GREENVILLE, N.C. – Radio listeners will once again help make a big change for kids during the 29th annual Music for Miracles radiothon March 26-27. The radiothon raises funds to help sick and injured children in eastern North Carolina through Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) to benefit the James and Connie Maynard Children’s Hospital at ECU Health Medical Center and will air on 107.9 WNCT and all Inner Banks Media (IBX Media) radio stations including Talk 96.3 and 103.7; Oldies 94.1 and 102.7; and 94.3 The Game.
The two-day radiothon raises funds to benefit the programs and services of Maynard Children’s Hospital, which serves pediatric inpatient and outpatient patients from 29 counties across eastern North Carolina. One hundred percent of the funds raised by ECU Health’s CMN program directly supports programs and services of Maynard Children’s Hospital.
“Once again, we are thrilled to have the radiothon on all our IBX Media stations to raise funds for James and Connie Maynard Children’s Hospital. It’s the highlight of our year to support the Children’s Hospital,” said Henry Hinton, president, Inner Banks Media. “I’ve personally had a grandson who needed care there, and it is a true blessing for all of eastern North Carolina to have it here. We’re looking forward to two exciting days and hope everyone will participate as they are able.”
In 1998, the first radiothon raised $5,400. Last year, the radiothon raised more than $113,000. Thanks to the loyal listeners of 107.9 and the dedicated radio staff and personalities, the event has raised more than $4 million to date. At Maynard Children’s Hospital, these funds have been used to purchase life-saving medical equipment and diversionary items for kids, provide team member and patient education and to help build new facilities.
“The radiothon continues to be one of our most impactful annual traditions, and we are deeply grateful for the steadfast dedication of the 107.9 WNCT team and everyone at Inner Banks Media,” said Elise Ironmonger, director of programs for the ECU Health Foundation. “Their commitment to broadcasting live for 12 hours across two consecutive days, supported by countless hours of planning and behind-the-scenes coordination is truly remarkable. This event is made possible through the partnership of hospital leaders, team members and, above all, the courageous miracle children and families who generously share their stories. We invite everyone to tune in and be inspired by the hope and healing this event helps make possible.”
The entire 24 hours of the radiothon will be broadcast live on 107.9 from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. both Thursday and Friday, with the other stations broadcasting intermittently throughout the two days. To give, please call 1-800-673-5437 (1-800-673-KIDS) or visit www.GiveToCMN.com.
Pirates vs. Cancer, a student‑driven initiative dedicated to supporting children and families facing cancer, is set to host its annual spring fundraising event on April 10 at the ECU Health Sciences Campus. Led by medical, dental and allied health students, Pirates vs. Cancer brings together the entire health sciences community for a day of giving, celebration and solidarity with pediatric patients.
The spring event will feature hair donations, professional haircuts provided by a local barber, raffles, and a variety of family‑friendly activities. Students have also secured support from local businesses, including the donation of a bounce house and supplies for bracelet‑making and face painting so pediatric patients can join in the fun. The American Red Cross, National Bone Marrow Registry and Rylee’s Army will be in attendance, too.
“We really want this to be a fun, uplifting day where students, families and the community can come together for a meaningful cause,” said Sebastian Williams, president of the Pirates vs. Cancer leadership team and a first-year medical student (M1). “Our goal is to raise funds, raise awareness and show our pediatric patients that they have an entire Pirate Nation behind them.”
For Williams, fundraising for pediatric cancer patients is a full circle moment. At age six, he was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and spent three years undergoing chemotherapy. Now, more than a decade later, he is studying to be an oncologist and helping kids whose circumstances are all too familiar.
“I understand what these kids are going through,” Williams said. “It’s a huge, life-changing event. You have to go through chemo treatment for months, for years, and you can’t do the same things that other kids do. I had to quit all my sports. I had to quit other activities because my body just couldn’t handle it, my immune system was basically not functional.
“Doing an event like Pirates vs. Cancer is a rewarding experience for me. I can give these kids what I wish I had. This is the whole reason I want to become a physician and continue this endeavor to help children with cancer.”
One hundred percent of the funds raised by Pirates vs. Cancer is donated to ECU Health Foundation to benefit programs at the James and Connie Maynard Children’s Hospital at ECU Health Medical Center. Some of those programs have included camps and other programs specifically designed to provide pediatric patients with childhood experiences.
Among the most tangible examples of the group’s efforts is on the Maynard Children’s Hospital’s second floor. In 2024, Pirates vs. Cancer funds were designated to renovate a playroom and fill it with toys, games, crafts and technology that help patients take their mind off procedures and just be kids.
“We were able to almost double the size of this playroom for these kids and add so many more interactive features,” said Elise Ironmonger, director of programs at the ECU Health Foundation. “It’s really a place of respite for them when they are facing treatment for months, weeks at a time.”
Pirates Vs. Cancer was founded by Brody School of Medicine students in 2017 and has raised over $176,000 in the past 10 years. Leadership and participants are composed of students, faculty and staff from the School of Medicine, School of Dental Medicine, College of Nursing, College of Allied Health Sciences and the Undergraduate campus. Together, they raise funds that directly impact their community.
“It’s wonderful to see where the money physically impacts the kids’ experience at the hospital,” Williams said.
Pirates vs. Cancer continues to grow as a signature philanthropic effort on the Health Sciences Campus, uniting future health professionals around a shared commitment to compassion, service and advocacy for children battling cancer.
Local businesses have been invited to sponsor the event, with a March 20 deadline for inclusion on event T‑shirts and promotional materials. While sponsorships for the spring event are closing soon, community members are welcome to donate at any time, and businesses will have additional opportunities to support the larger Pirates vs. Cancer fall event later this year.
To donate, please visit: https://give.ecuhealthfoundation.org/campaign/2026-pirates-vs-cancer/c758778
ECU Health, Safe Kids Pitt County, Pitt County Council on Aging and the Pitt County Sheriff’s Office helped Pitt County residents do a little spring cleaning during the 16th annual Operation Medicine Drop on Friday, March 13, at the Pitt County Council on Aging. The annual event gives residents the opportunity to drop off unused, unwanted or expired medication for safe disposal.
Operation Medicine Drop marks ECU Health’s commitment to educating the public about the importance of safe disposal.
More than 67,000 children go to an emergency room for medicine poisoning each year, according to a study by Safe Kids Worldwide.
Ellen Walston, injury prevention program coordinator and Safe Kids Pitt County coordinator at ECU Health, said the hosts gathered 244 pounds of medication. She said the partnership is essential to keep those medications out of the hands of small children.
“Local law enforcement agencies maintain drop boxes for people to dispose of their medication year-round,” Walston said. “It’s convenient and we don’t want people to hold onto them. We want them to dispose of them either at our annual event in March or throughout the year at a permanent drop box.”
Operation Medicine Drop serves as a reminder that those resources are available to the public.
“It also protects our waterways,” Walston said. “People tend to flush medications, and we do not want them to do that. We want safe disposal.”
ECU Health also partnered with the Pitt County Council on Aging to help residents shred their unwanted documents. Volunteers from the North Carolina Department of Transportation helped guide a long line of vehicles to a paper shredding truck where waste bins full of documents were able to be safely disposed of.
Since 2010, Operation Medicine Drop campaigns have successfully incinerated more than 422 million pills collected through permanent drop boxes and more than 4,600 events across North Carolina. Operation Medicine Drop is a partnership between Safe Kids North Carolina, the North Carolina Department of Justice, the Drug Enforcement Agency and the State Bureau of Investigation.
On Feb. 6, ECU Health, the James and Connie Maynard Children’s Hospital at ECU Health Medical Center and EastCare celebrated the addition of a new pediatric helicopter that will provide rapid, safe critical care to the communities we serve. As the state’s first dedicated pediatric medical transport helicopter, the aircraft will provide expert care while performing hospital-to-hospital transfers, and it took the work of many team members to bring this aircraft to our system.
Growing the team
Elaine Cudnik, executive director of Children’s Advanced Clinical Practice, joined ECU Health in 2021 and worked in children’s medical transport. At the time, they primarily served very young children, but the team had their sights set on serving a larger pediatric population. That’s when she partnered with Jessica Yelverton, assistant director of Children’s Advanced Practice, who joined the team as a flight nurse in 2016 and returned to assist the team as a neonatal nurse practitioner.
“We inherited a tiny team of two full-time team members and one part-time team member, and they were working hard to support the neonatal population,” Cudnik said.
Yelverton established a robust onboarding program for team members. They both focused on acquiring specialty equipment and providing education on advanced care procedures, and they amped up their recruitment for new team members, which grew their team from five full-time employees to 17.
“Elaine and I had a vision for children’s transport,” Yelverton said. “We worked on getting the right team members, and then we looked to expand from smaller children and neonates to full pediatric care for pediatric patients.”
Once they had the team members in place, Yelverton said they partnered with EastCare to take the lead in transporting pediatric patients. As a result, they saw a significant increase in the number of patients they served, from 300 transports in 2021 to almost 1,200 in 2025.
Closing the distance for rural care
With that growth came new challenges, including how to best serve the large, rural population of eastern North Carolina.
“As we transported more and more patients, we tracked volumes, dispatch times and turnaround times,” Yelverton said. “We’re unique to our region because we serve such an expansive area. If we go to the communities farther out, that could take up to six hours roundtrip by ground. We were borrowing helicopters from EastCare and it quickly became clear we needed a helicopter of our own.”
Cudnik said they collected data to show the number of patients served and the need for a helicopter.
“Now we won’t need to borrow helicopters from EastCare as often, which takes them out of their rotation. It means we can help patients who need quick, critical care and fewer patients will have to wait for transport. That quick turnaround will be amazing,” said Angela Hollis, a flight nurse with the Children’s Transport Team. As the team’s longest-tenured nurse, Angela focuses on quality of care.
Erik Rispoli, the assistant manager of the Children’s Transport Team, has been instrumental in the development and orientation of incoming EMTs.
With a background in the PICU, Heather Hopkins, a flight nurse with the Children’s Transport Team, has helped grow the pediatric intensive care operations sharing protocol and experience she gained from other programs.
Cudnik frequently mentioned their “tight knit” team, and how their collaboration ensured they now have the best equipment to provide care to an underserved population.
“This is important, especially for rural health care,” she said. “Part of our Mission, Vision and Values is to be a model for rural health care in eastern North Carolina, to set the bar. By allowing people to receive care in their community hospitals but still provide specialty services they can get to quickly, it shows the commitment ECU Health and Maynard Children’s Hospital have to our communities.”
The annual Jell-O toss at the James and Connie Maynard Children’s Hospital at ECU Health Medical Center brought patients, families and care teams together on a warm and sunny afternoon for one of the hospital’s sweet traditions. Held each year during Child Life Month, the event gives young patients a chance to step outside their rooms, enjoy the fresh air and – most importantly – cover their doctors, nurses and care teams in brightly colored Jell-O.
Child Life Specialist Lexie Whitehurst said the day is designed to give kids a break from the stress of treatment while helping them connect with their care teams in a different way.
“It’s just a really fun way for our patients to come out and blow off some steam and really enjoy this beautiful weather that we are lucky to have today,” said Whitehurst. “It’s very therapeutic for not only our patients, but for our staff members, to not always just be the doctors or the nurses or the medical staff, but to engage in the play.”
Whitehurst said events like this are central to the child life team’s mission.
“These kids go through a lot,” she said. “So our goal is just to bring smiles and joy to their faces as they are going through so much.”
One of those kids is Landon Cherry, a 16-year-old patient who visits the hospital frequently for pain associated with sickle cell disease. Despite the challenges of his condition, he arrived at the Jell-O toss full of energy and humor.
“I was very excited… because it’s, like, you know, it’s throwing Jell-O,” he said. “Who really gets the time to throw Jell-O?”
For Cherry, the event was more than just fun.
“It might be like a venting mechanism,” he explained. “Throwing the Jell-O’s like throwing your frustration out the window… using it to vent my frustration of being stuck in a hospital room.”
Landon’s mother, Franchesica Veale, said the event meant everything to him.
“He called me last night. He was like, ‘Mom, I’m going to throw Jell-O at the doctors,’” Veale said. “He was really, really excited.”
Veale said Landon has always had a unique personality, something she noticed from the moment he first spoke at 18 months old.
“His first words were, ‘Hey Mom, that is a red octagon with the word stop on it. S-T-O-P, stop Mommy,’” she recalled. “He’s just a special guy, and whoever he meets, he leaves an impact on them.”
Veale added that Cherry also has high-functioning autism, something she considers a strength.
“I really feel like that is his superpower,” Veale said. “It helps contribute to his personality and how he is today.”
Even though he has been managing significant pain during this hospital stay, Veale said he rarely lets it show.
“He’s such a champ,” she said. “Even if he’s hurting, he won’t let you know it.”
Cherry’s siblings joined in on the fun too. His brother and sister joined him in throwing Jell-O at the volunteers while his mom watched on with a smile on her face.
“When he told me about today, I made sure I was here for him today – we all were – to help support him,” said Veale.
Carteret Health Care, ECU Health and the James and Connie Maynard Children’s Hospital at ECU Health Medical Center are pleased to announce a new partnership that brings Newborn and Pediatric Hospitalist services directly to families in Carteret County. This collaboration highlights both organizations’ shared commitment to ensuring children have access to high-quality care, as Carteret Health Care becomes the only hospital outside of the ECU Health system to host ECU Health Newborn and Pediatric Hospitalists on-site.
The partnership expands access to specialized newborn and pediatric inpatient care close to home—an important priority for families in the community. Through this collaboration, Carteret Health Care is helping ensure children who require hospitalization can receive high-quality, expert care locally, reducing the need for families to travel outside the county whenever possible.
“Our partnership with ECU Health to bring dedicated Newborn and Pediatric Hospitalists to Carteret County represents a significant leap forward in our mission to provide specialized care close to home,” said Dr. Clyde Brooks, VP of Medical Affairs. “By having these specialists on-site 24/7, we are ensuring that local families have immediate access to high-quality inpatient pediatric care. This collaboration not only supports our local pediatricians but also provides parents the peace of mind that comes with knowing advanced medical support is available right here in our community.”
ECU Health Newborn and Pediatric Hospitalists will provide dedicated inpatient care for infants and children admitted to Carteret Health Care. This approach allows local pediatricians to continue focusing on outpatient care and long-term relationships with their patients, while Hospitalists manage inpatient needs, ensuring seamless coordination and continuity of care.
“ECU Health and Maynard Children’s Hospital are committed to improving the health and well-being of eastern North Carolina—that’s our mission, which extends to supporting other health systems who also serve patients in the region, said Dr. Matthew Ledoux, pediatrician in chief, ECU Health, chair of pediatrics, Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University. “We’re delighted to partner with Carteret Health Care to offer our expertise, provide alignment with the highest standards of clinical care and help ensure patients and families receive the right level of care and support.”
For Carteret County families, the impact of this partnership is significant. More children can remain in the community for care, staying close to family, school, and support systems during hospitalization. When higher-acuity care is required, transfers to ECU Health and Maynard Children’s Hospital can be streamlined, helping ensure timely access to advanced pediatric services.
Greenville, N.C. — ECU Health, the James and Connie Maynard Children’s Hospital at ECU Health Medical Center and EastCare today announced the arrival of North Carolina’s first medical transport helicopter dedicated solely to pediatric patients. This milestone investment ensures that children across eastern North Carolina—especially those in rural and underserved communities—have rapid, safe access to the highly specialized, critical care they need.
Designed as a fully equipped mobile intensive care unit (ICU), the new aircraft brings advanced subspecialty expertise directly to the region’s sickest and most vulnerable children. Its capabilities allow care to begin the moment transport starts, reducing critical time to treatment for patients who often live far from specialty services.
“One third of the children we transport are premature or neonatal infants, many of whom need highly-specialized care,” said Dr. Matthew Ledoux, pediatrician in chief at Maynard Children’s Hospital and chair of pediatrics at the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University.
“This new helicopter gives us the ability to reach these babies faster, stabilize them sooner and deliver ICU level care from the very first moments of transport. It is truly a game changer for pediatric and neonatal outcomes in eastern North Carolina.”
The helicopter carries specialized neonatal and pediatric equipment—including ventilators designed for the smallest patients—and features a spacious, child friendly interior. The environment allows clinical teams to deliver both intensive medical treatment and developmentally supportive care in a space where children can feel safe and comforted. Much of the equipment in the aircraft was funded by generous donors through the ECU Health Foundation.
Used exclusively for hospital to hospital transfers, the helicopter expands regional capacity and strengthens resource allocation across ECU Health’s service area. The aircraft also enables providers to fly out to support deliveries and neonatal resuscitations, bringing critical expertise directly to local hospitals when seconds matter.
“This investment reflects ECU Health’s commitment to access and exceptional care for every child in our region,” said Brian Floyd, chief operating officer, ECU Health. “Families should not have to travel long distances or face barriers to receive specialized pediatric services just because they live in a rural community. By placing this resource in eastern North Carolina, we’re bringing life-saving care closer to home and advancing our mission to improve the health and well-being of those we serve.”
This new helicopter builds on a decade long legacy of life-saving care provided by EastCare and Maynard Children’s Hospital as this year marks the 10-year anniversary of ECU Health’s children’s transport team. By significantly reducing transport times and increasing access to advanced care, the new helicopter is poised to improve outcomes for thousands of children across eastern North Carolina.
To learn more about the new helicopter and access images and video, please visit: go.ecuhealth.org/helicopter
ECU Health Medical Center’s shadowing program offers high school and college students an eye opening introduction to a wide range of health care careers. Participation has grown significantly over the past year, reflecting students’ enthusiasm for real world experience and team members’ commitment to providing meaningful opportunities.
Offered through Workforce Development, students are able to observe clinical environments, interact with care teams and connect classroom learning to real patient care. It’s a chance to gain firsthand insight into how their future careers could take shape.
“The shadowing experience gives students clarity,” said Nancy Turner, workforce development consultant. “It helps them understand what different roles look like in practice and how much impact our team members have on patients and families every day.”
Though opportunities span many departments, frequently requested areas include pediatrics, ultrasound and trauma. Students unsure where to begin receive guidance based on their interests.
For many, the experience confirms their career goals.
Serena Petway, who shadowed in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and Medical Oncology, said the program strengthened her desire to work at ECU Health.
“My mentors answered all of my questions and I felt comfortable interacting with patients,” Petway said. “I would love to work at Maynard Children’s Hospital after I graduate.”
Others discover new possibilities entirely. Mary Morgan Beeman described her experience in Vertigo Rehabilitation as transformative.
“I learned about a specialty I didn’t even know existed,” she said.
Hands-on observation is especially powerful for students early in their training. For nursing student Addison Parker, the program provided memorable and formative experiences. Enrolled in the ENC Regionally Increasing Baccalaureate Nurses (RIBN) Program through Pitt Community College and ECU, Parker shadowed in Pediatrics, the NICU and Labor and Delivery.
“I was able to see a live birth, a postpartum hemorrhage and an epidural being given,” Parker said. “It was breathtaking. I can picture myself working as a Labor and Delivery nurse at the bedside.”
The experience also broadened her understanding of nursing.
“Nurses are integrated into every aspect of health care,” she said. “Seeing different units showed me how varied and specialized nursing roles can be.”
For ECU student Karleigh Rouse, shadowing reinforced both her career choice and her connection to ECU Health. A child life major on the pre-occupational therapy track, Rouse shadowed across multiple inpatient settings, including Pediatrics Acute Care and special care NICU.
“One of the biggest highlights was seeing Occupational Therapy in the NICU,” Rouse said. “I didn’t realize how much of a difference OT can make, even at birth. The therapists were some of the most empathetic, hardworking and caring individuals I had ever met. Seeing how they made such a difference in the patients’ lives stuck out to me the most.”
Her mentors echoed her enthusiasm.
“Karleigh was a wonderful shadow student. She was very attentive to our patients and never afraid to ask questions. I could tell she was very passionate about OT within just one week,” said Megan Eakes, occupational therapy assistant I.
Rouse said the program reinforced her passion for hospital-based care and solidified her long-term career goal.
“It’s so important to shadow and to see what your everyday life would be like if you pursued a particular field, and ECU Health is the best place to do so. Throughout my shadowing, I discovered that I am most interested in working in a hospital environment and it reinforced that occupational therapy is the right path for me,” she said.
Feedback from students consistently highlights welcoming teams, supportive mentors and meaningful exposure to patient care. For many, shadowing serves as their introduction to ECU Health’s collaborative, mission-driven culture.
For Turner, that impact reflects the program’s greater purpose.
“Shadowing not only allows students to make informed decisions about their careers but it also allows them to see ECU Health as a place where they can learn, grow and eventually work,” she said.
The shadowing program is open to high school students and older who have completed at least one health sciences course to ensure participants are familiar with basic medical terminology.
Students can learn more and submit shadowing requests through the ECU Health Careers website.
David Roberts’ journey to becoming a NICU nurse at ECU Health began when he was just 10 years old. He spent weekends and summers helping his grandmother and cousins care for his grandfather. When his grandfather later transitioned to a nursing home, David witnessed the compassion of nurses — an experience that left a lasting impression and planted the seed for a future in health care.
Early experience through HSA
David joined the Health Sciences Academy (HSA) in middle school, where he explored various medical careers through hands-on experiences. He volunteered at the same nursing home where his grandfather had received care, shadowed in the emergency department and connected with medical students.
“The variety helped me see the full picture of health care and figure out what I wanted to pursue,” he said.
As a high school senior, David was one of only eight students in the county accepted into HSA’s internship program. He was placed in the cardiac catheterization lab — a personally significant assignment, as both his father and grandmother were experiencing heart issues at the time. “While I was interning in the cath lab, my grandmother had a heart attack and was brought in. I was able to help care for her until she was taken into the procedure room. It was a scary moment, but watching the ECU Health team in action was reassuring. One of the doctors said, ‘I treat every patient like they’re my own grandmother,’ and I told him, ‘Well, this actually is my grandmother!’ He took great care of her. I was even able to be there after her procedure and help her get back home.”
That experience solidified David’s desire to pursue nursing. After shadowing a nurse practitioner and performing CPR for the first time at age 17, he was hooked. “Once you get past the nerves of doing something for the first time, it gets easier,” he said.
College, family and a renewed focus
Motivated by those early experiences, David enrolled at East Carolina University (ECU) as a nursing major, but he soon realized he wasn’t fully prepared for the program’s demands. Wanting to stay in health care, he shifted his focus and earned a bachelor’s degree in family and community services. During that time, he interned at the James and Connie Maynard Children’s Hospital with the Family Support Network, which supports families of children with special health care needs.
While attending ECU, David also worked for ECU Transit, a job he continued for three years after graduation. It was during college that he met his wife, and after they married, he began to reflect on his long-term goals. The interest to return to clinical care resurfaced. “I realized it’s not about being the smartest — it’s about discipline and work ethic,” he said.
In 2021, David was accepted into the nursing program at Wilson Community College. Just two weeks into the program, he and his wife learned they were expecting their first child. He completed one semester before stepping back to prioritize his growing family. “It was a hard decision. I was proud to have finally made it into nursing school, but I knew I needed to be there for my family.”
Their daughter was born via cesarean section at ECU Health Medical Center, and David was deeply moved by the care his wife and newborn received. “The nurses were fantastic. They were so supportive of our family, and it made me think about nursing in Labor and Delivery.”
“Without HomeGrown, I couldn’t have done it…”
David began exploring opportunities at ECU Health and discovered the HomeGrown program, which supports team members pursuing their first degree while continuing to work. The program offered the flexibility he needed to return to health care. In 2022, he joined ECU Health’s Behavioral Health unit. Soon after, he reconnected with Workforce Development Director Lisa Lassiter, whom he had met during his time in the Health Sciences Academy. With her encouragement, he applied to Pitt Community College’s nursing program and was accepted in 2023, followed by his acceptance into the HomeGrown program the next semester. “Without HomeGrown, I couldn’t have done it. The support from Lisa Lassiter and Doris Hill (Workforce Development Consultant with ECU Health) helped me get through it.”
After gaining experience in Behavioral Health, David transitioned to the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit (CVICU), where he worked for a year and a half. Following a clinical rotation in Labor and Delivery and shadowing NICU nurses, he knew he had found his calling. “It reminded me of when my daughter was born and how supported we felt. I wanted to be that support for other families and help these babies.”
Although his first attempt to join the NICU team at a hiring event didn’t lead to an offer, David remained optimistic. He reached out directly to unit managers to express his interest.
At the time, he was still working in the CVICU and enjoying the role. “I told myself, ‘By the time graduation hits, I’m going to stick with whatever unit I’m in.’” But in early May, he received a call from a recruiter: a NICU position had opened, and the manager – who remembered his outreach – wanted to speak with him. He interviewed with the team and received an offer on May 9, three days before graduation. He officially began his role as a NICU nurse on June 16.
Reflecting on his journey, David credits the Health Sciences Academy, HomeGrown and his family for helping him reach his goal. “It’s been a long road, but every step brought me closer to where I’m meant to be.”
Looking ahead and practical advice for those interested in health care
Looking ahead, David plans to stay in health care and will start his RN to BSN (Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing) this fall at ECU. “I’d like to become a nurse practitioner. I’m hoping to shadow some NPs and see if I can work in a neonatal unit. I also like the idea of earning a master’s in education so I can teach others about health care.”
David offered advice for students considering a career in health care. “If you can shadow someone, do it. You can hear about it, but you don’t really know until you experience it. And to any kids out there – especially boys – nursing is a female-dominated field, but that’s OK. I’ve found a real sense of purpose in what I do. When you work in health care, whether as a nurse or in another role, you’re helping people through some of their hardest times. That’s powerful.”
Across ECU Health Medical Center and the James and Connie Maynard Children’s Hospital, three dogs named Clive, Erving and Sam are leaving pawprints in the heart of patients, their families and team members alike. Whether in rehabilitation or pediatrics, these four-legged friends bring joy, motivation and emotional support to patients and their families.
Clive, an eight-year-old golden retriever and lab mix, has been working in the medical center’s rehabilitation department for more than three years. Originally trained through Canine Companions, a non-profit organization that trains and matches service dogs, the program released Clive due to his anxiety riding in cars. but retained all his training and social skills. His puppy raiser, Tanya Bowen, who serves as an outpatient rehab supervisor, connected with recreational therapist Kasey Shue, and found a way to put Clive’s training and social skills to use in therapy work. He typically works two days a week and specializes in emotional support, stress relief and anxiety management. His gentle demeanor makes him ideal for comforting patients and staff.
Shue describes him as a “snuggly bug,” and though he’s older and slower, Clive’s presence continues to make a powerful impact.
Erving, a golden retriever and the newest member of the rehab team, joined in May of 2025. Also raised through Canine Companions in Florida, Erving underwent professional training in Orlando and now works full-time with recreational therapist Kristen Jones. With 40 commands under his belt and certification through Assistance Dog International, Erving supports patients in physical and occupational therapy. His ability to retrieve, tug and interact with patients helps challenge their balance, build strength and boost motivation. Patients often find themselves more willing to participate in exercises when Erving and Clive are involved.
“One patient we had arrived at ECU Health’s rehab unit experiencing pain in his legs and physical therapy was proving difficult,” said Shue. “He didn’t want to walk. The pain was too much, and he was resistant to every attempt to get him moving.”
Then Clive entered the room.
The patient had dogs at home and immediately responded to Clive’s familiar energy.
“With Clive, he agreed to walk around the gym, something he hadn’t been willing to do before,” said Shue. “The pain was still there, but Clive helped him push through it.”
Then there was a patient recovering from a stroke. She couldn’t speak and hadn’t smiled since arriving.
“After a session with Clive, she smiled,” said Shue. “Her face lit up. When the session ended, she pointed to Clive and then to her bed because she wanted him to stay.”
As Clive curled up beside her, the patient’s daughter cried, the doctors cried, and so did the therapist.
“It was a breakthrough moment, thanks to Clive,” said Shue.
For one young girl with Guillain-Barré Syndrome, Clive and Erving demonstrated how service dogs could support independence. She practiced real-life tasks with Erving like opening doors and pushing buttons and left excited to begin the process of getting a dog of her own.
According to Jones and Shue, even the staff feel the impact. On a day when a patient coded and did not survive, Erving was there to comfort the doctors who had administered CPR. His quiet support helped them process the grief.
A few steps away from rehab in Maynard Children’s Hospital resides Sam, a black golden retriever, lab and poodle mix trained through Canine Assistants, another non-profit organization that raises hospital facility dogs and personal services dogs. Her arrival was the result of nearly eight years of advocacy and planning by Child Life specialists Ashton Ayers and Chelse Smith, along with colleagues Jaymi Mendoza and Christy Denius. ECU Health Foundation provided the funding to bring Sam on board. After years of research and collaboration with the ECU Health Foundation, funding was secured and Sam officially joined the team in November 2023. Sam was matched with handlers Ayers and Smith after they were vetted through the organization and the hospital.
Ayers and Smith helped build the facility dog program from the ground up. Ayers was inspired by a facility dog handler who spoke at a child life conference, while Smith had firsthand experience with pet therapy and saw its impact in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) settings.
Sam now supports pediatric patients, including those in the ICU, offering comfort during procedures, emotional support during difficult moments and motivation for children facing medical challenges.
“We have a 16-year-old oncology patient,” said Smith. “He was slow to warm up to the hospital environment, but he definitely bonded with Sam. He met Sam when he was newly diagnosed with cancer.”
With his particular diagnosis, it was very important for him to get up and walk for his growth and healing, and to get him out of the room for his emotional state also, according to Smith.
“His care team told us he needed to get out of his room, but he didn’t want to,” said Smith.
Smith and Ayers brought over Sam and offered for him to take Sam outside and throw the ball for her. He surpassed all of his physical therapy goals that day and got to go outside and play with Sam.
“He came back last week and the first thing he said was, ‘I really missed Sam,’” said Ayers. “That’s always the first thing when he’s here, he wants to see Sam immediately.”
Whether it is comforting a child, motivating a patient or supporting a grieving doctor, Clive, Erving and Sam are more than therapy dogs.
“I’ve had people walk by and say, ‘You have the best job in the hospital,’” Shue said. “And now it’s even better – because there are three of them.”