Our Practice

Established in 1967, The Pediatric Center has been helping children of Wilmington grow and stay healthy for over 40 years.

A Pediatric Office Should Feel Like Family

We are an office that prides itself on providing qualilty medicine with a personal touch, and this is reflected in our Mission Statement. But what does that mean, really? First, we are and plan to remain a three physician practice that does not use nurse practitioners or physician assistants. When you have an appointment here, you always see a pediatrician. Second, we like being a single privately owned office that does not have satellite clinics that place our staff in multiple locations, thereby diluting your continuity of care. That means that you can see your pediatrician when you need them. Last, we have a small staff that works as a family, yet treats our patients like friends. That means we call you back when we say we will, everyone knows you by name when you come in, and we worry when you worry.

Our Office's History

The Pediatric Center was founded by Dr. Charles Hicks in 1967. For over 40 years, it has been recognized as one of Wilmington's cornerstones for primary pediatrics.

Dr. Hicks started The Pediatric Center in 1967 and treated children in Wilmington for over 40 years. In addition to practicing primary pediatrics, he helped found the first Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in southeastern North Carolina. He has served as president of the New Hanover-Pender County Medical Society and Chairman of Pediatrics at New Hanover Regional Medical Center.

Dr. Hicks officially "retired" in August 2007, but he continued to work several days a month to help see children if someone was on vacation until the spring of 2010

Beginning in the fall of 2004, The Pediatric Center underwent extensive renovations to both the interior and exterior of the building. The exterior saw a new main entrance with sweeping brick steps and ramp, revised parking lot, and beautiful irrigated landscaping.

Hospital Affiliations

New Hanover Regional Medical Center has now opened its new 179,000 square foot Betty H. Cameron Women's and Children's Hospital. The $45 million center is the centerpiece of the medical center's construction plan. It includes all private rooms with full baths, patient and family centered care, decentralized nursing as well as a gift shop, women's boutique and food concession. The children's hospital is now staffed by 5 full-time pediatric hospitalists who can closely monitor our inpatient pediatric population. That means better and more efficient care for our sick hospitalized kids here in Wilmington. In addition, the center has allowed New Hanover Regional Medical Center to expand into pediatric intensive care now that our six bed Pediatric Intensive Care Unit has opened.

We have two separate waiting rooms, one for sick and one for well.

One of our two new waiting rooms features a Thomas the Train playtable and a Melissa & Doug wooden castle, both from Learning Express.

The interior received a facelift with new drop ceilings with noise reduction tile, modern inset lighting, new paint and wallpaper, and tiled floors in every room. We are proud of the office's facelift that was completed in early 2005.

Dr. Edwards, Dr. Player, and Dr. Jackson are on the staff of pediatrics at New Hanover Regional Medical Center. Our office is conveniently located right next to the hospital on Glen Meade Road, so we can walk next door and frequently check on any newborns or inpatients.

The Pediatric Center * 1914 Glen Meade Rd * Wilmington * NC * 28403