GOLDSBORO, N.C. — Longtime Goldsboro pediatrician Dr. David T. Tayloe Jr. has been named the 2025 recipient of the prestigious F. Edward Rushton CATCH Award, recognizing decades of leadership and advocacy aimed at improving children’s access to healthcare.
The F. Edward Rushton CATCH Award, presented by the American Academy of Pediatrics, honors an outstanding Community Access to Child Health (CATCH) grantee whose project has expanded beyond its original goals to create lasting improvements in child health. The award is named in honor of Francis Edwards Rushton Sr., founder of the CATCH program, and recognizes pediatricians who advance access to care and strengthen the medical home for children.
Dr. Tayloe, a rural general pediatrician in Goldsboro, has received five CATCH grants over more than 20 years. Through those initiatives, he has addressed a wide range of child health concerns, including breastfeeding support, asthma management, oral health, childhood obesity, and mental and behavioral health services.
His work began locally but quickly expanded to influence policy and healthcare access at the county, state, and national levels. Officials say his advocacy has helped strengthen healthcare systems, empower child advocates, and improve access to quality care for thousands of children.
Dr. Tayloe has also served in several leadership roles, including president of the North Carolina Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics from 1993 to 1995, and later as president of the American Academy of Pediatrics in 2009.
Through his continued efforts, Dr. Tayloe has helped advance policies and programs that support children and families, particularly in rural communities where access to care can be limited.
The award highlights Dr. Tayloe’s long-standing commitment to improving child health outcomes and expanding access to essential healthcare services across North Carolina and beyond.
