Reflecting on a year of innovation, expanded access to care, academic growth and national recognition
ECU Health continued its mission of improving the health and well-being of eastern North Carolina in 2025 by advancing rural health through clinical innovation, expanding access to care, academic excellence, establishing and growing workforce development pipelines and a steadfast commitment to quality. The year was marked by transformative programs, strategic partnerships and national recognition that reflect ECU Health’s dedication to improving health outcomes for the region’s rural communities.
Together, we accomplished so much in 2025. Some of those highlights are featured below as we reflect on an important year serving eastern North Carolina.
2025
Jan. 13
Telescoping rod surgery provides hope for young patient with brittle bone disease
Joshua Thomas, a spirited seven-year-old with brittle bone disease, found new hope thanks to innovative care at ECU Health. After years of recurring femur fractures, the pediatric orthopedic surgery team implanted ECU Health’s first-ever telescoping rod to stabilize Joshua’s bone while allowing it to grow naturally. Read more.
Feb. 10
ECU Health recognizes outstanding providers with Patient Choice Awards
Feedback from the patients ECU Health serves allowed us to recognize more than 200 providers with Patient Choice Awards for creating a caring environment that helps patients heal. Established in 2023, Patient Choice Awards recognize and honor ECU Health team members and providers for their dedication, effort and support to eastern North Carolina and the patients and families ECU Health serves. Read more about the awards.
Feb. 17
Annual ECU Health Nursing Summit looks to future of profession
ECU Health nurses from across the system gathered at the Hilton Hotel in Greenville for the 11th Annual ECU Health Nursing Summit where they engaged with esteemed speakers and discussed the future of nursing across eastern North Carolina and beyond. Learn more about the event.
March 5
ECU Health expands surgical capabilities with pediatric robotic surgery
This year, ECU Health advanced pediatric surgical care in eastern North Carolina by introducing robotic-assisted surgery, a cutting-edge approach that enhances precision, improves outcomes and expands minimally invasive options for children in the region. Dr. Courtney Harris, a pediatric surgeon at ECU Health, performed the health system’s first pediatric robotic-assisted surgery, a gallbladder removal. Learn more.
March 13
ECU Health establishes telecardiology program in Edenton
ECU Health expanded access to specialized cardiology care in the Chowan area with the launch of a new telecardiology program, designed to bring expert heart care closer to home for patients who may otherwise have to travel long distances for appointments or experience long wait times between appointments. Read more.
March 27
ECU Health welcomes 14 new residents from Brody School of Medicine on Match Day
Fourth-year medical students from the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University – and across the country – learned where they would spend their residency training on Match Day. In the Class of 2025, 47 percent took up residency in primary care fields. Fourteen students opened their letters to learn they’d stay in eastern North Carolina for residency with ECU Health. Learn more about the class.
April 16
Intensive Cardiac Rehabilitation program, the first of its kind in eastern North Carolina, serves rural community with evidence-based cardiovascular care
The ECU Health Cardiac Rehabilitation – Roanoke Rapids clinic, partnered with Pritikin Intensive Cardiac Rehabilitation, opened its doors to the community. It’s the first program of its kind in eastern North Carolina, and its first cohort of patients graduated from the program. Read more.
April 17
Celebrating 40 years of lifesaving service: EastCare’s commitment to eastern North Carolina
This year, ECU Health’s EastCare celebrated a remarkable milestone: 40 years of dedicated service to the communities of eastern North Carolina. Founded in 1985, the program has grown from a single helicopter operation to a comprehensive medical transport service, offering both ground and air transportation. Learn more about ECU Health EastCare.
April 24
ECU Health Medical Center offers new treatments for tricuspid valve regurgitation
ECU Health Medical Center is expanding advanced heart care with two new, state-of-the-art technologies for transcatheter tricuspid valve replacement. The new technologies – EVOQUE™, a first-of-its-kind transcatheter tricuspid valve replacement, and TriClip G4™, a minimally invasive clip procedure designed to reduce tricuspid valve leakage – offer new hope for patients previously ineligible for surgery, providing significant symptom relief and improved quality of life. Read more about these nurses.
April 28
ECU Health Duplin Hospital earns five-star patient experience rating from CMS
ECU Health Duplin Hospital earned a five-star patient experience rating according to ratings by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. This rating underscores the hospital’s commitment to providing exceptional patient care and service. Achieving this rating has been a central element of ECU Health Duplin Hospital’s strategic plan and demonstrates its dedication to enhancing patient satisfaction and overall experience. Learn more about the recognition.
May 14
ECU Health expands Health Sciences Academy to four new locations
This year, ECU Health expanded its Health Sciences Academy to four additional locations across eastern North Carolina in the 2025-26 school year. The expansion extended the program’s impact to Beaufort County Schools, Edenton-Chowan County Schools, Hertford County Schools and the Roanoke Rapids School District in Halifax County; the program also operates in partnership with Pitt County Schools and Duplin County schools. Read more.
May 19
ECU Health opens IMPACT Clinic to serve patients with perinatal substance use disorders
ECU Health opened the IMPACT (Integrated Model of Perinatal Addiction Care and Treatment) Clinic, a new outpatient addiction medicine clinic dedicated to providing specialized care for pregnant individuals facing substance use disorders. Located within the high-risk clinic at the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, this clinic is the first and only clinic of its kind in eastern North Carolina. Learn more about the clinic.
May 20
ECU Health hosts CommUNITY for Health and Wellness event in Martin County
In the heart of eastern North Carolina, community partnerships are driving meaningful change in rural health care. ECU Health, alongside Conetoe Family Life Center and Access East, started a series of CommUNITY for Health and Wellness events in Martin County to provide free health screenings, education on health care benefits, fresh produce and essential resources to residents. Creating access to care in Martin County is a particularly important endeavor. The county’s only hospital closed in 2023 but the need for services remain. Learn more about the events.
June 4
ECU Health Bertie Hospital named among top critical access hospitals
ECU Health Bertie Hospital was named, for the second time, one of the top 20 critical access hospitals (CAHs) for patient satisfaction in the country. The top 20 CAHs, including ECU Health Bertie Hospital, earned the highest scores among CAHs as determined by the Chartis Center for Rural Health for patient perspective/satisfaction. The recognition was announced by the National Rural Health Association (NRHA). Learn more.
June 27
ECU Health announces 2025 Board Quality Leadership Award winners
The 2025 ECU Health Board Quality Leadership Award winners were recognized at an ECU Health Board of Directors meeting in June. These winning teams exemplify ECU Health’s system-wide commitment to achieving zero harm, delivering exceptional experiences and advancing patient outcomes through high-quality, compassionate care. Read more about the winners.
July 10
MOTHeRS Project honored by American Psychiatric Association for innovation in maternal mental health care
ECU Health and the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University’s Maternal Outreach Through Telehealth for Rural Sites (MOTHeRS) Project received the 2025 Psychiatric Services Achievement Silver Award from the American Psychiatric Association, recognizing its outstanding contributions to maternal mental health care in rural and underserved communities across eastern North Carolina. Learn more.
July 10
Celebrating 20 years of Health Sciences Academy at ECU Health
Twenty years ago, an idea took root in eastern North Carolina to create a collaboration aimed at building a pipeline of future health care professionals in the region by exposing students to health care careers from middle school on. That idea became the Health Sciences Academy. On June 30, ECU Health marked its two-decade legacy with a celebration honoring the graduates, staff and partners who have shaped its journey. Learn more.
July 24
ECU Health welcomes 154 new Graduate Medical Education professionals
ECU Health’s Graduate Medical Education (GME) program excitedly welcomed 154 new resident physicians and fellows, 26 of whom come from North Carolina medical schools, including 14 graduates from the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University. Learn more.
July 24
ECU Health welcomes first class of neurology resident physicians, expanding access and advance care in eastern North Carolina
ECU Health Medical Center welcomed its inaugural class of neurology resident physicians, marking the start of a new residency program aimed to advance neurological care and bring providers to eastern North Carolina. The neurology residency is a four-year program, with the first year focused on internal medicine and the remaining three years dedicated to neurology. According to Program Director Dr. Jay Ferrara, the residency is designed to provide comprehensive training across the full spectrum of neurological care. Learn more about the program.
July 30
ECU Health North Hospital enhances cardiac care with state-of-the-art hemodynamic monitoring system
ECU Health North Hospital is proud to announce the installation of a cutting-edge hemodynamic monitoring system in its Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory (Cath Lab), marking a significant advancement in cardiovascular care for the community. This state-of-the-art technology provides real-time, high-fidelity data on cardiac function and blood flow, enabling clinicians to make faster, more accurate decisions during diagnostic and interventional procedures. Learn more.
Aug. 1
ECU Health’s East Carolina Heart Institute earns top national ratings in four cardiac surgery categories
ECU Health’s East Carolina Heart Institute earned four 3-star ratings, the highest rating possible, from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) for excellence in adult cardiac surgery. Based on outcomes from January 2022 through December 2024, these ratings place ECU Health among the leading cardiac surgery programs in the U.S. and Canada. Learn more about the recognition.
Aug. 25
ECU Health Behavioral Health Hospital hosts ribbon-cutting ceremony
ECU Health Behavioral Health Hospital hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of a state-of-the-art, 144-bed hospital. The event marked a historic milestone in expanding access to high-quality, compassionate behavioral health services in eastern North Carolina. Located at 2820 MacGregor Downs Road in Greenville, less than a mile from ECU Health Medical Center, the new hospital represents a major investment in behavioral health infrastructure for the region. Learn more.
Sept. 3
Twenty-five ECU Health nurses recognized among Great 100 Nurses of North Carolina
Twenty-five ECU Health nurses from five ECU Health hospitals were named part of the Great 100 Nurses of North Carolina by the Great 100 Nurses of North Carolina Board of Directors, honoring their outstanding professional ability and contributions to improving health care services in their communities. This marks the highest number of ECU Health nurses honored as Great 100 Nurses in a single year. Learn more about the honorees.
Sept. 22
Vizient recognizes Outer Banks Health as 2025 Birnbaum Quality Leadership Top Performer
Outer Banks Health was named a top performer in the 2025 Bernard A. Birnbaum, MD, Quality Leadership Ranking by Vizient, Inc. Outer Banks Health placed 10th among 1,400 Vizient provider clients in the critical access cohort and was recognized for demonstrating excellence in delivering high-quality care based on the Vizient Quality and Accountability Study, conducted annually since 2005. Learn more.
Sept. 22
All ECU Health hospitals receive Get With The Guidelines® awards for third consecutive year
This year, the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association awarded all nine ECU Health hospitals Get With The Guidelines ® achievement awards for demonstrating commitment to following up-to-date, research-based guidelines for the treatment of heart disease, stroke and diabetes, ultimately leading to more lives saved, shorter recovery times and fewer readmissions to the hospital. Learn more.
Oct. 6
ECU Health Bertie Hospital earns CMS five-star rating
ECU Health Bertie Hospital earned an overall hospital quality five-star rating for 2025 from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. This recognition placed the hospital among the top-performing facilities nationwide and highlights its commitment to delivering compassionate, high-quality care to the communities of eastern North Carolina. The CMS Five-Star Quality Rating System evaluates hospitals based on mortality, safety, readmission, patient experience and timely, effective care. Learn more about the recognition.
Oct. 22
ECU Health North Hospital establishes Certified Nursing Assistant Program
ECU Health North Hospital launched a new hospital-based Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) I Program designed to help team members at ECU Health North, ECU Health Edgecombe and ECU Health Roanoke-Chowan hospitals gain hands-on training, real-world experience and the foundation needed to become a certified nursing assistant. Learn more about the program.
Nov. 12
ECU Health recognizes teams with Patient Choice Awards
ECU Health was thrilled to celebrate the winners of the fourth annual Patient Choice Awards. The Patient Choice Awards recognize teams and providers that have the highest and most improved patient experience ratings in their care delivery category for “Creating a caring environment that helped me heal.” Hospitals also received awards for patient ratings in cleanliness and “Courtesy of a person who served me food.” Learn more about the awards.
Nov. 14
ECU Health Edgecombe Hospital celebrates 40 years of service
ECU Health Edgecombe Hospital proudly commemorated 40 years of service to the community, honoring its legacy of compassionate care and medical innovation. For four decades, ECU Health Edgecombe Hospital has served as a vital health care provider for the region, offering a wide range of services and specialties to meet the evolving needs of its patients. Learn more.
Dec. 4
ECU Health partners with Artisight to bring Smart Hospital technology to eastern North Carolina
ECU Health has partnered with Artisight to introduce Smart Hospital technology across its facilities, starting with five hospitals and expanding to more in the coming year. This new platform will make telehealth services more efficient by expanding specialized care from ECU Health Medical Center to patients in ECU Health hospitals across eastern North Carolina and improve the experience for both patients and care teams. Learn more.
Dec. 12
ECU Health Medical Center earns breast cancer care reaccreditation
The National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC), a quality program administered by the American College of Surgeons, once again granted accredited status to ECU Health Medical Center, which lasts through 2028. Accreditation by NAPBC is granted to programs proven to provide the best possible care to patients with breast cancer. Learn more about the accreditation.
Dec. 16
ECU Health Bertie Hospital recognized with 2025 Performance Leadership Award by The Chartis Center for Rural Health
ECU Health Bertie Hospital earned a 2025 Performance Leadership Award for excellence in outcomes and patient perspective. Compiled by The Chartis Center for Rural Health, the Performance Leadership Awards program recognizes top quartile performance among rural hospitals in Quality, Outcomes, and/or Patient Perspective. Read more.