ECU Health Beaufort Hospital leadership presented a $137,177.34 donation to Williamston Fire-Rescue-EMS on Tuesday, Oct. 12 for brand new, state-of-the-art emergency medical equipment.
The donation will support the purchase of an MTS Power-LOAD system, which is a powered stretcher-loading device that enhances provider safety and patient stability, and a LIFEPAK 15 monitor/defibrillator, used to assess, monitor and treat patients in critical condition. The donation was attended by ECU Health Beaufort Hospital President Dennis Campbell, II, Williamston Fire-Rescue-EMS Chief Michael Peaks, Williamston Mayor Dean McCall and other community supporters.
“In the EMS world, every second counts,” said McCall. “We thank the ECU Health organization, Chief Peaks and everyone who helped secure this funding for the protection of our community and EMS professionals.”
ECU Health Beaufort Hospital provided the donation directly through operational funds. Campbell said that local first responders are a vital part of the healthcare services communities depend on. Reducing the risks of provider injury, as well as having the cutting-edge technology to assess patients on the scene, are essential to supporting the health needs in rural communities like Martin County, he said.
“In rural communities every link in the emergency care network matters,” Campbell said. “Equipping local EMS teams strengthens access to timely, high-quality care that helps connect patients with the next level of care.”
Funding for the equipment comes amid ECU Health’s ongoing efforts to restore access to essential healthcare in Martin County after Martin General Hospital closed in 2023. In July 2026, the North Carolina General Assembly approved a State Budget that included critical funding to help re-establish essential healthcare in Martin County and initial planning funds to support expanding bed capacity at ECU Health Beaufort Hospital in Washington.
Additional investments necessary to expand bed capacity at ECU Health Beaufort Hospital continue to be key for implementing a sustainable regional system of care model needed to improve sustainability and expand inpatient capacity for surrounding communities, including Martin County.
Peaks said the effects of the local hospital closure immediately impacted emergency personnel, who must now travel farther to transport patients in need of care. He said before the closure a patient’s average transport time by ambulance was five minutes and 38 seconds. The average time now is 20 minutes. He thanked ECU Health leadership for recognizing the critical role first responders play in community healthcare.
“Having equipment such as this available to our members is going to make a difference for the people we serve,” Peaks said. “ECU Health has recognized that healthcare needs in Martin County do not stop at the doors of a hospital. Healthcare is a network of people and services working together.
“ECU Health’s investment in Williamston Fire-Rescue-EMS is a direct investment in strengthening the network of care in which ECU Health has shown time and again, and more recently within the last year, their commitment to Martin County.”
Campbell emphasized that supporting Williamston, Martin County and surrounding communities is central to the health system’s mission.
“Our mission at ECU Health is to improve the health and well-being of eastern North Carolina,” Campbell said. “We’ve been honored to support Williamston and the surrounding communities to help maintain access to care during extremely difficult circumstances following the local hospital’s abrupt closure in 2023. Strong partnerships among hospitals, EMS agencies and other community organizations are essential to providing high-quality healthcare in rural eastern North Carolina. This moment reflects those partnerships and actions.”
Jenny Maness is using her experience as a Neonatal Intensitive Care Unit (NICU) mom, and the example set by the nurses and providers at Maynard Children’s Hospital at ECU Health Medical Center who cared for her twin sons, to guide and comfort the parents of children in neonatal care from the other side of the isolette.
In 2018, Maness’s water broke at 24 weeks, and she began an inpatient stay at the hospital. Complications led her care team to deliver her identical twin boys, Ryan and Scott, at 25 weeks and three days. The delivery was a success, and both boys began the first four and a half months of their life in the NICU.
For Maness, that frightening start became a life-changing experience.
“I remember feeling so scared and so stressed,” Maness said. “The attending on the night we delivered was Dr. Joseph Ginski, and I remember he made us feel so much more comfortable.
The nurses probably do not even realize how much of an impact they had on me. They were our cheerleaders and kept up with us every step of the way. I still have all of the hand and footprint crafts they made for us.
“They made us feel so comfortable. We were terrified, of course, to touch the boys or do anything really. The nursing staff really encouraged us, they helped us change diapers, give baths and have our skin-to-skin contact. All of the things we wanted to do, but were too scared to try, they helped us find that courage.”
Eventually, Ryan and Scott came home from the hospital. Maness had worked as an X-ray technician for 12 years, but as she had time to breathe and process her experience, she felt called to a different side of healthcare.
“I always say, when you walk through those NICU doors it’s going to change you one way or the other,” Maness said. “For me, it changed me for the better. I knew this was what I wanted to do with my life, so I went back to school.”
Maness started classes at Beaufort County Community College in 2021. In 2023, she graduated with a nursing degree. At first, she was set on working exclusively with NICU families but found that between classes and seeing Ryan and Scott grow into their personalities, she wanted to work with children of all ages. In 2023, she started her nursing career in the Women’s and Children’s Operational Pool at ECU Health, and now divides her time between the NICU, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) and General Pediatrics.
“I get to be there for my little tiny babies and I can also play games or blow bubbles with the older kids,” Maness said. “It’s really the best of both worlds for me. Kids are so fun at all ages.”
Today, Ryan and Scott are eight years old. Maness said they are happy, healthy and doing things any kid their age would do, free of any long-term complications.
“They are wild,” she laughed. “Honestly, you would never know they were premature. We are so very fortunate to have the outcome that we did, and I have to credit that to the doctors, the nurse practitioners, the nurses who made all the calls. They did everything just excellent for us, and still do to this day.
“When I started working, a lot of the providers and the nurses told me they remembered my boys,” Maness said. “Things can be a blur here, and that was eight years ago, but they still remember me just from my face. That means so much to me. You can tell they really care and it makes such an impact on every family they come across.”
Maness is proud to offer that kind of compassion to families, and to give parents currently in the shoes she filled eight years ago the perspective of experience — things get better.
“It’s very high anxiety when you have a baby in the NICU, whether they are a micro-preemie or a baby who went to term who might need breathing assistance,” Maness said. “I remember crying and breaking down at the bedside when my boys were here. Letting the parents who need it hear my story, I hope it puts them at ease, lets them know they are allowed to feel comfortable and maybe go home at night and get some sleep.
“It’s the most rewarding thing to tell them, you need a rest. It’s important that parents take care of themselves too, and that they realize, eventually, you will get where you need to be.”
Share your story with us at go.ecuhealth.org/gratitude. Stories like these show the lasting impact of Maynard Children’s Hospital.
As the father of a pediatric patient sat with his head in his hands in the adult emergency department trauma bay, staff chaplain Anthony Westbrook took a seat beside him.
Medical teams were treating the child for serious burns sustained in an accident at home. Westbrook remained with her father, offering a calm presence and listening ear during an overwhelming moment.
“He was devastated by what had happened and by what his child was going through,” Westbrook said. “He poured out his feelings, and I listened, gently placing my hand on his shoulder as he cried.”
Westbrook remained with the family throughout the child’s treatment. At the father’s request, he led a prayer with members of the care team gathered around the child’s bedside. Thirty minutes later, he accompanied the father and patient as they were transferred to a room in the children’s emergency department.
For Westbrook and his colleagues on ECU Health’s Clinical Chaplaincy & Spiritual Care team, these moments represent the heart of their work.
Formerly known as Pastoral Care, the department adopted a new name to better reflect its role as part of the clinical care team.
“Our chaplains provide professional spiritual and emotional care to patients, families and team members, regardless of their faith background or beliefs,” said Ashleigh Ware, manager of Pastoral Programs. “The new name helps communicate that we are an integral part of whole-person care.”
The department includes 12 team members, made up of full-time and part-time chaplains as well as chaplain residents. Together, they provide support throughout the ECU Health Medical Center, helping people navigate illness, grief, difficult decisions, celebrations, healing and hope.
“Our work is about meeting people where they are and walking alongside them,” Ware added.
“Ultimately, we want every patient, family member and team member to know they don’t have to carry it alone.”
While many people associate chaplaincy with a particular faith tradition, the department’s approach is inclusive.
“Clinical chaplains respect the spiritual diversity of the patients, families and team members we serve,” Westbrook said. “Whether they are Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, Humanist, Agnostic or Atheist, our role is to be present, to listen and to support.”
Sometimes support includes prayer or spiritual rituals.
During another family’s time of need, Westbrook helped fulfill a final wish for the parents of a gravely ill infant in the NICU. Surrounded by loved ones and members of the care team, the family gathered bedside for a baptism ceremony. Afterward, Westbrook presented the parents and the infant’s siblings with the seashell used to hold the baptism water.
“Our emotional, mental, physical and spiritual well-being are often deeply connected,” Westbrook said.
“Chaplaincy creates space for the spiritual, emotional and existential questions that can arise alongside a person’s medical experience.”
That support also extends to team members.
The department offers opportunities such as Tea for the Soul, Blessing of the Hands and Purposeful Pause Pop-Up events that allow team members to step away, reflect and reconnect with the purpose behind their work. Team members can also reach out directly to a chaplain following a difficult patient experience, a personal loss, a stressful event or anytime they need to talk.
“We want people to know they don’t have to wait until something becomes a crisis to reach out,” Ware said. “If you think a chaplain might be helpful, that’s enough reason to call.”
Within ECU Health’s community hospitals, Spiritual Care volunteers provide supportive rounding for patients. When a situation requires the attention of a clinical chaplain, the team is available to provide support through telehealth.
Patients, families and team members at ECU Health Medical Center can connect with a unit chaplain or contact Clinical Chaplaincy & Spiritual Care at 252-847-4790 or [email protected].
Dr. Lorrie Basnight grew up in Chapel Hill, and after seven years working as an exercise physiologist, she went back to school to become a doctor. She found a passion for pediatrics unexpectedly, and since 1995, she’s loved working with children and their families.
“Children can be delightful and challenging,” she said. “I thought I was a compassionate physician; I was happy to talk with families and let them feel their feelings. But after my diagnosis, I realized what the other side feels like.”
In 2025, Dr. Basnight was diagnosed with breast cancer, a total shock because she considered herself to be in good health.
“I was going to the gym and doing all the things you should do. I have no genetic background or family history of breast cancer. The year before my diagnosis, I did a 100-mile hike in Spain, and in the spring of 2025, I did a 200-mile bike ride in Belgium and the Netherlands,” she said. “Two weeks after I got back from that trip, I got my diagnosis.”
Immediately following her diagnosis, Dr. Basnight said she struggled with fear and anxiety.
“Not 15 minutes after I left the doctor’s office I started thinking I needed to make my funeral plans,” she said. “That’s where my head went. Getting that under control has been a process.”
A path forward
The first step was creating a plan, which Dr. Basnight said was accomplished with her doctor, Dr. Mahvish Muzaffar.
“I had an intense regimen of 16 doses of chemo, followed by surgery,” Dr. Basnight said. “Dr. Muzaffar and the team did a great job of controlling my side effects, and before surgery, my MRI showed no signs of cancer.”
That didn’t mean she was out of the woods quite yet; her post-surgical pathology report showed residual cancer cells. She required additional treatment, which she is still receiving, including 20 rounds of radiation and targeted drugs and hormone blockers. Through it all, however, Dr. Basnight said her doctor and the cancer center team took care of her and put her mind at ease.
During her treatments, she contracted COVID twice and suffered a heart arrythmia as a side effect from one of her medications, which required her to be admitted to the hospital, but Dr. Basnight said she felt supported the entire time.
“It’s weird to have this serious illness and say I’ve had such a great experience,” she said. “When I first met Dr. Muzaffar, she talked with me and my daughter and then asked to speak with me alone. Then she gave me a big hug and said, ‘I know this is scary, but you’re going to be okay.’”
Over the last year, Dr. Basnight said Dr. Muzaffar has reminded her that her medications are working very well and if she did have a recurrence, there are new cancer drugs and treatments coming out all the time.
“She told me that people like me with stage three cancer have lived many years, so she pulled me get out of that ditch of thinking this is the end of my life,” she said. “It’s just the start of a different part of my life.”
Dr. Basnight said it’s also been helpful to use all the resources available to her through the cancer center, including speaking with a therapist to get her anxiety under control.
“When I was first diagnosed, I’d wake up in the middle of the night panicking. My therapist, Dr. Rachelle Evans, has given me many exercises to help with my anxiety, like thought interrupting exercises,” she said. “When I start worrying about something, I say or think, ‘Not helpful,’ and that stops the spiral. I really feel like I’ve become a new person who’s moved into a state of acceptance.”
More than a patient
From her doctor and her therapist to pharmacists and front desk staff to her nurse navigator, Dr. Basnight said the Cancer Center provides an exceptional level of care.
“They talk to you and treat you like you’re more than an MRN number,” she said. “They talk to my family and include them in the conversation. They get you through check-in quickly, they know you and ask about your life and sort out appointments easily. I had a friend who received cancer care from another facility and she came to a few appointments with me at ECU Health. She told me later, ‘I’m sure I got excellent medical care where I went, but my oncologist never acknowledged how scary this is for me.’ My friend ended up switching to ECU Health to get her radiation and she had a great experience.”
For now, Dr. Basnight is continuing her cancer treatment and making plans for future biking and travel. She’s back in the gym and says anyone with cancer should figure out how to still do the things they love.
“One of the things Dr. Evans helped me do was define what’s important to me: relationships,” she said. “Last year, my four siblings and I rented a house in Manteo and had the best time. It was the first time in a long time we’d all been together for a whole week, and it’s special to be with the ones you love. Next spring, we plan a boat and biking trip, and I’m looking forward to that.”
On a hot July morning, Mark Brady woke up and went about his day as usual. He didn’t expect he’d be spending the next two months in the hospital.
“I walked around the block, took a shower, drank a large iced coffee and was preparing to golf with my friends when my body started to shake,” Brady said.
When he didn’t show up, Brady’s golfing buddies stopped by his house and found him on the floor in his bathroom; one of those friends had taken a first aid class and recognized Mark was having a stroke.
“He saw my drooped face and called 911 immediately. From there I went to ECU Health Duplin Hospital, they put me on a helicopter, and I ended up in Greenville,” Brady said. “I don’t remember much until a week later.”
A team effort
After Brady transitioned from the ICU to a step-down unit, he entered inpatient rehabilitation where he met a team of trained therapists who collaborated on his care.
“When Mark arrived here, he was completely flaccid in his left arm and leg – which means he had no movement,” said Mary Kathryn Hubbard, occupational therapist. “During his stay here, he’s put in such tremendous effort and he’s dedicated to his success. Now he can actively open and close his left hand and use his arm functionally.”
“Early in his stay, we had frank conversations with Mark about his progress,” Melissa DeCarlo, physical therapist, added. “We wanted him to go home safely, but he had a long road ahead of him. Due to his hard work, his family support and his therapy interventions, he started getting better and our conversation changed. I’ve updated his care plan four times because he’s made steady progress the whole time. Now he can walk with a walker and get around with supervision.”
Kelsey Hall, a speech language pathologist, noted that Brady’s cognitive status has also improved.
“His scores initially showed a moderate disorder, but now he’s doing activities of daily living like finances and medications without cues,” she said. “His recovery isn’t necessarily typical, but it shows his dedication to getting better.”
Brady attributes much of his success to the rehabilitation team’s collaborative and supportive spirit.
“Every therapist has done a great job. They pushed me to the point of success, and they are the best in North Carolina,” Brady said. “They all work together and they cheer you on when you accomplish things. It’s a close-knit group.”
“As a team, we look at a patient as the whole person. We wanted Mark to get out and stay active. We co-treat with each other and helped Mark do what was meaningful to him, and that plan evolved over time as he improved,” said Alex Kinney, recreational therapist.
One of those collaborations included an outing to the local Barnes & Noble bookstore. There, he practiced skills he developed during his rehabilitation stay. For Brady, the experience was about more than physical recovery. It was about rediscovering his independence and confidence.
“It was great to be back in the real world,” he said.
These community experiences help patients apply physical, cognitive and problem-solving skills outside the hospital setting for improved functioning at discharge. By combining evidence-based practices, advanced clinical expertise and individualized treatment plans, the rehabilitation center helps patients of all ages achieve their highest level of function and quality of life.
“We can guide the patient,” Kinney said, “But they’re the ones who have to do the work.”
The next step
Brady completed his inpatient therapy and went home with his girlfriend, Lynne, on Sept. 17. He will continue his therapy at ECU Health Duplin Hospital’s Outpatient Rehabilitation clinic, and he has big plans for the future.
“When I was first admitted, they said I might not be able to walk again,” Brady said. “But I told them my goal was to walk independently by Christmas and play golf next year.”
According to Brady, it was the personal attention and genuine care provided by the therapy team that made a lasting impact.
“The therapists make you feel like you are the most important patient on the floor, even though they have many other patients that day,” he said.
The Inpatient Rehabilitation Center at ECU Health Medical Center offers expert care and personalized therapy from a multidisciplinary team that includes physicians, nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech language pathologists, recreational therapists, case managers and other specialists.
Greenville, N.C. – ECU Health has expanded access to advanced heart care through the AltaValve™ system, a minimally-invasive, catheter-deployed tool to treat higher-risk heart patients who previously had few treatment options.
Dr. Brian Cabarrus, ECU Health interventional cardiologist, and Dr. Wiley Nifong, ECU Health cardiovascular surgeon, successfully implanted ECU Health’s first Supra-annular Transcatheter Mitral Valve Replacement — the AltaValve system — on July 30, 2026.
The procedure was made possible through ECU Health’s participation in A Transseptal Left Atrial System for Treatment of Mitral Regurgitation (ATLAS) trial. ECU Health Medical Center was the second hospital in the state to treat a patient using the AltaValve system.
AltaValve is a transcatheter mitral valve replacement developed by 4C Medical Technologies Inc. designed for patients with mitral valve disease who may not be able to receive traditional surgical valve replacement due to factors like advanced age. It is also designed to treat inoperable patients who previously underwent valve repair procedures.
The mitral valve is one of four valves in the heart that allows blood to flow normally through the left ventricle and into the rest of the body. When the mitral valve is unable to fully open, or if it leaks, it may need to be replaced.
“ECU Health is opening new doors for patients with mitral valve conditions who are not candidates for traditional surgery, which is especially important here in eastern North Carolina where patients are disproportionately affected by heart disease compared to the rest of the nation,” said Dr. Cabarrus. “Our first patient was discharged within 48 hours, the kind of outcome every physician hopes to see.”
Unlike traditional open-heart surgery, the AltaValve device is inserted through a vein in the leg with a catheter. The valve is deployed into the heart and naturally aligns with the patient’s mitral valve to treat symptoms.
“Expanding access to innovative treatment options reflects ECU Health’s commitment to advancing cardiovascular care and improving health outcomes across the region,” said Jay Briley, president, ECU Health Medical Center. “By pairing leading-edge technology with the expertise of our clinicians, we are delivering high-quality care close to home and creating a healthier future for the communities we serve.”
Sonya Williams came to ECU Health as a 19-year-old intern with no specific plans to stay at ECU Health Roanoke-Chowan Hospital. A job offer in the admissions and billing department, however, paved the way for a 40-year career that has seen Sonya through many changes.
“I love my journey,” Sonya said. “You can grow with this system. ECU Health has afforded me great opportunities in my professional and personal growth.”
From the business office, where she worked the phone switchboard, Sonya transitioned to insurance where she gained a leadership role. She’s since worked in corporate compliance, the HIMS department, process improvement, and community equity and improvement.
“That takes us up to the pandemic,” Sonya laughed. “From there I worked in community work and my role changed again. Now I’m the manager of community health improvement, chaplain and volunteer services.”
During that time, Sonya also continued her education.
“I started with an associate’s degree from Roanoke-Chowan Community College, but I graduated from Elizabeth State University for a bachelor’s in business administration with a concentration in management in 1996, and after my husband passed away in 2013, I had the conviction to get my master’s and doctorate from Grace Bible College and Theological Seminary. Now I’m an ordained minister.”
Sonya said having supportive leadership and colleagues made it possible for her to continue her education.
“It’s good for you and it’s good for the organization. Getting my master’s and doctorate wasn’t required for my current role, but my leaders saw what I had and what was needed for this job and it connected.”
Regardless of her role, Sonya said she’s made strong connections with her colleagues and her community.
“Roanoke-Chowan has been like family, and I’ve felt supported in a life-work balance. It’s not always like that in other jobs,” she said. “And over the years I’ve worked with so many who have advanced in their journeys. I’ve tried to encourage them along the way, too.”
For now, Sonya has no plans to retire, although it is on the horizon.
“Staying the course isn’t possible because things always change,” she said. “Technology changes, people change. Retirement is my eventual destination, but even when I do, I don’t see myself doing nothing. I love people and my community, and I love to travel. My bucket list destinations are Africa and Dubai.”
In the meantime, Sonya plans to continue to flourish in her role.
“ECU Health is an absolutely wonderful place to grow and work if you’re open to change and experiences. If an opportunity presents itself, take it. I came in working the switchboard and here I am. Your attitude will make your path, your gratitude will grow it and your determination will allow your journey to be as long or as short as you desire it to be.”
ECU Health brought together a community of patients, families, providers and advocates on Sept. 18, for the 2026 Tate Holbrook Annual Sickle Cell Disease Update, an educational conference hosted by the ECU Health Comprehensive Sickle Cell Program and the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University.
Named in honor of Dr. Tate Holbrook, the pediatric hematologist who founded East Carolina University’s Comprehensive Sickle Cell Disease Program in 1979, the annual event provides an opportunity for the sickle cell community to learn about new treatments, discuss challenges facing patients and families, and strengthen partnerships between health care providers and those living with the disease.
“This conference is an opportunity to bring patients, families, providers and community partners together to learn from one another and continue advancing care for people with sickle cell disease,” said Charmaine Bond, social work practitioner with the ECU Health Comprehensive Sickle Cell Program.
“We hope participants leave feeling energized, supported and empowered to continue playing an active role in the sickle cell community.”
Sickle cell disease is an inherited blood disorder that affects how red blood cells carry oxygen throughout the body. The condition can lead to episodes of severe pain, organ damage and other serious complications. While often associated with the African American community, experts say the disease can affect people of any background.
“Sickle cell disease is highly variable, meaning every patient experiences it differently,” said Dr. Julie Kanter, president of the National Alliance of Sickle Cell Centers and a featured speaker at the conference. “What’s most important is that patients receive individualized care from providers who understand the condition and recognize that each person’s experience is unique.”
Dr. Kanter said recent advancements in treatment continue to bring hope to patients and families. “There are exciting new therapies being developed for sickle cell disease,” Dr. Kanter said. “While gene therapy has received significant attention, it is only one of several promising treatment options that are expanding opportunities for patients and improving quality of life.”
For ECU Health, the annual conference reflects decades of commitment to improving care for people living with sickle cell disease across eastern North Carolina.
“ECU Health has been involved in sickle cell care and research since the beginning of our program in 1979,” said Dr. Beng Fuh, director of the ECU Health Comprehensive Sickle Cell Program and pediatric hematology and oncology, and professor at the Brody School of Medicine. “We provide comprehensive care that begins with newborn screening and continues through childhood and adulthood, supported by a multidisciplinary team that includes physicians, nurses, social workers, psychologists and other specialists.”
Dr. Fuh emphasized that treating sickle cell disease requires support from the entire community.
“It takes a village,” he said. “That village includes families, teachers, neighbors, health care providers, social workers and policymakers. Everyone has a role to play in supporting individuals with sickle cell disease and helping them achieve their full potential.”
Among those in attendance was Thor Forte, a young man living with sickle cell disease. Despite the challenges the condition has presented throughout his life, Forte said the experience has helped him appreciate the people around him and the importance of perseverance.
Forte and his family attended the conference to share their experience with the disease and connect with others who understand the journey of living with sickle cell disease.
“You have to work through the hard times,” Forte said. “It can be difficult, but you have to keep pushing forward.”
The conference featured sessions on healthy aging with sickle cell disease, mental health and trauma-informed care, emerging therapies and updates on sickle cell care in eastern North Carolina.
Organizers hope the event continues to grow in the years ahead while serving as a source of education, encouragement and connection for the region’s sickle cell community.
For patients and families navigating a sickle cell diagnosis, Dr. Fuh offered a simple message: seek care, ask questions and know that support is available.
“Knowledge is power,” he said. “We want every patient and family to know they are not alone and that there is a team here ready to help them every step of the way.”
Greenville, N.C. – ECU Health is proud to announce a partnership with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and N.C. Department of Transportation (NCDOT) on the Electric Logistics and Integrated Flight Testing, or eLIFT-NC, initiative that will use next-generation electric aircraft to break down barriers to care in rural North Carolina communities.
The eLIFT-NC initiative aims to explore how electric aviation can better connect hospitals, airports and rural communities to improve access to medical supplies, equipment and disaster recovery resources while maintaining strong safety and infrastructure standards. The phased effort will begin with training and initial operations before expanding to additional routes and potential hospital-to-hospital missions. The program will also help inform the infrastructure and systems needed for long-term implementation.
ECU Health joined North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein and representatives from the FAA, NCDOT, BETA Technologies, Joby Aviation, Metro Aviation and other state healthcare organizations for a kick-off event Wednesday, Sept. 23 at the Raleigh Executive Jetport. The event brought together pilot officials and stakeholders for aircraft simulations and exploration of the future of electronic aircraft in healthcare delivery.
In March, the NCDOT Division of Aviation announced it had been selected to participate in the FAA’s Advance Air Mobility and Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) Integration Pilot Program (eIPP) to explore the potential of next-generation aircraft. The program supports real-world testing of electric aircraft while helping shape future regulations and safety standards.
“North Carolina is ready to turn next-generation aircraft into real-world solutions for our communities,” said Julie White, deputy secretary for multimodal transportation at NCDOT. “Through the eIPP, we will connect rural areas, expand mobility options and demonstrate how electric aviation can benefit residents across the state.”
ECU Health is among the healthcare providers, aviation partners and industry leaders to collaborate with the state. Serving 1.4 million patients across 29, primarily rural, counties in eastern North Carolina positions the health system to offer perspective on how emerging transportation technology can impact the region and state.
ECU Health’s role as a member of the Healthcare Advisory Committee for the initiative will help ensure emerging aviation technology is informed by the realities of rural health care delivery, including geography, access, infrastructure and the needs of patients and communities across eastern North Carolina. ECU Health continues to partner with eLIFT-NC officials on test flights across the region.
“As a national leader in rural healthcare, ECU Health is helping build the model for how health systems, government agencies and innovative partners can work together to improve access and outcomes in rural communities,” said Brian Floyd, chief operating officer, ECU Health. “Public partnerships like eLIFT-NC are essential to translating next-generation ideas into real-world solutions that bring care closer to home, strengthen connectivity and help pave the way to a healthier future for eastern North Carolina and rural communities across the country.”
Community partners offering resources to better behavioral health care in eastern North Carolina had a chance to connect with patients and one another during ECU Health’s 14th annual Behavioral Health Expo on Sept. 22.
The free event brought approximately 50 organizations to Eastern AHEC in Greenville, where community members could see what resources are available across the region. Stacey Greenway, service line executive director and event organizer at ECU Health, said education is invaluable to improve access to care for people who are affected by mental health.
“We work with our community partners year-round, and this is a wonderful opportunity to bring all of their various services together in one place to connect with patients across the region,” Greenway said. “
Attendance by the community and partner organizations continues to grow which is encouraging to see in rural areas where this kind of care is so important. Behavioral health is part of whole-body health, and we are glad resources are available to address it.”
The event featured three presentations on behavioral health, discussing topics such as autism, managing depression and more. Having experts from various fields under the same roof was helpful to let providers know where they can refer patients and collaborate to improve health across eastern North Carolina.
“It is very important to come together to see what resources we have available to help patients,” said Dr. Michael Lang, chair of the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Health at the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University and ECU Health. “No one group can provide for everything, so it is good to know where we can send patients who need specialized care or other resources specific to their unique situation and optimize outcomes for this population that we serve.”
To learn more about Behavioral Health at ECU Health, please visit ECUHealth.org/Behavioral.