Our Physicians

Medical Director
Robert Smith, MD, MBA

Dr. Smith earned a B.A. in Business from Washington & Jefferson College in Washington, PA, followed by earning a Masters in Business Administration at the University of Pittsburgh, Katz Graduate School of Business.  He earned his medical degree at the University of Pittsburgh and completed his residency at North East Medical Center in Concord, NC.  Dr. Smith is board certified in Family Medicine and Hospice & Palliative Medicine.  He was formerly the Associate Medical Director for Vista Care Hospice in Savannah, GA.  Dr. Smith is currently the Medical Director for HPCCR and has been with the organization since August 2004.

Robert Barnabei, MD

Dr. Robert Barnabei earned his B.A. in Chemistry from West Virginia University in Morgantown, WV and his medical degree from Marshall University School of Medicine in Huntington, WV.  He is board certified in Family Medicine.  Dr. Barnabei completed his fellowship at Michigan State University and completed his residency at The Medical Center in Beaver, PA.  He joined HPCCR in May 2010 after three years with Medical Plaza Family Physicians in Charlotte, NC, where he will remain a full time physician.  His work with HPCCR will be on a PRN basis.

Lenora Berning, MD

Dr. Berning graduated from the United States Air Force Academy with a B.S. in Biology, and obtained her Masters of Arts in Biology from Dartmouth College.  She earned her medical degree from the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio. Dr. Berning is board certified in Emergency Medicine, having trained at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte.  After 17 years of ER experience, she started a free clinic in Mooresville,NC and joined HPCCR, working part time since July 2010.

Larry Burke, MD

Dr. Burke earned a B.S. in Biology from Mount Saint Mary's College in Emmitsburg, MD.  He earned his medical degree at Georgetown University School of Medicine and completed both his residency and fellowships at North Carolina Baptist Hospital in Winston Salem, NC.  Dr. Burke is board certified in Hospice & Palliative Medicine and Internal Medicine with subspecialties in Pulmonary Medicine and Critical Care Medicine.  He was in private practice prior to joining HPCCR in June 2005. 

Janet Crook, MD

Dr. Crook earned a B.A. in Biology from Wake Forest University.  She earned her medical degree at the University of Virginia and completed her residency at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, NC.  Dr. Crook is board certified in Family Practice and Hospice & Palliative Medicine.  She was in private practice prior to joining HPCCR in May 2005. 

Connie Edelen, MD

Dr. Connie Edelen earned her B.S. in Exercise and Sports Sciences from the University of Florida in Gainesville, FL and her medical degree from the University of South Florida College of Medicine in Tampa, FL.  Dr. completed her internship in Internal Medicine at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA and her residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, NC.  She joined HPCCR in April 2010.
 

Phillip Hess, MD

Dr. Hess earned his medical degree from Ohio State University.  He completed his residency and fellowship at the University of Florida, School of Medicine.  He is board certified in General Surgery and Thoracic Surgery.  Dr. Hess practiced for 22 years as a Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgeon prior to joining HPCCR in January 2008.   

Boris Krivitsky, MD

Dr. Krivitsky graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington with a B.S. in Psychology.  He earned his medical degree from the Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.  He completed his Internal Medicine residency at the University of Connecticut.  Dr. Krivitsky currently works part-time as a hospice and palliative medicine physician at Levine & Dickson Hospice House.  He joined HPCCR in April 2010.

William Porter, MD

Dr. Porter earned his medical degree from the Medical University of South Carolina.  He completed his residency and fellowship at the University of Virginia Medical Center.  He is board certified in Internal Medicine and Hematology.  Dr. Porter's professional experience includes more than 30 years as a medical educator.  He joined HPCCR in December 2003.

Fred Vermeulen, MD

Dr. Fred Vermeulen earned his B.A. in Chemistry from the College of Wooster in Wooster, Ohio.  He earned his medical degree from Case Western Reserve School of Medicine.  Dr. Vermeulen completed his internship and residency at the University of Michigan Hospitals, and his fellowship at the University of Minnesota.  He is board certified in Colon and Rectal Surgery and spent over 30 years in private practice before spending three years in clinical research.  Dr. Vermeulen joined HPCCR in April 2010.