiac patients led her to attend Nursing School. She graduated from the School of Nursing at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and 1986 and has been a dedicated member of the Cardiac service line ever since. Fran continued working for NHRMC in Critical Care, including the areas of ICU, CCU, medical, surgical, and neurotrauma. Fran’s experience in the ICUs did not go unrecognized, and she was asked to step into leadership for the Cardiac Intensive Care unit. In 1993 she became Dr. William Buchanan’s nurse at Coastal Cardiology. Fran has remained a part of the Cardiac team contributing to, the Electrophysiology and Cardiac Diagnostics field until she retired in August of 2024.
Fran has always had a passion for cardiology, and she has experienced firsthand what it is to be a patient with a Cardiac issue. Her experience has cemented her belief that she chose the right field and is determined to help patients and families with heart problems. Fran continues her education with online classes, attending yearly cardiac symposiums, and reading new material. Fran was awarded the “Nurse of the Year”, an award given to through the Board of NC Nursing. She also received the “Guardian Angel” award from Novant Heart and Vascular Center. Awarded by the Novant NHRMC Foundation, this honor comes from a grateful patient who received outstanding care from her.
Despite her illustrious career, Fran’s life is rich with personal interests and a loving family. With 42 years of marriage, 3 wonderful children, a dog, and 3 cats, Fran cherishes her time in the Wilmington area. Her passions extend beyond her career, as she enjoys boating with her family (and her dog), biking, gardening, horseback riding, and caring for her elderly parents. These personal aspects of Fran’s life add depth to her professional profile, making her a relatable and well-rounded individual. Fran is elated to be part of the Coastal Cardiovascular team and we are overjoyed to have her and the all the knowledge and love she brings to our team.
Paul C. Baker, RT, RDMS, RDCS, FASE
Born in Minot, North Dakota, Paul C. Baker is a seasoned professional in the field of radiology and cardiovascular imaging. He completed his high school education at DesLacs High School in DesLacs, ND, before pursuing further studies at St. Joseph’s School of Radiologic Technology in Minot, ND. His commitment to advancing his expertise led him to the University of Manitoba Ultrasound School in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and the Cardiovascular Ultrasound program at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN.
With 45 years of experience in Radiology, the Cardiovascular Lab, CT, Nuclear Medicine, Ultrasound, and Radiation Therapy, Paul has established a comprehensive skill set in diagnostic imaging. He is recognized as one of the first sonographers to receive a Fellowship from the American Society of Echocardiography, highlighting his significant contributions to the field. Paul continues to be an influential figure in radiology and cardiovascular imaging, dedicated to advancing patient care through his extensive knowledge and experience.
