On Jan. 28, 2026, ECU Health and East Carolina University hosted the 10th Annual ECU Health Quality Improvement Symposium in person and virtually. A total of 198 people registered for the event, with 171 attendees participating, including 21 who joined virtually.
Dr. Jennifer Sutter, chief of division of pediatric endocrinology and physician director of the Quality Improvement Symposium, welcomed attendees. Dr. Michael Waldrum, dean of the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University and chief executive officer of ECU Health, kicked off the day with opening remarks.
Quality improvement across the system
The symposium showcased quality improvement initiatives across ECU Health and East Carolina University’s Health Sciences Campus, with a focus on patient safety, population health and interprofessional practice.
The event provides academic and community physicians, health professionals, health care teams, residents, fellows and students an opportunity to present work in systems improvement and practice redesign to peers and health system leaders.
A culture of collaboration
A recurring theme throughout the presentations was collaboration. Many projects emphasized the importance of multidisciplinary teamwork and cross-departmental partnerships, with several project champions recognized for their leadership.
“We have great people delivering great care,” said Dr. Herbert Garrison, event podium moderator and professor of emergency medicine emeritus at the Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University. “We truly have a culture of excellence.”
Waldrum echoed that sentiment, noting collaboration as a defining characteristic of the work presented. “Culture of excellence is what I kept thinking about,” he said. “I stopped counting how many times collaboration was mentioned. These projects sit at the intersection of quality improvement, experience and cost. Thank you for building the culture of ECU Health.”
In closing remarks, Waldrum thanked presenters for their dedication. “Thank you for inspiring me to continue sharing the message of the dedicated people doing this important work,” he said.
Dr. Jason Higginson, executive dean of the Brody School of Medicine and chief health officer of ECU Health, also thanked participants at the conclusion of the symposium.
“Quality improvement is an ongoing process that continues to evolve over time,” Higginson said. “You can see the level of engagement and the meaningful impact being made. Anyone who receives care at ECU Health will benefit from that work. Thank you to everyone who presented and participated.”
Awards for the top podium and poster presentations were announced following the showcase.
Podium presentation
Outstanding Podium Presentation: Kayla Ausbon – “NICU CLABSI Reduction through Multidisciplinary Collaboration and Innovation”
Honorable Mention Podium Presentation: Lori Goodwin, Paula Linville and Gail Scheller – “Closing the Gap: Improving Hypertension Control in Eastern North Carolina”
Quick shot podium presentation
First Place Quick Shot Podium Presentation: Saba Ijaz (3rd year Medical Student, TQA Project, Drs. Jessica Eubanks and Jessica Gancar) – “Improving Neurodevelopmental Evaluations in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit”
Second Place Quick Shot Podium Presentation: Laurie Etheridge – “Bye-Bye Opioids: Revolutionizing Pediatric Post-Surgery Care”
Third Place Quick Shot Podium Presentation: Valentine Okafor (4th year medical student, LINC Scholar) – “Improving Influenza Vaccination Rates in Pediatric Cystic Fibrosis Patients: A Quality Improvement Initiative at ECU Pediatric Specialty Clinic”
Poster presentation
First Place Poster Presentation: Katherine Taylor (TQA Project, Drs. Katie Taylor and Jessica Scheller) – “Increasing Kangaroo Care in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for Very Preterm Neonates”
Second Place Poster Presentation: Michael McFayden (3rd Year Medical Student, LINC Scholar) – “Increasing Timely Discharges in the NICU”
Third Place Poster Presentation: Ranee Pender – “Reducing Patient Falls Through Standardized Toileting and Call Bell Protocols on a Medical Surgical Unit”
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.
Eyeglasses have long been the go-to for vision correction, but contact lenses offer a convenient alternative, especially for those with strong prescriptions or active lifestyles. Whether you’re playing sports, working a physical job or simply prefer not to wear glasses, contacts provide clarity and freedom. However, they come with responsibilities.
Dr. Ann Ostrovsky
At ECU Health Ophthalmology, in the past year we have seen over 50 cases of severe eye infections from contact lens wear. We also studied asymptomatic contact lens wearers and found that more than 60 percent had corneal scars, evidence of past infections that healed silently.
Improper contact lens hygiene can lead to serious infections and even permanent vision loss. Fortunately, most of these issues are preventable with proper care. One of the biggest risks? Sleeping in contacts. No matter the type – daily, extended wear, or “day and night” – contacts should never be worn while sleeping. Closed eyes reduce oxygen flow to the cornea, and adding a lens can suffocate the eye, creating a breeding ground for infection. Even normally harmless skin bacteria can become dangerous.
Water exposure is another hazard. Swimming or showering with lenses can introduce harmful microorganisms like acanthamoeba, a parasite that can cause severe infections and blindness. If you forget to remove your lenses before these activities, discard them immediately afterward.
If your lens feels uncomfortable or your eye becomes red, painful, sensitive to light or blurry, take the lens out and switch to glasses. Monitor symptoms closely and consult your eye doctor if they persist.
Contact lens options include daily, biweekly, and monthly varieties. Daily lenses are ideal because they eliminate the need for cleaning and storing, reducing infection risk. For reusable lenses, hygiene is critical: wash hands with soap and water before handling lenses and dry them thoroughly. Use only sterile contact lens solution; never use tap water. Clean lenses by placing them on your palm, applying rewetting solution, and gently rubbing. Always discard old solution, wash and dry the case, and refill with fresh solution, never “top-off” solution by adding new solution to old. Use enzyme cleaners weekly for monthly lenses to reduce buildup and replace your lens case every few months to avoid bacterial or fungal growth in microscopic grooves of the plastic.
Stick to the recommended lens replacement schedule. Daily lenses must be discarded after one use, and biweekly or monthly lenses should be replaced exactly as directed. Extending their use, even if your eyes feel fine, is risky.
Since moving from New York City to Greenville, North Carolina, I’ve helped launch ECU Health’s ophthalmology practice. Our team treats everything from cataracts and glaucoma to diabetic eye disease and serious eye trauma and infections. But one message I want to emphasize: regular eye checkups aren’t just about seeing clearly. They’re about protecting your health.
So please, care for your contact lenses properly. Don’t sleep in them. Don’t shower or swim with them. Replace them on schedule. And if something feels off, don’t wait. Most of these infections are preventable, so I’d much rather share a coffee with you than see you in my office.
ECU Health Medical Center recently conducted a comprehensive, campus-wide lockdown exercise focused on preparedness for an active threat scenario. The exercise brought together a broad group of hospital leaders, clinical teams, support services and safety partners, demonstrating a strong, unified commitment to protecting patients, visitors, and team members.
The exercise provided an important opportunity to evaluate existing emergency protocols, communication pathways and leadership coordination across the organization. Multiple strengths were identified, including effective leadership presence, clear command structure, and strong collaboration between departments. Participants also highlighted valuable opportunities for improvement that will help further enhance readiness and response capabilities in real-world situations.
“Conducting drills based on real-life scenarios is a key component of preparedness,” said Dr. David Trisler, trauma and surgical critical care. “As the region’s Level I Trauma Center, it is incumbent upon us at ECU Health Medical Center to be prepared for various emergency scenarios. It was encouraging to see the level of participation from stakeholders across the entire breadth of hospital service lines, including both clinical and non-clinical personnel.”
Building on the lessons learned, ECU Health Medical Center will continue to expand on preparedness efforts through additional unit-based drills and functional exercises that help promote a culture of safety. These targeted and scenario-driven activities will continue to strengthen coordination, reinforce best practices, and ensure that teams across the campus remain confident, capable, and ready to respond to any emergency.
“Exercises like this helps our team identify strengths and opportunities for improvement,” said Murry Stroud, Emergency Management manager for ECU Health Medical Center. “Our goal is to maintain a safe environment for patients, visitors, and team members by continuously refining our emergency response strategies.”
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).
Dustin Bass, DNP, MHA, RN, CEN, NEA-BC, vice president of ECU Health Emergency Services, has officially begun his term as the 2026 president of the Emergency Nurses Association (ENA). He steps into the role with a clear mission to strengthen the sense of community, belonging, and professional support among the association’s more than 40,000 members worldwide. With more than 15 years of clinical and leadership experience, his election marks another milestone in a career defined by service and commitment to the nurses who care for patients at their most vulnerable moments.
Bass’s passion for emergency care began early in life. As a teenager volunteering in a hospital, he witnessed a nurse leap onto a stretcher to perform CPR – an experience that cemented his desire to pursue nursing. A first-generation college graduate, he earned his nursing diploma in 2011 and later completed his doctorate in health care leadership, systems and policy at Yale University in 2023. His career has since spanned bedside care, system-level leadership, authorship and national advocacy.
As ENA president, Bass plans to focus on strengthening relationships across the emergency nursing profession. “Emergency nurses give so much of themselves, and they deserve an association that gives back just as powerfully,” Bass said. “2026 will be a year of belonging, community and hope—one that reflects the undeniable strength and spirit of emergency nursing.”
Bass has been active in ENA since 2010, serving on committees and councils, leading the Nevada ENA Council, and joining the ENA Board of Directors in 2021. His presidency begins alongside a diverse and accomplished 2026 ENA Board of Directors, including both returning leaders and newly elected members. He is the author of The Leadership Dashboard and Leadership Affirmations: A Coloring Book and Journal, and he frequently presents on leadership at ENA conferences and on national media platforms. His achievements have been widely recognized, including being named to the inaugural ENA 20 Under 40 list in 2021, selection for the American Organization for Nursing Leadership’s Young Professional Voices class of 2023, and recognition in North Carolina as a Great 100 Nurse.
His leadership philosophy – “helping people help others” – has guided his work to support nurses at the bedside and beyond. Colleagues describe Bass as someone who can navigate the complexities of a large academic health system while still rolling up his sleeves to support frontline teams.
“I try to inspire and uplift our team to be the best they can be, so they can be the best for our patients,” he said. “I like to get my hands dirty and get the job done. It’s a large, academic medical system, but it still has a family feel to it. That’s not something you see in larger institutions. I appreciate that and can be myself.”
As he steps into the ENA presidency, Bass brings that same dedication to the national stage to champion the emergency nurses who keep communities safe every day.
Ebrahim Rezk “Abe” Al Quhshi could be anywhere right now. Born in Yemen and raised for a time in Sudan, he moved to New York City as a youngster before eventually finding his way to Greenville. He’s a 2020 graduate of South Central High School in Winterville, and in May, expects to graduate from ECU with a business degree in management information systems (MIS).
His next move might be the most surprising yet. He may stay put.
This summer, Al Quhshi was a part of a pioneering school-to-office pipeline that connected 19 students to high-growth employers across eastern North Carolina through the federal work-study program. It introduced students to a rich spectrum of career opportunities in our region. It also helped them apply their classroom learning in real-world settings, building confidence along with the competencies needed to become workforce-ready professionals.
Developed by Dr. Melanie Fiona Jackson, director of Innovative Workforce Partnerships inside ECU’s Office of Research, Economic Development and Engagement, in close collaboration with Student Employment and Financial Aid, the initiative is the latest way the university is co-developing talent with industry partners such as ECU Health, the region’s largest health system and employer.
“When we talk about strengthening the regional economy, this is what it looks like in action,” she said. “Students like Abe are proof-of-concept.”
The students were assigned roles around the health system, including talent acquisition, workforce development and finance. Al Quhshi was placed in an entry-level human resources role, but after a few days, he gently pointed out that, as an MIS major in the College of Business, the work didn’t strongly draw on his education.
“He said, ‘I don’t think this is going to connect to anything I’m studying,’ so, after two days, he got moved,” says Tavis Richardson, a recruitment outreach program manager with ECU Health. “I love that we can do this! This is what we’re after at ECU Health, to create pipelines to the university, to expose these students to the opportunities at ECU Health so they’re not leaving eastern North Carolina.”
Al Quhshi slid over to a customer-facing position in the revenue cycle department and loved it immediately. He was so hard-working and curious, prepared and charming that when the 13-week program sunset, the health system moved to hire him.
“Once you understand how a big organization works, it can shape your future career,” he says. “It’s helped me have an idea where I want to be and what type of work I want.”
‘That Light Flickering and That Energy’
The full-time opening was adjusted so that his workweek could make room for classes and school obligations. Today, he hustles to work first thing in the morning, often leaves for classes, then returns.
“I don’t have any more time for friends and, like, stuff,” he laughs, “but when I get paid I forget about all that.”
“His department really wanted to make him part of the team,” Richardson said, and “it was easier for us to bring him on board as a team member because of the program.”
Hiring qualified, educated professionals is an expensive proposition. According to the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), employers in the U.S. will spend about $5,500 on average for a single non-executive hire this year.
Students in a federal work‑study program (FWS) such as Al Quhshi are often offered jobs at higher rates than their non-FWS peers. These jobs are partly paid by federal or state funds, so employers have lower net cost to invest in these trial relationships. And in the end, employers become familiar, often fond of these junior associates.
Sabrina Sims is the health system’s vice president of revenue cycle. When asked about Al Quhshi and the perception of work-study students as well-educated but untried next to coworkers with years of experience, she waved it away.
Sure, she looks for experience, but do “they still have that light flickering and that energy that a college student’s going to have coming out, trying to get into the professional world to see if they can apply their studies? Because I want that.”
In Al Quhshi’s case, his immediate supervisor, Tasha Sears, says competence and reliability were never in doubt.
“From the front end to the back end, his work ethic is excellent,” she says. “I didn’t have to treat him any differently from my other employees.”
Developing the Future Workforce
Al Quhshi did the job over the summer while continuing to work as a staffer at the university’s fitness center swimming pool. He said he loved dealing directly with patients about their bills and attributed his “people skills” to his experiences in that most high-stakes of customer relations roles — restaurant server.
Through his work-study program he met Michael Whitfield, a revenue cycle analyst with the health system. Whitfield is an ECU alumnus with the same business degree and concentration Al Quhshi is finishing.
“My major, management information systems, is rare. You don’t find a lot of people even in the MIS major, but you have a whole MIS team here, and that was super exciting to meet them,” Al Quhshi says.
Whitfield, whom he sometimes calls “Sir Michael,” is a mentor. According to the graduating senior, it’s Whitfield’s role to share documentation and reports with management and key stakeholders, identify trends and innovate ways to improve processes — exactly what Al Quhshi hopes to do one day.
“Every time I see him coming, I’m like, ‘Hey, can I have a lunch with you?’ I look up to him,” he says.
“Abe’s success is his own, but his story is also one about how a university transforms a community,” Jackson says.
In the spring, Al Quhshi will receive his diploma and begin his career — or has his career already begun? Until this summer, he had thought he would have to move away. Perhaps not. He could continue to invest his talents in ECU Health.
He’s made all the right moves so far.
“I feel fortunate being an ECU student,” Al Quhshi says. “I have received all the help I need. I have met great people, great professors. And, yeah, it has been a whole experience for me.”
Learn more about workforce innovation and engagement.
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.”
April Quidley, the manager of pharmacy education and research and the Pharmacy Resident program director at ECU Health, was recently appointed to a three-year term on the Fundamental Critical Care Support (FCCS): Bedside Care Task Force by the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) – an exciting achievement that reflects Quidley’s expertise in critical care medicine.
A New Bern native, Quidley has been with ECU Health since 2012. During that time, she established herself as a valuable resource for pharmacy services, especially in the critical care space. She has also enjoyed working with students.
“I spend a lot of time with pharmacy students and resident training,” she said. “We do a lot of recruiting for pharmacy resident positions, and we get a lot of interest from across the country because of the cool things we’re doing and our preceptors. We have a good cohort of professionals we’ve hired from our training program.”
Training the next generation of pharmacists
The Bedside Care Task Force merges Quidley’s pharmacy and education expertise with that of 20 other professionals, including other pharmacists, nurses and physicians, to create a new, international course focusing on bedside care in the critical care setting. Quidley said it’s forward thinking to include multiple disciplines to create this coursework.
“The goal is to train those who may not have experience in critical care on how to provide initial assessments and care, so they feel confident about that process. We want to do this in a standardized way to provide a worldwide process,” Quidley explained.
“My role, and that of the other pharmacists on this team, is to ensure pharmacists who provide bedside care know what they need to do to provide timely drug delivery, timely drug recommendations and adhere to best practices for patient care,” she added.
This is important because it allows providers in a variety of settings to enhance their critical care skills.
“Think back 10, 15 or 20 years ago,” Quidley said. “If you were working on the floor of a smaller hospital, your team might have to call for a consult for critical care cases. There are so many diagnoses, like sepsis, that require an early and accurate response. With this education, a team can provide the critical care patients need in the time they need it.”
The appointment stipulates that the task force determines the audience for this coursework, what other courses already exist in the critical care space and the financial investment required. The group will meet virtually and in person throughout the three-year period, including at SCCM conferences and meetings.
“The plan is to create a framework for this course by the end of the three years,” Quidley said.
The coursework will be a hybrid format of virtual, knowledge-based coursework and in-person, skill-based assessments, with the hope that ECU Health serves as one of the on-site locations.
A personal contribution to the discipline
Quidley’s involvement with the SCCM, both as a member and a Fellow of Critical Care Medicine, played a role in her name making it on the list of task force members.
“To be a Fellow, you have to publish and be active in critical care scholarship as well as work at the bedside,” she shared.
The SCCM website further designates Fellows as “practitioners, researchers, administrators and educators in the field of critical care,” and it recognizes outstanding contributions to the field. The distinction requires an application to be considered, and it globally honors Fellows as leaders in critical care.
“We already do a lot for critical care support here,” Quidley added. “Kristie Hertel has done a lot here at ECU Health in the critical care space. Working with the SCCM and this task force helps us develop curriculum that makes a broader impact.”
Quidley said she is thankful to work in an environment that supports her work with the SCCM and this task force specifically.
“I’ve been with ECU Health for 13 years, and I appreciate the organization’s support of our engagement in things beyond the institution. It’s not just for me personally, but for the organization as a whole. Being with ECU Health has been so rewarding.”
Fannie Clemmons, supervisor in Food Service, joined what was then Beaufort County Hospital at the age of 18. This month, she’s celebrate 45 years with the system.
“I had two kids and was trying to raise them on my own,” the Martin County native said. “I came from a working family, and my parents said I had to get out there and hustle.”
Fannie joined the Food Service team, where her mother also worked, and started her career as a dishwasher. She worked with a lot of older team members who showed her the ropes.
“From dishwashing, I moved to patient service line to cafeteria to baking – I’ve been all over the kitchen,” she laughed. “You had to learn how to do anything. If they needed you to help in a certain area, they trained you.”
That training included working in catering, which Fannie said she enjoyed but was a lot of work, and baking.
“We did light baking in those days,” she said. “We made biscuits and cakes and pies from scratch. People really loved that.”
While she didn’t plan to stay at ECU Health for 45 years, Fannie said the work has been a blessing to her and her family.
“This has been a home away from home,” she said. “This is my getaway place, where I come to think about other people and not myself. I’ve been able to meet so many people – not just co-workers but patients and others outside the organization. There are patients you meet you get real attached to. They come and go, and you don’t ever forget them.”
A lot has changed in those 45 years, she said.
“Some of the processes have changed, and other things like serving more healthy foods and more options. The hospital has also grown a lot, but the more we grow, the more we learn.”
Although she’s 70 years old, Fannie said she hopes to continue her work with ECU Health – while also spending time with her children and grandson.
She’s also teaching the new team members, just as she was taught when she first started.
“Each age group is different, and you have to adapt to each of them. But I feel valued and appreciated when I can help someone beside myself. That’s the way I was raised, and that’s the impact I want to make – to inspire them.”
When asked if she had any advice for team members joining ECU Health, she offered these words: “Life is what you make it. Be positive, be an inspiration. If it’s helping someone, it’s good enough.”