Staff Bios

Dr. William B. Lorentz, Jr.
Medical Director

The Smart Starts Prenatal Program is overseen by MedCost’s Medical Director, Dr. William B. Lorentz, Jr. Dr. Lorentz is certified by the American Board of Pediatrics and Sub-Board of Pediatric Nephrology and is a Professor of Pediatrics at the Bowman-Gray School of Medicine in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. A native of Glenville, West Virginia, Dr. Lorentz earned his undergraduate degree from West Virginia University and his medical degree from Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia. He completed the residency program at Harrisburg Polyclinic Hospital in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and served as Chief Resident at University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. He is the former Chief of Pediatrics at the United States Naval Hospital in Quantico, Virginia, and was a nephrology Fellow at the University of North Carolina Medical School in Chapel Hill. Dr. Lorentz has been MedCost’s Medical Director since 1988.

Renee Pulliam, BSN
Manager of Utilization Review and Prenatal

Renee Pulliam oversees the MedCost Prenatal Program. She began her career with MedCost as a prenatal nurse in1990. Prior to that Renee was a neonatal intensive care nurse at North Carolina Baptist Hospital.

Renee said, “It is very easy to be passionate about this program. My background working with premature and very sick babies motivates me to communicate the benefits of the prenatal program, and to make it real to the consumer. I get excited when talking about the program with clients and sharing stories that show the big and the small things that this program achieves. I enjoy listening to patients who want to share their positive experiences.”

Renee is a member of the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWOHNN) and a March of Dimes Volunteer.

When she is not working, Renee enjoys spending time with her husband, Randy, and their daughters, Chelsea, 14, and Hannah, 11. The four-legged family members are a Westie named Snuggles and a rabbit named Butterscotch. Renee also enjoys knitting, reading, and volunteering for her church.

Susan (“Suzy”) Bess has been a Prenatal Program nurse with MedCost for more than 13 years. She brought a wealth of experience to MedCost, having worked as an OB/GYN nurse, a surgical assistant, and a labor and delivery nurse since 1975. Suzy was certified by ASPO/LAMAZE in 1977 and has practiced as an Independent Childbirth Educator teaching Lamaze Birthing Classes for 19 years. She also has experience as a Neonatal Clinical Nursing instructor for a School of Nursing.

Suzy is the point of contact for the women enrolled in the Prenatal Program. She is the patient's advocate and prenatal support nurse. Suzy does the initial phone assessment, documenting the patient's medical and obstetrical history under strict confidentiality. Each trimester she reassesses each mom-to-be, providing education and answering her questions. Program participants have unlimited access to Suzy via phone and email throughout their pregnancy. If a woman is having a problem with her pregnancy, Suzy provides support for her and takes on the role of triage nurse for the doctor involved. Suzy said, “If there are complications I become involved as Prenatal Case Manager to assist the doctor with home health needs. If there is a miscarriage or fetal loss I follow up with grief support and counseling.”

Suzy said that the best part of her job is the one-on-one phone contact with the moms-to-be and feeling that she has made a difference for a new mother. She said she likes “being able to make them feel comfortable” so they can talk with her about their concerns. Suzy talks with the dads too which can be a lot of fun. She especially enjoys “the excitement when they call about the delivery and tell about their babies.” Suzy loves her work and is very proud of the Prenatal Program.

Suzy is a lifetime member of the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWOHNN) and is a certified LAMAZE instructor. She is also a certified childbirth educator with ICEA. With this special training, Suzy is well equipped to educate program participants about pregnancy, labor, birth, newborn care, and parenthood.

Suzy’s family consists of her husband, Richard, their married 27 year-old daughter, Lauren, 23 year-old Alicia, a graduate student, and her two Pomeranian "babies," Peanut & Sasha.

When she has time to relax, Suzy likes to spend time with her family at their lake house. She also enjoys smocking, sewing, embroidery, scrapbooking, and cookouts with her friends and family.

Patrenia Johnson
Prenatal Administrative Assistant

Patrenia Johnson has been the Prenatal Program’s administrative assistant for 5½ years. Patrenia enjoys her role because, she said, “I always knew I wanted to work in a field helping people, be it face-to-face or over the phone.”

Patrenia’s many responsibilities include introducing women to the program by explaining its benefits and goals to them. She said, “I encourage them to enroll in the first trimester and explain how the calls will be made each trimester. I give them the name of the Prenatal Nurse, Suzy Bess, along with her credentials and experience and I explain how to contact us with questions or for information. I send all the correspondence to the patients, the physicians, and to claim administrators, including all participation and termination letters and the informational mailings to participants for each trimester. I cover the prenatal phone line and monitor or triage calls for prenatal support or prenatal case management. I also contact hospital providers or physicians for delivery status postpartum.”

Patrenia enjoys collecting the baby pictures sent in by program participants after delivery. She displays them on a bulletin board in the Health Management Department. She says the best part of her job is “talking to the first time moms. They get so excited. After they deliver, I can hear the babies in the background during phone calls and it brings back memories for me.”

Patrenia prepared for her position by taking business and computer classes. Once on the job at MedCost she continued to build her skills by taking classes in medical terminology, team building, communication, and professional development.

Patrenia is a single mom with “two wonderful and very bright boys.” Her sons areTerrence, 13, and Jarion, 11. She says the three of them enjoy “just spending time together and acting silly.” Patrenia and her sons have fun playing bingo, swimming, listening to music, dancing, and telling jokes.