The Stead Center | NCAPA Headquarters
Visits to the Stead Center and/or Memorial Garden are by appointment only and available Monday – Thursday, from 9am – 5pm. Please contact the NCAPA office at 919-479-1995 to schedule a visit.
On February 25, 2006, the NCAPA formally opened the Stead Center, the Academy’s headquarters in Durham, NC. NCAPA is the first state PA association to own and operate its own headquarters.
The building is named in honor of the father of the PA professions, Eugene Stead, MD, and features a replica of his home office, complete with furniture, pictures, and awards that he donated before his death. A formal garden behind the building is decorated with statuary also donated from Dr. Stead’s estate. (A guide to the Stead Center Collection can be found here.) The Stead Center houses the NCAPA central office and hosts CME workshops, Board of Directors meetings, PA student events, and various other functions relevant to the PA profession.
The Eugene Stead Jr. Center Virtual Tour from PA History Society on Vimeo.
The meeting wing of the Stead Center is named the E. Harvey Estes Conference Center, in honor of E. Harvey Estes, M.D., who oversaw the Duke University PA Program in 1969 and is credited with propagating the PA concept across the nation. Dr. E. Harvey Estes submitted a letter to be read at the dedication of the building. He wrote, “I am honored and proud to be identified as a strong proponent of PAs. It has been a concept whose time was right, and it has blossomed beyond anyone’s expectations.” Reginald Carter PhD, PA, Executive Director of the PA History Society, said “This building represents the vision and passion of the founding physicians, legislators, and community members who saw health care as a right, not a privilege.”
Donate towards the maintenance of the Stead Center by purchasing a brick or plaque engraved for lasting recognition.
Buy a Memorial Brick
Memorial bricks can be purchased in memory or in honor of a loved one or an individual dedicated to the PA profession. The engraved bricks are displayed at the front entrance of the Stead Center and will last for many years.
There are two sizes available:
- 4″ x 8″ brick: 3 lines with 20 characters per line (spaces are counted as characters). Price: $100
- 8″ x 8″ brick: 6 lines with 20 characters per line (spaces are counted as characters). Price: $250
You can also buy a small commemorative brick to send to the family of the memorialized or to the person honored. The two sizes available are:
- 1.5″ x 3″ brick: 3 lines with 20 characters per line (spaces are counted as characters). Price: $20
- 3″ x 3″ brick: 6 lines with 20 characters per line (spaces are counted as characters). Price: $20
If you would like to order a brick or would like more information, please call 919-479-1995. You can pay with Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express or by check.
The Veteran’s Memorial Garden
Located behind the Stead Center building, in the enclosed courtyard, is the John McElligott Veterans Memorial Garden. The garden honors the contributions made by former and current uniformed service PAs to the PA profession and is a reflective, inspiring and peaceful place of remembrance. If you are interested in purchasing a paver to be placed in the Veteran’s Memorial Garden, please contact the PA History Society.
L: View of the courtyard from back entrance of the lobby; R: View of plaque wall at the Memorial Garden
