Deborah Ainsworth, MD
President & Pediatrician
Washington Pediatrics
Member of CCNC, Inc. Board
Member of N3CN, Inc. Board
I grew up in a small town outside Richmond VA, attended the College of William and Mary in Virginia and then went to medical school at Eastern VA Medical School in Norfolk, VA. I met my husband, Steve Ainsworth, a now retired orthopedic surgeon, during our training. I did my pediatric residency at Children’s Hospital of the Kings Daughters in Norfolk. We both were looking for general practices in a small town and moved to Washington, NC in December 1990 to join existing orthopedic and pediatric practices.
My partners and mentors were very involved in the evolution of Medicaid payments and practices in the 1990’s. Subsequently, I ended up on the first AccessCare Board in the late 1990’s and served on that board for a number of years, including in the role of Chairman. Washington Pediatrics has been an active participant in CCNC since its beginnings. Having care managers in our office was a cohesive way to discover and problem solve issues regarding social determinants of health.
As the President of the NC Pediatric Society, I was asked by CCNC leadership to help develop a clinically integrated network of many independent practices across the state, mainly starting with pediatricians and family practitioners - thus CCPN. I served on that board for about three years.
In my community I am involved with the School Health Advisory Committee and am I member of the county Child Fatality Task Force. I am an active member of First Christian Church (DOC) of Washington and serve as our Outreach Chairman. Recreationally, I enjoy reading, gardening, and hiking.
Ainsworth became a CCNC Board of Manager and a N3CN Board of Manager in July 2025.