On Jan. 20, ECU Health had the opportunity to reflect on the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in events across eastern North Carolina. In Greenville, two ECU Health leaders served as speakers in community events.
On Monday morning, Brian Floyd, chief operating officer of ECU Health, served as the keynote speaker during the Community Unity Breakfast, hosted by the Greenville-Pitt County Chamber of Commerce. Later in the day, Dr. Michael Waldrum, chief executive officer of ECU Health, sat on a panel of community leaders for a Celebrating the Life & Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. event at Jarvis United Methodist Church.
During the 29th annual Community Unity Breakfast, which ECU Health sponsors along with other local organizations, Floyd offered remarks focused on the power of a small group of people making a big difference in their community and across the world.
Floyd reflected that Dr. King’s work brought an awakening of the nation’s conscience and inspired others to advance civic causes and responsibilities. He related this back to the work of local leaders decades ago who saw troubling trends in the health of eastern North Carolinians.
“These people saw that and they gathered together and wondered, ‘What can we do about it?’ The idea is: let’s build access to care by creating physicians to serve in eastern North Carolina. They petitioned the state and they fought hard to get the right thing done, too,” Floyd said. “They took what little bit they had to offer and said we’ll take a little bit of this hospital and a little bit of this university and a whole lot of our interest, and people taking loans out to begin this process and petition the state to build what is now the Brody School of Medicine and what has become a national leader in academic medicine here at our hospital.”
Floyd said over the years at ECU Health Medical Center, hundreds of physicians and thousands of team members have served the community and transformed the once small county hospital into one of the nation’s largest academic medical centers. The community also had a vision for the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, which trains the most of North Carolina’s primary care physicians today.
He said the success stories of ECU Health Medical Center and the Brody School of Medicine are because of people who had the courage to step up and make a difference in their community.
“People who have the courage to do something probably don’t even realize where it’s taking the future,” Floyd said. “If we have the courage to solve health care disparities or try to address them, we use what we have. Just a handful of people can put in motion something that really can be transformational.”
He closed by reflecting on Dr. King’s words, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’”
Floyd asked those in attendance to avoid becoming complacent in seeking change and advocating for the well-being of others. He said he’s proud of the work of 15,00-plus team members across the organization taking action each day with a commitment to improving the health and well-being of eastern North Carolina.
Greenville, N.C. – ECU Health is proud to announce it has earned system-wide accreditation from the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer (ACS CoC), marking a significant milestone in the organization’s commitment to delivering world-class cancer care across eastern North Carolina. ACS CoC accreditation is awarded to institutions that demonstrate compliance with rigorous standards designed to improve survival and quality of life for patients with cancer.
“As a rural academic health system serving eastern North Carolina, ECU Health recognizes the importance of bringing high-quality cancer care close to home for the 1.4 million people we serve,” said Brian Floyd, chief operating officer, ECU Health. “We are proud of the leadership team, physicians and team members whose dedication made this achievement possible. Their collective efforts underscore ECU Health’s mission to improve the health and well-being of eastern North Carolina.”
ECU Health Cancer Care delivers standardized, high-quality services across all System hospitals and clinics. ECU Health Cancer Care Network includes ECU Health Medical Center, ECU Health Edgecombe Hospital, ECU Health Beaufort Hospital and ECU Health Roanoke-Chowan Hospital. Each location aligned on shared goals, projects and outreach initiatives, including cancer screenings to improve community health and well-being. Patients benefit from standardized care protocols across the system, multidisciplinary participation in cancer conferences, a collaborative cancer registry that enhances data-driven care and access to highly trained specialists in Greenville working seamlessly with care teams across the region.
“This system accreditation means patients across our region can expect the same high standards of cancer care no matter where they seek treatment,” said Dr. Emmanuel Zervos, executive director of cancer services at ECU Health, and professor at the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University. “It ensures that advanced treatments, multidisciplinary expertise and supportive resources are consistently available close to home. Most importantly, it gives patients and families confidence that their care is coordinated, compassionate and designed to achieve the best possible outcomes.”
Accredited programs must undergo comprehensive evaluation and review to ensure patients receive a full continuum of cancer care services, from prevention and early detection to diagnosis, treatment, survivorship and supportive resources. This accomplishment reflects the strong collaboration across the ECU Health system. The initiative was led by physicians and leaders across the health system to establish a state-of-the-art care model that unites specialists and resources across the region.
Casey Allen, a staff nurse IV at ECU Health Beaufort Hospital, was drawn to nursing – and working in oncology – after seeing many people in her family battle cancer. What she didn’t expect, however, was being diagnosed with cancer herself.
In October 2025, Casey attempted to donate blood but was told her lab counts were too low. Concerned, she called her primary care provider and further tests were needed. She went to the Marion L. Shepard Cancer Center in Washington, where she also worked, for blood tests, and in Greenville she received a bone marrow biopsy. The results: Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML).
AML is a rare cancer that affects bone marrow and blood. Approximately four in every 100,000 adults are diagnosed with AML every year, and although most are over the age of 60, it can affect younger adults or children.
“AML can be very aggressive,” said Jessica Hardin, Casey’s twin sister. Jessica is also a care manager and Medicare wellness nurse with ECU Health Family Medicine – Chocowinity and the multispecialty clinic in Belhaven.
Casey and Jessica grew up in Washington, and with their mother’s encouragement, they both chose to attend nursing school.
When Casey joined ECU Health, she encouraged Jessica to apply the next year, and they both worked on the same unit for a time.
“We worked on 3 West, but she worked the night shift and I worked the day shift,” Jessica recalled.
“We had to explain to our patients that we were twins and not one person on the floor all day. That was always a hoot.”
While Jessica transitioned from oncology to other roles in the system, Casey stayed on 3 West for several more years. She then transitioned to Marion L. Shepard in 2020.
“She is a dedicated oncology nurse,” Jessica said. “She just received her bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) from UNC Wilmington last year and has enjoyed working in radiation oncology at Marion Shepard.”
As twins, Jessica said she and Casey have “been together since the womb,” and that hasn’t changed as they both progressed through their careers and lives.
“We went to school together, and now we live close to each other,” Jessica shared. “Casey is a great mom of two kids, and she is brilliant. She strives to be better and better every year, and she pushes me even though I just go with the flow.”
Support from the community
Jessica said the rapid testing and diagnosis Casey received from ECU Health helped her begin a path towards essential care. She also highlighted the supportive community that surrounds Casey, her family and Jessica.
“Our oncologists have been so great in Beaufort and Greenville,” Jessica said. “They support my sister and me and check up on us. Even physicians who graduated from medical school here and moved away keep in contact. Since we grew up in the same area we work, everyone knows us and wants her to be okay. The amount of calls and messages I get to check on her – it’s all day.”
Casey received a high-dose inpatient chemotherapy treatment, and once she is home, she will have labs drawn, symptom management and any required blood products at Marion L. Shepard. The hope is that once her bone marrow blast cell count is high enough, she can be put on a list for a bone marrow transplant.
“She’s receiving hardcore treatment and taking it like a champ. Because we’re identical twins, our bone marrow is too much alike so I can’t be a donor,” Jessica said. “So we have to hope for a match and then she’ll have to stay near the hospital for 100 days after the transplant because transplant patients can have a lot of complications. You’re like a newborn baby.”
Jessica said it was important for people to consider being a bone marrow or stem cell donor.
“You have to be between the ages of 18 and 35 to donate, and you can sign up to be tested. They make sure it’s safe for you to donate and help you through every step. It’s very easy.”
In the meantime, Jessica said her sister has been very positive.
“I don’t know where her strength comes from. I’m up nights crying. She hasn’t been able to see her kids and she’ll joke on the phone about her hair falling out. She Facetimes her family and sometimes gets to go outside for a picnic,” Jessica shared. “And she wants to get back to work. She told me, ‘I hate cancer and love the care I can provide for families. Cancer doesn’t discriminate and I hope I can come back to the field I love.’”
To learn more about how to be a bone marrow or stem cell donor, or about other ways you can help, visit the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) site (formerly Be the Match).
Greenville, NC – ECU Health is proud to announce it has been named a 2025 Human Experience (HX) Guardian of Excellence Award® winner in consumer experience by Press Ganey, the global leader in health care experience solutions and services. This award is part of Press Ganey’s annual ranking of the top hospitals and health systems in the country, according to performance in consumer experience.
“This recognition from Press Ganey is a powerful affirmation of our commitment to listening to our patients and constantly improving based on their insights,” said Dr. Julie Kennedy Oehlert, chief experience officer at ECU Health. “Being honored for excellence in consumer experience reflects the strength of the ECU Health brand in eastern North Carolina and affirms the trust our communities place in us. I am so proud of the compassion and dedication of our team members who deliver high-quality care to those who call eastern North Carolina home.”
The Press Ganey Human Experience Awards honor health care organizations that consistently lead in patient experience, employee and physician engagement, clinical quality and safety. As a winner of the Press Ganey HX Guardian of Excellence Award® ECU Health is in the top one percent of health care providers in consumer experience in the last year.
“As a mission-driven rural health care system, ECU Health is uniquely positioned to deliver compassionate, high-quality care to communities that often face barriers to access,” said Brian Floyd, chief operating officer at ECU Health. “This recognition from Press Ganey reflects the extraordinary commitment of our team members who work tirelessly to create meaningful patient experiences while advancing health equity across eastern North Carolina. It is a powerful testament to our work to improve the health and well-being of eastern North Carolina.”
Press Ganey reviews third-party ratings on platforms like Google, Healthgrades, WebMD, Sharecare and Vitals, and reviews the health care organization’s responsiveness to patient reviews addressing concerns. The 2025 awards are based on performance from Jan. 1, 2025, through May 31, 2025.
“ECU Health is showing what it truly means to deliver compassionate, person-centered care,” said Patrick T. Ryan, Chairman and CEO of Press Ganey. “Their deep commitment to both patients and caregivers is creating a culture where empathy drives action—and where people feel seen, heard, and supported. It’s a privilege to stand beside them on this journey.”
Ellen Walston, injury prevention program coordinator and Safe Kids Pitt County coordinator at ECU Health, had a busy start to 2025. As one of four Injury Prevention Coordinators with the Eastern Carolina Injury Prevention Program (ECIPP), Walston works with and supports local organizations, such as Safe Kids NC, the Transportation Public Health Leadership Program, the Vision Zero Institute, the Greenville Traffic Safety Taskforce and the Mid-East Tri County Rural Planning Organization – just to name a few.
“Every single time I go to meetings, conferences and events, it’s to celebrate ECU Health. I want people to know we are deeply passionate about preventing all injuries,” Walston said.
Working with and leading the community
One way Walston participates is through the Greenville Traffic Safety Taskforce, which was created when the then-Greenville police chief came to Walston and Sue Anne Pilgreen, manager of ECIPP and the Pediatric Asthma Program, with concerns about car crashes. The chief wanted to find ways to prevent these accidents and Walston was instrumental in establishing the taskforce. The multidisciplinary team became an official NC Vision Zero community after that – one of only 12 in the state.
“Ellen’s enthusiasm, drive and passion never cease to amaze me,” said Pilgreen. “She is gifted in many ways, but her ability to bring partners together to produce change is one of the things that really stands out. Ellen has been a key driver behind our traffic safety efforts and many of the environmental changes in Greenville.”
Vision Zero seeks to eliminate traffic fatalities and injuries by making improvements to roadways, policies and related systems. NC Vision Zero communities are selected to participate in intensive virtual and in-person training for three days to develop traffic safety projects in their communities, and Greenville’s taskforce quickly implemented strategies such as high-visibility crosswalks, modular medians and delineator systems in center turn lanes.
According to the NC Vision Zero website, “Greenville is now the leader in Vision Zero, not only in North Carolina, but nationally. The Greenville Traffic Safety Taskforce has earned one international, two national, and two state achievement awards for their improvements to roadway safety and strong community partnerships.”
Walston has presented on the taskforce’s successes and Vision Zero efforts at 16 state conferences, two international conferences and 11 national conferences over the past five years, with five of those conferences taking place in 2025.
In addition to her work with the taskforce and Vision Zero, Walston was invited by the NC Department of Transportation to join the Rural Planning Organization (RPO) for Pitt, Beaufort, and Martin counties.
“I represent the hospital and Pitt County,” Walston said. “There’s only one other planner from Pitt County. We are developing an action plan in hopes of receiving the Safe Streets and Roads for All grant to make traffic safety modifications. The action plan is the first step to complete for the funding process and multi-disciplinary leaders are chosen from their communities to provide oversight and feedback to the planning process.”
Walston was also recently appointed to the Transportation Public Health Leadership Program, which is a national collaboration among five states to identify key leaders in public health that are making a difference in transportation safety. All teams will convene at the Lifesavers Highway Safety Conference in April 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland.
“Our participation in this leadership initiative is a way to show people ECU Health is focused on the community as well as patient care,” she said.
Representing ECU Health
Walston said that at many of the conferences she attends, she’s approached by others looking to partner with or learn more about ECU Health’s commitment to safety.
“In February, I presented at the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) Research and Innovation Conference. A professor from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte talked to me afterwards and said he would like to work with ECU Health. He had applied for funding from the National Science Foundation for a grant to study adolescent behavior with e-scooters, and he needed data. If he gets funding, I will be able to provide information and data to help him,” she said.
At another conference in March, Dr. J. Eason, the director of the NCDOT Historically Black Colleges and Universities Outreach Program, approached Walston about partnering with ECU Health by having their interns visit the Traffic Garden.
“The Winterville Traffic Garden is located at Hillcrest Park and was provided as a gift by Bike Walk NC with funding from the AARP Community Grant Program,” Walston said. “It is a hands-on learning environment for children and adults to interact with and learn rules of the road.”
Walston’s ongoing work was recognized in May of 2024 with a Safe Kids North Carolina Excellence in Injury Prevention by an Individual Award. In October, the ECIPP was recognized with the Martha Collar Partnership Award at the Safe Kids Worldwide International Childhood Injury Prevention Convention (PREVCON). She has no plans to slow down anytime soon.
“My job is to keep children out of the hospital,” she said. “I am so grateful for the ability to help the community. I want to be the voice of the East and be an ambassador for the hospital. I am always looking for ways to improve, because prevention is key, and we accomplish so much within the walls of our hospitals.”
Greenville, NC — 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.
“As we reflect on the past year, the milestones we’ve achieved are a testament to the dedication of our team members and the collaborative spirit that drives our mission forward,” said Dr. Michael Waldrum, ECU Health CEO and dean of the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University.
“From introducing new clinical programs to expanding academic pathways and strengthening community partnerships, our team’s work in 2025 continues to position ECU Health as a national model for rural health care. At a time when rural health care continues to face significant uncertainty, ECU Health remains deeply committed to building sustainable models of care that meet the evolving needs of eastern North Carolina and strengthen the health of our communities for years to come.”
A few key highlights from 2025 include the launch of pediatric robotic surgery and telecardiology in Edenton, the region’s first Intensive Cardiac Rehabilitation program and the expansion of the Pediatric Asthma Program into rural schools. ECU Health also opened the IMPACT Clinic for perinatal substance use care, reinforcing its commitment to compassionate, specialized care. The health system earned national recognition for quality, including five-star CMS ratings for Duplin and Bertie hospitals, top cardiac surgery rankings for the East Carolina Heart Institute and continued honors from the Get With The Guidelines® program.
More 2025 highlights include:
- The MOTHeRS Project received national recognition for advancing maternal mental health care.
- The Health Sciences Academy expanded to four new locations, marking 20 years of academic excellence and workforce development.
- ECU Health welcomed its first class of neurology residents and celebrated 154 new Graduate Medical Education professionals entering the system.
- Fourteen graduates from the Brody School of Medicine matched to ECU Health Medical Center in March, highlighting the two organizations’ commitment to educating and training the next generation of rural physicians.
- ECU Health celebrated 40 years of EastCare transport.
- ECU Health nurses were honored for excellence, with a record 25 nurses named among the Great 100 Nurses of North Carolina.
- ECU Health celebrated 40 years of ECU Health Edgecombe Hospital.
To explore more milestones and highlights from 2025, visit ECUHealth.org/Year-in-Review.
The idea for Barbers for Life began in 2016, when ECU Health Edgecombe received a grant to expand prostate cancer awareness among African American men by offering educational materials in local barber shops.
Michele Cherry, the director of the Grants Office, helped establish the Edgecombe County Barbershop Partnership in 2017. A presentation from Dr. Caroline Ames, a urologist with ECU Health, revealed African American men in Edgecombe County were not receiving prostate cancer screenings and thus being diagnosed with late-stage prostate cancer, resulting in high mortality; this presentation served as the inspiration for the program. The partnership was also modeled on the evidence-based, research-tested Prostate Health Awareness Project, as noted by the National Cancer Institute.
“Michele and her team focused on reaching men in an environment that was comfortable to them,” said Amy Dixon, manager of marketing and volunteer services at ECU Health Edgecombe Hospital. “The barbers at their local barbershops were the best option to get the men to really listen and ask questions.”
The response to the program was impressive.
Seven local barbershops and 11 barbers were involved in the program. In the program’s first quarter of being implemented, barbers educated 193 men on prostate cancer awareness and 44 of those men were screened, with one individual diagnosed with prostate cancer.
The participating barbers expressed an interest in learning more about other men’s health topics, as well as providing information about the Affordable Care Act.
Despite the program’s success, COVID-19 kept people away from public places and the program dissolved. However, said Amy. “It was always the goal to revive the program as we acknowledge the impact the Edgecombe County Barbershop Partnership had on our community.”
Reviving the program
Charmaine Reeder, Community Health Engagement coordinator, said they are working with Kelly Spivey, the coordinator of Community Health Improvement, among others, to “breathe life back into this program, and it’s been a collaboration of both Edgecombe hospital and [ECU Health] Medical Center.”
“I suggested we connect to men through barbershops, and they told me they used to have this program before COVID,” Kelly said. “I met with Michele and she shared her information and ideas. That helped us determine who wanted to be involved again as well as find new connections.”
The program’s goal is to have barbers initiate conversations about healthy lifestyle choices and wellness screenings for prostate cancer, testicular cancer, hypertension, diabetes, mental health and other health concerns. Kelly provides each barbershop with a resource guidebook with information and handouts about mental health, food, housing, substance abuse and health screenings, which men can then look through and select privately.
The team has also designed smocks that say “Barbers for Life,” which Kelly said initiates a conversation.
“People will see those smocks and wonder what Barbers for Life is,” she said. “They’ll start asking questions.”
Charmaine said this program helps Community Health target an audience that doesn’t normally seek out health care.
“Reaching out to men is a tough thing,” Charmaine said. “A lot of men say, ‘just give that information to my wife,’ or they’d rather not know. That’s why events like the Men’s Health Fair, the car show and Barbershop Real Talk are so important. They help us bring awareness and create opportunities to connect with men in spaces where they feel comfortable. Programs like Barbers for Life allow us to build trust and bridge a gap between health care and the community.”
Kelly said the team was eager to expand services into Pitt County, and so far, these new partnerships are successful.
“Recently, we relocated our prostate cancer screenings to the local Walmart and connected with the barbershops there,” Kelly shared. “We had a lot more traffic, at least 20 people who stopped by, and seven who were screened.”
The team also hosted a Lunch and Learn for barbers on Nov. 10, to provide information and tools, and they also plan to host wellness events, like mental health conversations, at the barbershops.
Dwight Flowers, the owner of Kingdom Kutz in Tarboro, North Carolina, was a part of the program when it first launched in 2017. He is thankful this program exists.
“There is nothing worse than being lost and you feel like no one is looking out for you,” he said. “This program says to our community that someone cares.”
Eric Barnes, the owner of Young Vision Barber Lounge in Greenville, is proud to join in on this program.
“This is an important initiative that focuses on men’s health,” Eric said. “A barbershop has always been more than just a place for a haircut; it’s a space where conversations happen, connections are built and trust is formed. By creating awareness and providing resources around these critical issues, the program not only supports the well-being of our customers, but also strengthens the health of our entire community.”
Kelly said that in the future, they would love to expand these services across the system.
“Right now we work with four barbershops in Tarboro and 10 in Greenville,” Kelly said. “We are working to keep things focused to have a big impact. It’s exponential – we help these barbers to have these conversations, and they see so many people in a day. Each man they help then takes that information back to his family and community.”
To learn more about the Barbers for Life program or the men’s health initiative, contact [email protected].
Celebrating Rural Health Day: The Beating Heart of Rural America’s Well-Being, Workforce and Economy
Dr. Michael Waldrum
Each year on National Rural Health Day, we pause to recognize the incredible contributions of those who provide care in rural communities. It is here, in rural America, where resilience, innovation, and compassion intersect to create lasting impacts in the lives of patients and their families.
But this day is more than a celebration of service. It’s a reminder that rural health care organizations are powerful engines of workforce development, economic vitality, and community well-being.
There’s no question that rural health care faces persistent challenges: workforce shortages, funding gaps, and infrastructure limitations. Yet, despite these realities, thousands of people across eastern North Carolina, and millions across the nation, go to work each day to care for others.
At ECU Health and the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, we understand rural health care because it is who we are and what we do. Our rural hospitals and clinics aren’t just a small part of a broader health system, they are the heart of our mission to improve the health and well-being of eastern North Carolina. Within their walls are the people who make our vision of creating the national model for academic rural health care a reality.
We are proud of our rural identity, and it guides us in everything we do. In towns where the nearest hospital may be miles away and the population sparse, rural health care providers are often the largest employers. Clinics, hospitals, and community health centers like ours don’t just deliver care, they create jobs, train future professionals, and anchor local economies. From nurses and lab technicians to IT specialists and administrative staff, rural health care organizations offer career pathways that keep talent rooted in rural America.
Moreover, organizations like ours are uniquely positioned to cultivate the next generation of health professionals. Through partnerships with schools, colleges, and workforce organizations, they provide internships, apprenticeships, and continuing education that open doors and meet community needs. These programs don’t just fill vacancies, they build futures and empower young people to pursue meaningful careers without leaving their hometowns.
The economic ripple effect is profound. A thriving health care sector attracts new businesses, supports housing markets, and enhances quality of life—making rural communities more attractive for families and entrepreneurs alike. When rural health care is strong, the whole community flourishes.
So, on this National Rural Health Day, let’s celebrate the caregivers, support teams, educators, and advocates who make rural health care possible. And let’s also commit to supporting the policies, investments, and partnerships that strengthen their role as workforce developers and economic catalysts.
Because when rural health thrives—America thrives.
Mike Waldrum, MD, MSc, MBA
Chief Executive Officer, ECU Health
Dean, Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University
Tarboro, NC – ECU Health Edgecombe Hospital proudly commemorated 40 years of service to the community, honoring its legacy of compassionate care and medical innovation, at ECU Health Edgecombe Hospital on Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025. 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.
“We are honored to celebrate four decades of service to our community,” said Patrick Heins, president of ECU Health Edgecombe Hospital. “From our earliest days to now, our team has remained committed to delivering high-quality, patient-centered care. This milestone is a testament to the dedication of our team members and to the trust our community places in us. As we celebrate 40 years of service, we look ahead to continue growing, innovating and ensuring that every patient who walks through our doors receives the highest standard of care.”
To mark the occasion, ECU Health Edgecombe hosted an event with nearly 200 attendees, including employees, donors, retirees, members of the board of directors and development council, local government and businesses. The hospital also hosted a celebration on Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025, for team members. Patrick Heins opened the ceremony by welcoming guests, former president Jim Raynor and Drs. David Miller and Mark Petruzziello reflected on the past 40 years.
Originally dedicated in October 1985, the hospital opened its doors to patients on Nov. 1, 1985. Over the years, the hospital has introduced numerous advancements, including the opening of the Women’s Pavilion and Special Beginnings Birthing Center in 1987 and the Heritage Cancer Care in 1998 in partnership with Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University. ECU Health Edgecombe Hospital joined what is now the ECU Health system in October 1998. In the spring of 2005, the OB/GYN unit received national recognition from the Jackson Organization for having the highest patient satisfaction scores of any hospital in its category.
The hospital continued to expand its services with the opening of the Heritage Chronic Heart Failure Clinic in 2004. The cancer center earned accreditation from the American College of Surgeons in 2009. In 2012, the hospital launched a telehealth and care coordination program to support patients with cardiovascular and pulmonary conditions transitioning from hospital to home and opened its behavioral health clinic. Inpatient dialysis services were added in 2014, followed by a major expansion of the ECU Health Multispecialty Clinic–Tarboro in spring 2015. The emergency department implemented a Telestroke Program in 2016, and an eight-bed Medical Intermediate Care Unit (MIU) opened in 2017. In 2020, the hospital introduced a dedicated Palliative Care Suite. By 2024, ECU Health Edgecombe expanded its MIU to 12 beds and opened a fourth operating room, further expanding its capacity to serve the community.
“Throughout ECU Health Edgecombe’s history, we have embraced innovation to better serve our patients,” said Van Smith, president of ECU Health Community Hospitals. “From expanding access to specialized services like cancer care, to implementing cutting-edge programs in telemedicine and stroke response, ECU Health Edgecombe has consistently led with providing patient-centered care in the forefront. Our team members have built a legacy of excellence that reflects integrity, community and a continual commitment to meeting ECU Health’s mission of improving the health and well-being eastern North Carolina.”
Kelly Spivey received a call from an ECU Health recruiter during a difficult time of her life.
“I was in a vulnerable situation at home, and I was looking for a way out,” she said. “I cried out to God about what to do. Then the recruiter called me.”
The recruiter invited Kelly to a job fair, citing an application Kelly had filled out. The only catch was Kelly hadn’t filled out an application.
“Then how did your information come across my desk?” the recruiter asked.
“I felt like God was telling me where to go, so I went to the job fair,” Kelly said. “I received three job offers that day. I packed up me and my two boys and moved with nothing. I’ve been here ever since.”
That was in 2012. Kelly began working in the traumatic brain injury (TBI) unit as a care partner, and she loved it.
“I had always felt a calling to work in health care, and in this job, I got to work with a special population of patients. I also met my now-husband, Lee Spivey, who was a charge nurse there.”
When a physical therapy technician announced his retirement from the rehab team, he suggested Kelly apply for his job.
“I interviewed and started working as a tech in 2014,” she said. “I joined the military in 2016, but I stayed at the hospital PRN. Lee and I got married in 2016, and he transferred to [ECU Health] Edgecombe Hospital, but I stayed in Greenville working in rehab, drilling for the National Guard on weekends and serving as the after-school director at my kids’ school.”
Even when the pandemic shut down schools, Kelly still worked PRN at ECU Health Medical Center and in a remote position at the Down East partnership. Over the next few years, Kelly found out she was pregnant, had a miscarriage, left the military, discovered she was pregnant again and supported her husband when he was diagnosed with stage 4 lymphoma and later had a heart attack.
“During all of this, Edgecombe hospital and the whole community supported our family,” Kelly said. “I was able to stay on at work because my team worked with me. They have a special part of my heart,” Kelly said. “It’s been such a roller coaster, but the two hospitals gave us hope.”
In June 2024, Kelly received a call from a friend at ECU Health Edgecombe Hospital asking if she’d like to apply for a community health position.
“I really loved working in rehab, but the manager reminded me community is what I do,” Kelly said. “I prayed on it and applied, and I got the job. I’m so glad I did. It’s truly been a blessing.”
A legacy of service
Community is what Kelly does. In addition to her professional work, she established a community pantry, which she runs out of her own house, in April 2018.
“I was coming home one day with my children, and there was a homeless man on the street,” Kelly said. “My son wanted to give him an oatmeal cake, but the man didn’t want to take it. It was laid on my heart to give people a place they could get what they needed and not feel like they were taking it from someone.”
Kelly cleaned up some old furniture, collected food and toiletries, and announced the pantry on her Facebook account.
“It became a hit – people were using it,” she said.
Now, Kelly said people frequently donate to and take what they need from the pantry.
“People might clean out their closets, or those of a loved one, and drop off clothes,” she said. “Sometimes people drop off one thing and pick up something else. Grandparents come and get snacks for their grandkids, or people get a boxed cake mix for a birthday celebration.”
Kelly cited her parents as inspiration for her passion for service.
“My dad could fix anything outside the house, and my mom could fix things inside,” she shared. “My dad always had a huge garden, and he’d drop off food to people in the neighborhood. My mom could sew, and she made us clothes and even made a wedding dress and all the bridesmaid dresses for a woman who was getting married. She was always that person in the family. When I received the Governor’s Volunteer Award, I drove all the way home to Whiteville to give it to her.”
The “sandwich lady”
In her current role, Kelly was instrumental in bringing the Summer Meal Program to Tarboro. She and her team landed on using Braswell Community Center and Park in Tarboro as the hub for their program.
The Summer Meal Program is a partnership between ECU Health and Sodexo, the ECU Health Foundation and Food Lion Feeds to provide free meals to kids, teens and those with disabilities throughout the summer. Free meals are also offered in Ahoskie, Bethel and Greenville.
“It gave people a place they could play, eat and have access to air conditioning,” Kelly explained. “Seeing kids run up and get something to eat – it took me back to my own days as a single mom. I had a calendar with local restaurants’ ‘kids eat free’ days, and that’s how we ate for a while. It upset me to think of those kids not having something to eat.”
Kelly said now she’s known throughout the community as the “sandwich lady,” but for her, the service is not just about providing a meal.
“We offer healthier options for free, and this opened opportunities to share mental health resources. I’ve helped people sign up for ECU Health Now, and I’ve given them information about support groups. This bridges trust between the hospital and the community.”
Kelly said her passion for service has been fueled by her own experiences, and these are opportunities to give back.
“Everyone is going through something, and we’re not meant to do life alone,” she said. “We truly need each other, and this is my purpose.”