Although Ellen Walston, the Injury Prevention Coordinator at the Eastern Carolina Injury Prevention Program (ECIPP) at ECU Health Medical Center, is no stranger to winning awards and giving presentations about injury prevention, she was no less thrilled to learn she was named the 2022 Safe Kids Coordinator of the Year.
“You’re nominated by your peers, and it’s a big deal,” she said of the award. “I’m blessed to be recognized.”
Walston has been with ECU Health for 31 years, the first 14 of which she served as an oncology social worker. Although she loved that role, she moved into injury prevention in 2006. ECU Health supports her in this role, but for every project she undertakes, she must seek external funding.
“If I want to do a water safety program, I have to write a grant,” Walston said. But, she added, the effort is worth it. “All of my work is to teach children and their parents about safety and to prevent unintentional injuries. My goal is to keep kids out of the hospital.”
Walston also serves as the Safe Kids Pitt County Coalition Coordinator.
“We have 50 coalitions in North Carolina, and we’re part of a worldwide network of more than 300 coalitions,” Walston explained.
An award-winning career
The work she’s done in these roles hasn’t gone unnoticed. She also received the Safe Kids Coordinator of the Year Award in 2013, and the coalition won Coalition of the Year awards in 2010 and 2021: That’s four awards in 17 years.
These achievements wouldn’t be possible without partnerships, and Walston said she has friends all over the state and country to partner on projects.
“You have to share your successes and what you’ve learned, and give tools to others,” Walston said. “If you have something that works, share it. I never tell anyone no.”
One of those partnerships has been with the Greenville Traffic Safety Taskforce, which was created out of necessity when the then-Greenville police chief approached Walston and her manager, Sue Anne Pilgreen, with concerns about car crashes.
“In 2018, we were number one in the state for crashes in cities our size. The chief wanted a new way to prevent these crashes so we put together the taskforce,” Walston said. “I was thrilled he was so forward thinking.”
From there, Walston helped build a multidisciplinary team of high-level leaders, including the hospital police chief, the ECU Health vice president from design and construction, Greenville traffic safety engineers, the ECU police chief, NCDOT and the Greenville police traffic safety sergeant.
“We then became an official Vision Zero community, one of only 12 in the state,” Walston said.
Vision Zero’s goal is to eliminate all traffic fatalities and severe injuries by improving the roadway environment, policies and related systems. The taskforce quickly began environmental modifications, such as high visibility crosswalks, modular medians and delineator systems in center turn lanes, throughout the city. They are currently seeking federal funding to install a High-Intensity Activated CrossWalk (HAWK) to help pedestrians cross the street more safely.
The outcomes of this taskforce were seen immediately; “In 2020 we went from number one in the state for crashes to number seven, and in 2021 we were number eight,” Walston said. Because of their work, the taskforce won the 2019 North Carolina Governor’s Highway Safety Program Community Collaboration Award. In 2022, they won the Safe States Injury and Violence Prevention Achievement Award, and in 2023 they won the inaugural North Carolina Vision Zero Safety Award. Walston adds that another national award will be announced this year.
Sharing knowledge with others
Walston is eager to share her knowledge with others, and she’s done so through publications and conference presentations. She co-authored articles published in the November 2021 International Association of Chiefs of Police Journal and Exploring Perspectives – ECU Health Medical Center Journal, both addressing the evolution of Greenville’s Traffic Safety Taskforce.
She is also a veteran conference presenter.
“My husband says I go on my rock star tour,” she laughed when talking about her annual conference schedule.
This summer, she presented in Concord and Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and she’s slated to present in Washington, D.C.; New York City; and Denver, Colorado. The Washington, D.C. conference, the Safe Kids Worldwide Conference, is especially significant.
“That’s an international conference and I’m giving three presentations. It’s a big deal to break into that conference,” Walston said.
Walston said she loves to share knowledge to help others.
“It brings me great joy to bring positive attention to our hospital and community,” she said. “I want this work to be replicated everywhere, because we all have a mission to keep people safe.”
She also said what she learns at these conferences, she then applies to her work in here in eastern North Carolina.
“When I see something that works, I’m going to do whatever it takes to bring it to the community,” Walston said.
In addition to her passion for safety, Walston said implementing safety changes is a part of her legacy.
“There are mounted speed boards around school campuses in Greenville, for example,” Walston said. When I drive by one of those, I think I can’t wait to tell my grandchildren that I was instrumental in getting those put in place.”
Ultimately, Walston’s goal is to make Greenville, the surrounding communities and the state safer.
“It hurts my heart when there are preventable injuries, and I don’t want that for families,” she said. “I’ve been touched by severe injuries and deaths and I am always looking for ways to reduce risks.”
NAGS HEAD, N.C. — The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recently announced that The Outer Banks Hospital received a 5-star rating in both the Physician Communication and the Nurse Communication categories.
The Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) utilizes these star ratings to summarize the patient experience, which is one aspect of hospital quality. The ratings are based on surveys that patients take after receiving care.
“The 5-star rating is the highest rating and it underscores the focus that Outer Banks Health places on the patient experience,” noted Kimberly Hardman, director of experience. “We know that listening to the patient and addressing concerns with compassion and high-quality treatment leads to better outcomes.”
“Our physicians and nurses are among the best of the best with only five North Carolina facilities achieving the 5-star rating in both categories,” said Ronnie Sloan, FACHE, president of Outer Banks Health. “It isn’t just about our commitment to delivering quality care. It’s about delivering quality care with compassion and our nurses and providers deliver it every single day.”
Kenansville, N.C. — The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced that ECU Health Duplin Hospital received a 5-star rating in the Physician Communication category.
CMS uses the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) Survey to determine and publicly report star ratings for 10 measures regarding patient experience — communication with doctors is one of the measures. The HCAHPS survey is administered to a random sample of patients after their hospital stay and consists of 29 questions. The physician communication star rating is determined using three questions that focus on how well patients feel their doctors listened carefully, explained things and treated them with courtesy and respect.
“Our community is fortunate to be served by such a knowledgeable and caring group of providers,” said Dr. Chad Kornegay, chief of the medical staff, ECU Health Duplin. “I’m proud of our team and the fact that we were one of seven North Carolina hospitals recognized for physician communication and one of 357 hospitals recognized nationwide.”
“The providers here at ECU Health Duplin Hospital are some of the best in the country and they have truly earned this five-star rating,” said Jeff Dial, president of ECU Health Duplin. “Our team has set a high standard of performance for themselves and it is no surprise that we are seeing these results. They provide high-quality, respectful and compassionate care to every patient, every day.”
Ahoskie, N.C. – ECU Health Roanoke-Chowan Hospital has earned recertification as a primary stroke center by The Joint Commission and the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, recognizing the hospital’s preparedness and expertise to care for stroke patients.
“I am proud of ECU Health Roanoke-Chowan’s team members and their commitment to provide high-quality stroke care to our patients and community,” said Brian Harvill, interim president of ECU Health Roanoke-Chowan, president of ECU Health Chowan Hospital and ECU Health Bertie Hospital. “Our hospital’s stroke recertification as a primary stroke center from The Joint Commission – and stroke readiness at each ECU Health hospital – represents ECU Health’s dedication to bringing a comprehensive stroke network to care for all patients across eastern North Carolina.”
Stroke is a leading cause of death in North Carolina and the leading cause of long-term disabilities. As a primary stroke center, ECU Health Roanoke-Chowan can treat and stabilize patients experiencing an acute stroke and care for more complex cases. Located in Ahoskie, North Carolina, ECU Health Roanoke-Chowan serves a rural community and is the closest emergency department for surrounding communities. As a resource for emergency care, ECU Health Roanoke-Chowan’s recertification ensures local community members have access to timely stroke care and extends the comprehensive stroke network capable of meeting the needs of all patients across eastern North Carolina.
The likelihood of having a stroke in North Carolina is significantly higher than the rest of the country as a whole. North Carolina is about 8 percent worse for stroke mortality than the national average, and in eastern North Carolina, that risk is even greater.
“Time is the most important factor when treating a stroke, so it is critical to provide stroke care close to home,” said Dr. Barry Bunn, regional emergency department medical director, ECU Health. “With eastern North Carolina’s high rates of stroke, ECU Health Roanoke-Chowan’s stroke recertification, combined with a network of stroke readiness at all ECU Health hospitals, reduces the time of treatment, the risk of mortality, permanent brain damage and other side effects including memory loss, difficulty speaking and potential paralysis.”
During the certification process, ECU Health Roanoke-Chowan was evaluated on performance measures in stroke care, including education for patients and families on stroke risk factors and recognizing symptoms of stroke. Other performance measures included staff education on stroke protocols and the appropriate prescription of medications to address stroke risk factors such as elevated cholesterol and blood pressure.
Roanoke Rapids, N.C. – The Joint Commission and the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association has recertified ECU Health North Hospital as a primary stroke center by recognizing the hospital’s preparedness and expertise to provide timely and high-quality care for stroke patients.
“I am grateful to our team members across all levels and services for their commitment and diligent work that allows ECU Health North to continue to be designated a primary stroke center,” said Jason Harrell, president of ECU Health North Hospital. “Providing high-quality stroke care close to home is central to our mission of improving the health and well-being of eastern North Carolina. We are proud to be part of the top-notch neurological services provided at ECU Health across the region, which includes a strong network of expert stroke care.”
Stroke is a leading cause of death in North Carolina and the leading cause of long-term disabilities. According to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, both Halifax and Northampton counties have higher incidences of strokes compared to the North Carolina average. As a primary stroke center, ECU Health North can treat and stabilize patients experiencing an acute stroke and care for more complex cases. As part of stroke readiness by all hospitals in the ECU Health system, this certification is symbolic of a comprehensive stroke network capable of meeting the needs of all patients across eastern North Carolina.
The severity and likelihood of having a stroke in North Carolina is significantly higher than the rest of the country as a whole. North Carolina is about 8 percent worse for stroke mortality than the national average, and in eastern North Carolina, that risk is even greater.
“Immediate treatment of strokes can minimize the long-term effects of a stroke and even prevent death,” said Dr. Barry Bunn, regional emergency department medical director, ECU Health. “With our region’s high rates of stroke and mortality from stroke, ECU Health North’s stroke recertification demonstrates our proven results of reducing the time of treatment, risk of mortality, permanent brain damage and other disabilities.”
During the certification process, ECU Health North was evaluated on performance measures in stroke care, including education for patients and families on stroke risk factors and recognizing symptoms of stroke. Other performance measures included staff education on stroke protocols and the appropriate prescription of medications to address stroke risk factors such as elevated cholesterol and blood pressure.
Leaving a child, senior or pet behind in a car can pose serious danger, even if it’s just for a few minutes.
That was the message of the hot car safety event hosted by Ellen Walston, Injury Prevention Program coordinator at ECU Health Medical Center, along with the Martin-Pitt Partnership for Children, Pitt County Sheriff’s Office, Safe Kids North Carolina and Greenville Fire Rescue.
Walston said it’s dangerous for anyone to be left alone in a vehicle because of how quickly they can heat up, especially for children.
On June 29, Walston and community partners shared the information in the parking lot of Kohl’s in Greenville. During a somewhat overcast afternoon with temperatures around 90 degrees, it took about 15 minutes for the display car on hand to reach 123 degrees inside.
“Our campaign is never leave your child alone, not even for one minute,” Walston said. “That means when you think you can just run in and do a quick errand in the store or any situation, we don’t ever want a child to be left alone in a car, not even for a minute. That also includes our senior adults and pets.”
Walston said leaving the windows cracked for a child, pet or senior with the engine off is not enough ventilation to be safe, and even leaving them in the car with the air conditioning on can pose dangers.
During the event, Walston and team demonstrated how the heat inside vehicles can literally cook s’mores by roasting them on the dashboard. She said there have already been eight deaths in the United States this year from children being left alone in cars. While there have not been any in North Carolina this year, the state had four of the 33 national deaths last year.
“One death is too many, that’s why we’re out here today educating the community,” Walston said. “The car we have out here today actually has a feature that has a reminder to check the backseat when you turn off the engine. It’s important to put something tangible in your backseat that you need to get out when you leave the car – your pocketbook, your cell phone, a briefcase, your lunch bag – just to remind you to always check the backseat.”
Walston said that while many parents think this could never happen to them, it can be as easy as breaking your routine to make a parent forget a child is still in the car. More than 50 percent of child deaths from hot cars are from children that have been forgotten in vehicles, and only 17 percent have been intentionally left.
Walston earns North Carolina Coordinator of the Year
Allan Buchanan, Safe Kids North Carolina director, was on hand during the event to recognize Walston as Safe Kids North Carolina Coordinator of the Year.
Buchanan said Walston is a great role model for other Safe Kids Coordinators and is a great leader for the program across the state.
“She does a wonderful job here in Pitt County, getting the message out on injury prevention,” Buchanan said. “In North Carolina, we actually have 46 coalitions across the state. Ellen does a fabulous job here in Pitt County for injury prevention program across a number of different risk areas. She’s just a vital access to the community and creating risk reduction in this area. We’re very fortunate to have Ellen as a coordinator.”
Last year, Safe Kids Pitt County was recognized as the North Carolina Coalition of the Year. Walston said she’s just happy to share the recognition with her many community partners across Pitt County and eastern North Carolina.
She said the nomination was anonymous but she believes the events her team hosts, the collaboration with community partners and the work that Safe Kids Pitt County does with other Safe Kids coalitions across the state helped earn the award.
“I do think when they see these type of events and the work that we do in Pitt County and beyond that, they pay attention and we really try to partner with other Safe Kids coalitions,” Walston said. “So I’m all about sharing resources and working together, that’s how you make it happen. We’re really fortunate to have such great partners.”
Greenville, N.C. – The 2023 ECU Health Board Quality Leadership Award winners were recognized by the ECU Health Board of Directors June 27. These winning teams are a representation of excellent work across the system that drives the quality goal of zero harm, creates exceptional experiences and improves patient outcomes. Numerous nominations were reviewed by the committee, and the winning team are as follows:
ECU Health Medical Center – Navigating Insurance Authorizations: Increasing Internal Authorization Requests to Decrease Turn-Around Times to Facilitate Skilled Nursing Home Placement – Case Management. The project leader was Nancy Keith, MS, MSW, LCSW, ACM-SW – Care Management.
ECU Health North Hospital – Impact of Hospital-Wide Prevention and Reduction of Clostridium difficile (Cdiff), an ECU Health North’s Multidisciplinary Collaborative: An Evaluation on Reduction in Hospital Acquired Infection (HAI). The project leaders were Krista Turner, MSN, RN – Infection Preventionist III and Aparesh Balla, MPH – Infection Preventionist II.
To receive this honor, team members submitted projects that demonstrated at least two of the following requirements:
- Quantifiable improvement in an organizational quality priority with sustained excellence over time
- Demonstration of empathy and compassion in patient care
- Implementation of innovative solution to patient care problem
- Community outreach that addresses the social determinants of health in a meaningful way
“We are proud to recognize the winning teams for their hard work and dedication to caring for patients and families,” said Robert Greczyn, chair, ECU Health Board of Directors. “The Board Quality Leadership Awards represent the great consideration our team members take to make safety a top priority for our patients. These honorees have continued to innovate and improve the health and well-being of eastern North Carolina, and we are grateful for all that our team members do to deliver high-quality care.”
At ECU Health, the support team members provide to each other makes a difference – not only to those team members but also to the patients we serve across eastern North Carolina.
Recently, three ECU Health nurses were inducted into the East Carolina University (ECU) College of Nursing Hall of Fame while another earned a scholarship as she pursues her doctorate in nursing. These four ECU Health nurses each said the support of fellow nurses has uplifted them throughout their careers and the scholarship and inductions into the Hall of Fame is a reflection of that support.
Learn more about the honorees below.
Amy Campbell
Amy Campbell, quality nurse specialist at ECU Health, has been with the system for about 18 years over two separate stops.
Campbell started at ECU Health Medical Center as an associate degree nurse in pediatrics and said she was quickly encouraged and supported by fellow nurses and leaders to join the HomeGrown program, which helps team members go back to school and balance their work and school responsibilities, and she received her bachelor’s degree from ECU in 2001. Campbell left ECU Health to teach at Pitt Community College and ultimately returned to the health system with a master’s degree. During her second stop at ECU Health, she said she was once again supported to further her education and pursue a doctorate degree, which she completed in 2020.
“A lot of executives were so encouraging for me to get my Ph.D. and I was HomeGrown and I was able to do my research here so they really were supportive all along,” Campbell said. “I also went through the Ph.D. program with a lot of my colleagues here so that was really great, too. I couldn’t have done it if people hadn’t given me time to do my research and to go to school.”
Campbell is a Williamston native and she said the rural aspect of the care ECU Health provides for the region is close to her heart.
The close-knit communities of eastern North Carolina transfer over to the hospital setting where Campbell said it’s a family atmosphere for team members and the patients they serve.
“I believe that at ECU Health we really do rise by lifting others and people really try to make sure others get time in the spotlight, even though, if you ask any of the four of us, we really don’t like this spotlight,” Campbell said. “But for me, I’m able to embrace it because I want all those people who supported me to have their moment with me. I’m a single mom, I’ve been a single mom for 19 years, but I’ve had a wonderful family here. Everyone has always been so good and supportive of school or whatever I was going through to help me be successful.”
Angela Still
Angela Still, senior administrator of Women’s Services at ECU Health Medical Center, said she was humbled to join her colleagues who have been inducted into the ECU College of Nursing Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2023.
Still has been with the health system for 36 years and is a 1986 graduate of ECU. As a Greenville native, Still said the opportunity to care for and support women in eastern North Carolina is special to her.
“The needs of the patients and families in our region, the disparities, and the social determinants of health are so different from what the rest of the state deals with every day,” Still said. “Our 29 counties are comparable to the size of some states but it’s rural. Access to care, access to healthy food, these are unique needs. At this point in my career I am not impacting the individual patient and family, I’m working to impact the region. It’s a population of mothers and babies that we want to be healthier because they are our future in the region.”
Still said that during her time at ECU Health, she’s been the beneficiary of great leadership and mentors and she’s been happy to give that back to the next generation of nurses as they rise through the system and across the state.
She said it’s crucial to invest time and energy into mentorship as it will make a difference for the individual, those they mentor in the future and the patients they serve.
“The opportunity to mentor people through my career has been just really amazing. I have people across the state I mentored that are not with the system anymore and they still call me to ask questions or just look for guidance,” Still said. “So just being able to make an impact on the people that are going to care for others is very special to me. We’re all eventually going to retire, so being able to mentor and guide folks that are going to be here long after I’ve left and are going to continue to carry that torch and make a difference for our communities, it’s a big deal.”
Georgia Perry
Georgia Perry is the nurse manager on 2 North Medicine and 2 North Progressive Care at ECU Health Medical Center and was also inducted into the ECU College of Nursing Hall of Fame this year.
Perry said the night of the induction into the Hall of Fame was special for her as she had a chance to look into the crowd gathered and see mentors, some of whom nominated Perry for the recognition.
Perry earned her bachelor’s degree from ECU in 2010 and began working at ECU Health as part of the very first New Grad Nurse Residency Program class. She started working on 2 South, became an assistant nurse manager, and eventually became the nurse manager on her current unit. She received her master’s degree in 2015 and said the backing of fellow nurses and leaders alike made going back to school a manageable task.
“I tell people all the time, if you can dream it, you can do it here,” Perry said. “I truly feel like the support system is really what makes it easy to go back to school to be able to juggle it all. There’s a wealth of mentors here, you can pick up the phone and call anybody and it doesn’t matter if it’s across service lines.”
Perry is a Newton Grove native and said working in rural medicine is important to her because she grew up in a rural area.
“I think it’s wonderful that we have such great access to really all specialties right down the road,” Perry said. “My family actually will travel and get to ECU Health Duplin Hospital and then have access to the tertiary center, so we live it. I’m really grateful for what we have here at ECU Health and I’m glad to be a piece of the impact we have on this region.”
She added that the team around her keeps her going while the patients they serve inspire her to bring her best each day.
Lauren Nichols
Inductees into the Hall of Fame help fund a scholarship for ECU College of Nursing students. Lauren Nichols, a staff nurse on the Cardiac Intermediate Unit at ECU Health Medical Center, earned a scholarship from the fund for this year.
Nichols, who has been working at ECU Health for seven years, is pursuing a doctorate in nursing with a family nurse practitioner specialty at ECU.
Nichols is from Edgecombe County and said she chose to work at ECU Health and continue her education at ECU because of the health system’s commitment to rural health care and eastern North Carolina.
“ECU Health’s mission really resonates with me,” Nichols said. “Growing up in such a rural community makes me want to do my part to help improve the health of the people of eastern North Carolina.”
She said she never doubted her decision to go back to school because of the support she has received, especially from nursing leadership.
Join the Team
ECU Health nurses make an incredible impact every day across eastern North Carolina. Learn more about opportunities to work alongside these amazing nurses and so many others here.
Greenville, N.C. – ECU Health Medical Center Echocardiography Laboratory (Echo lab) earned a 20 Year Bronze Accreditation Milestone for its reaccreditation and pediatric echocardiography reaccreditation by the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC). The Echo lab has also been granted a three-year term of accreditation by the IAC in Echocardiography in the areas of adult stress, adult and pediatric transthoracic and adult transesophageal.
Accreditation by the IAC means that ECU Health Medical Center Echo lab has undergone an intensive application and review process and is found to be in compliance with published standards, thus demonstrating a commitment to quality patient care. Comprised of a detailed self-evaluation followed by a thorough review by a panel of medical experts, the IAC accreditation process enables both the critical operational and technical components of the applicant facility to be assessed, including representative case studies and their corresponding final reports.
“ECU Health takes great pride in bringing state of the art, high quality care that’s close to home for eastern North Carolina.” said Dr. Dave Harlow, senior vice president of Allied Health at ECU Health. “ECU Health’s partnership with the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University allows us to provide world class training and technologies for clinicians and medical students alike which ultimately improves patient outcomes. These efforts are tailored to our mission of improving the health and well-being of eastern North Carolina, and I am proud of the teams that earned this reaccreditation and the effort it represents.”
A noninvasive ultrasound study called an echocardiogram is commonly used to evaluate heart structure and function and can detect heart disease or signs of serious conditions. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heart disease is the leading cause of death for men, women and people of most racial and ethnic groups in the United States. On average, one American dies every 34 seconds of cardiovascular disease. Each year nearly 40,000 infants in the United States are born with a congenital heart defect, making it the most common type of birth defect. Congenital heart defects are also the most critical, causing more deaths during the first year of life than any other birth defect.
There are many factors that contribute to an accurate diagnosis based on echocardiography including the training and experience of the sonographer performing the procedure, the type of equipment used and the quality assessment metrics each facility is required to measure. IAC accreditation is a “seal of approval” that patients can rely on as an indicator of consistent quality care and a commitment to continuous improvement.
“Eastern North Carolina sees higher rates of chronic diseases including hypertension, diabetes and stroke, all leading to higher rates heart disease,” said ECU Health Medical Center Echo lab medical director Dr. Raj Nekkanti, who also serves as a professor in the Division of Cardiology and Program Director of the Cardiology Fellowship Program at Brody. “Having a high-quality, consistent Echo lab helps ensure accurate diagnoses and is instrumental in creating treatment plans for patients. Early diagnosis of heart disease can drastically improve outcomes for patients, highlighting the necessity of these types of services. We are proud to offer this high-quality care to a region that depends on it.”
Three physicians – Drs. David Collier, James deVente and Ricky Watson – were recently named master educators by the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University. All three are Brody alumni.
The school’s master educator program recognizes excellence in leadership and administration, teaching contribution or mentorship, innovation and curriculum development, evaluation and research, professional development in education and educational contributions by community physicians.
The winners were announced during a Brody faculty meeting on Feb. 16, during which each winner received a white coat featuring a master educator designation, a plaque and master educator pin.
Faculty members and students may nominate faculty members to receive the award, and a committee of faculty members and students decides on the recipients.
Since the program began in 2002, close to 80 Brody faculty members have received the master educator recognition. The awards can be given in the areas of educational leadership and administration, outstanding teaching or mentorship contribution, educational innovation and curriculum development, educational evaluation and research, professional development in education and outstanding educational contribution by a community physician.
“The bestowing of the Master Educator Award allows us to honor faculty who have a sustained record of excellence in education and are who are recognized by their peers and learners as exemplifying leadership in education,” said Allison Flowers, director of Brody’s Office of Faculty Affairs and Leadership Development. “These master educators highlight how the Brody School of Medicine attracts and retains high-quality faculty who are driven by and demonstrate our mission.”
Dr. David Collier
Master Educator in Teaching and Mentorship
Dr. David Collier is a professor of pediatrics and health disparities and director of the Pediatric Healthy Weight Research and Treatment Center. He is associate director of the Integrative Health Sciences Facility Core in the NCSU Center for Human Health and the Environment.
Collier is a graduate of the Brody School of Medicine and completed his residency at Pitt County Memorial Hospital, now ECU Health Medical Center. His research interests include the prevention and treatment of childhood obesity.
Collier’s nominator highlighted his ability to share his knowledge in ways that benefit both his students and colleagues.
“David was a creative interprofessional educator before interprofessional education was a goal or mandate,” according to the nomination letter. “Dr. Collier is shown at his best — not in a classroom, not scripted — but in clinic teaching interprofessionally.”
Dr. James deVente
Master Educator in Education
Dr. James deVente is an associate professor in Brody’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and is director of obstetrics at ECU Health Medical Center. At ECU since 2005, deVente graduated from the Brody School of Medicine in 2001 and completed a residency in obstetrics and gynecology in Greenville as well.
deVente has also served as the medical director for women’s services at ECU Health Medical Center since 2007 and is a trailblazer for innovation in the profession.
“In keeping with Jim’s passionate and tireless work as an educator, he has capitalized on his role to improve our entire health system through an ongoing series of faculty development opportunities,” according to the letter of nomination written for deVente. “Every obstetrical provider in our hospital system, across our portion of the state, has met with Jim for safety drills, new equipment training, fetal heart rate monitoring classes, and systemwide implementation of safety and quality initiatives – many of which he also helped to develop.”
Dr. Ricky Watson
Master Educator in Teaching and Mentorship
Dr. Ricky Watson is a clinical assistant professor and assistant residency director in the Department of Family Medicine. He is a Brody graduate and completed his residency at Pitt County Memorial Hospital, now ECU Health Medical Center. His areas of interest include women’s health, infectious diseases, travel and wilderness medicine and health care delivery systems.
Watson has earned a variety of teaching awards over the years including a Faculty Excellence Award for Excellence in Teaching and Compassion from family medicine residents. He has also received a teaching award from the American Academy of Family Physicians. He joined the ECU family medicine faculty in 2001.
“I know Ricky has delighted in helping other faculty, residents and students, new to our area, understand the needs of our patients,” reads his nominator’s letter. “He has been a steady source of education and inspiration for medical students and residents, fellows and junior faculty. He has been our go-to person for cultural competence and humility training for residents.”
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