Twenty years ago, an idea took root in eastern North Carolina to create a collaboration aimed at building a pipeline of future health care professionals in the region by exposing students to health care careers from middle school on. That idea became the Health Sciences Academy (HSA). On June 30, 2025, ECU Health marked its two-decade legacy with a celebration honoring the graduates, staff and partners who have shaped its journey.
The groundwork for HSA was laid between 1995 and 2000, amid growing concern over health care workforce shortages.
“We needed health care workers desperately,” said Lisa Lassiter, workforce development director, ECU Health. “Health care organizations around the nation still need staffing.”
In 2001, that concern became action.
University Health Systems (now ECU Health) CEO Dave McRae and Pitt County Schools Superintendent Dr. Michael Priddy led the charge, gathering support from Pitt Community College, Pitt-Greenville Chamber of Commerce, Pitt County Schools Board of Education, ECU Health, East Carolina University and Eastern AHEC.
Together, they created a model that integrated health care exposure, leadership development and academic pathways – one that would go on to receive recognition from the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction and the Governor’s Educational Commission.
With continued support from ECU Health, the Academy expanded to Duplin County in 2012. Between Pitt and Duplin counties, more than 2,900 students completed the program. New funding has since expanded the program’s reach to even more rural communities, including Beaufort, Hertford, Edenton-Chowan and Halifax counties.
“ECU Health’s mission is to improve the health and well-being of eastern North Carolina,” Lassiter noted. “Our investment in the Academy is a powerful testament to that commitment.”
The impact of HSA can be seen in students like Jenna Hamed. A 2018 graduate of D.H. Conley High School in Greenville, Hamed credits HSA for helping her turn curiosity into conviction.
“Nobody in my family is in health care,” Hamed said. “I kind of always knew I wanted to do something in health care, but I didn’t really have any way to connect with it, so that’s why I joined Health Sciences Academy.”
Throughout high school, Hamed immersed herself in every opportunity HSA had to offer. From interning in the hospital’s rehab department to traveling abroad to study the United Kingdom’s health care system, the experiences were transformative.
“When I was doing my internship in rehab, I thought I wanted to be a physical therapist,” said Hamed. “I had the opportunity to explore that and realized it wasn’t exactly what I wanted. But I knew I wanted to do something health care adjacent.”
Hamed went on to earn her bachelor’s degree as a pre-med kinesiology major at Campbell University, conducted research and earned admission to the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University. Now in her fourth year, she’s preparing to graduate and pursue an internal medicine residency, with hopes of a fellowship to follow.
Similarly, for Sophie Villani, HSA guided her on a path to medical school. After relocating from London, Ontario, to Greenville as a sophomore at D.H. Conley High School, she was struck by the opportunity HSA presented.
“We didn’t really have anything like this where I used to live,” Villani said. “I had already known I wanted to go into medicine, but it wasn’t until Health Sciences Academy that I really had real experiences to confirm that.”
Villani dove headfirst into everything HSA offered: the Brody School of Medicine research program, a clinical internship and a study abroad experience in Europe. Today, Villani is a medical student at the Brody School of Medicine, slated to graduate in 2026. With her sights set on pediatrics, she hopes to remain in North Carolina to serve the community that helped shape her path.
“I wouldn’t be where I am without the networking and the experiences I had through HSA,” Villani said.
David Roberts, also from Greenville, began his path in HSA as a student at South Central High School. Today, he’s a nurse in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at ECU Health Medical Center.
“HSA was really eye-opening,” Roberts said. “Getting that kind of exposure at a young age, it opened a lot of doors.”
After earning a bachelor’s degree from East Carolina University and interning with Maynard Children’s Hospital, Roberts reconnected with Lassiter and pursued nursing at Pitt Community College through the HomeGrown program. His journey came full circle when he joined the NICU team at ECU Health.
“Seeing the care nurses were providing, not just for the patients, but for the family members, that’s what stuck with me,” Roberts said. “That’s where my heart is.”
As a member of one of the first HSA classes in 2005, Garrett Wingate knew early on that his future would involve health care, he just didn’t yet know in what way. Through hands-on shadowing in everything from sports medicine and physical therapy to orthodontics and pre-dental, Wingate explored a wide range of possibilities. Though he began college as a pre-dental student, those experiences ultimately helped him discover his true calling in health education and kinesiology.
After earning his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in health education from East Carolina University, he went on to complete a doctorate in kinesiology from UNC Greensboro. His research focused on football players and concussions. Now a high school history teacher and football coach, Wingate says everything he learned in HSA ties back to his career today.
“All the classes I took and the opportunities to shadow people really led me down the path of what I did,” said Wingate. “It helped me tremendously, and everything I do is still directly tied to health care.”
Wingate encourages students to apply to HSA, even if they’re unsure.
“The program is great for exposure,” said Wingate. “Once you go do it and realize it’s not for you, that’s the best thing in the world. And if you do it and love it, even better. It just helps you find your path.”
At this year’s celebration, Lassiter offered gratitude to the many who have guided the program over two decades.
“Tonight, we celebrate the organizations and individuals who oversaw and supported the Health Sciences Academy, as well as celebrate our cherished graduates,” Lassiter said. “Thank you for loving your communities and dedicating your careers to serve others.”
As part of our commitment to improve the health and well-being of eastern North Carolina, the Office of Community Health at ECU Health is once again partnering with Food Lion Feeds, Sodexo and the ECU Health Foundation to provide free meals to children, teens and people with disabilities throughout the summer.
ECU Health has offered the Summer Meal Program since 2021, providing thousands of meals to those in need.
This year, the program is being offered in four eastern North Carolina communities – Greenville, Tarboro, Ahoskie and Bethel.
The program dates and locations include:
- Greenville – At York Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church from June 11-Aug. 21; meals provided Monday-Thursday from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. (while meals last)
- Tarboro – At Braswell Community Center from June 9-Aug. 21; meals provided Monday-Thursday from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. (while meals last)
- Ahoskie – At The Gathering Place from June 9-Aug. 21; meals provided Monday-Thursday from 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. (while meals last)
- Bethel – At the Bethel Youth Activity Center from June 16-July 24 (closed June 30-July 4); meals provided Monday-Thursday from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. (while meals last)
In 2024, 71 ECU Health team members volunteered with the Summer Meal Program, serving more than 4,000 meals to people in need.
For more information about the ECU Health Summer Meal Program, please email [email protected].
Since October 2024, the Books from Birth program, a partnership between Maynard Children’s Hospital and Book Harvest, has provided boxes of books to infants and their families, ensuring that reading routines become an integral part of a baby’s earliest days.
On Monday, June 2, Book Harvest staff and N.C. House Rep. Tim Reeder, MD, District 9, who secured funding for the project in the North Carolina State Budget last year, joined the Maynard Children’s Hospital team members to speak with recipients of the book boxes and hear feedback from nurses and child life specialists.
The partnership with Book Harvest aims to enrich the lives of families across eastern North Carolina by supplying books that encourage bonding and learning. Each family with a newborn baby discharged is offered a Books from Birth box, containing 10 board books, educational materials and a onesie, reinforcing the importance of literacy right from the start.
“Books are a powerful tool for connection, learning and development, and the Books from Birth program is giving families the resources to start that journey from day one,” said Tara Stroud, vice president of Women’s and Children’s Services at Maynard Children’s Hospital. “Our nurses and child life specialists see firsthand how these books help families bond with their babies, where parents cherish having stories to read during their hospital stay. This program is about setting a foundation for lifelong literacy and ensuring every child has the opportunity to thrive.”
Stroud said the nurses and child life specialists at the Children’s Hospital are the program’s biggest advocate.
“I love how inclusive the books are,” said Don Sauls, a nurse in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). “I’ve seen multilingual books; I’ve seen books that include sign language. It is very conducive to creating a welcoming and nurturing learning environment and facilitating that bond between parents and their baby and even siblings.”
Amanda and Blake – both elementary school teachers – are in the NICU with their baby and expressed how grateful they were to be able to add to their baby’s library.
“We started reading to her from the moment we found out we were expecting, and even Amanda’s mom would come and read books to her while she was still in the womb,” said Blake. “Just knowing those voices and hearing those stories helps build a foundation for learning, and we hope it will make her a strong reader, speller and learner one day. We’re incredibly thankful for the books and support we’ve received.”
With the Books from Birth program, ECU Health and Book Harvest are paving the way for a new generation of readers, ensuring that every baby’s first moments are accompanied by the power of stories.
“We are so uplifted by the partnership with Maynard Children’s Hospital to make sure every single newborn is starting their life with their own library,” said Ginger Young, chief executive officer, Book Harvest. “Literacy starts at birth, and early literacy is the key to building a foundation of literacy that will last a lifetime. To be able to send families home not only with their new bundle of joy, but also the start of their own home library, is the thing we dream about all the time.”
Since its launch at Maynard Children’s Hospital, the Books from Birth program has made significant progress in reaching families and fostering early literacy. From October 2024 to March 2025, more than 1,700 book boxes have been provided to newborn families. Families from 36 counties and three states have benefitted from the program. Additionally, 28 percent of the boxes have been provided to premature or medically complex infants, offering literacy support to some of the most vulnerable newborns.
“I recognized how important the program was to encourage reading, but to see how this hospital has embraced this vision and the impact on patients and families has been monumental,” said Rep. Reeder.
More than 500 ECU Health nurses gathered May 20-21 at the Greenville Convention Center for the 12th Annual Nursing Summit—a transformative two-day event dedicated to education, leadership and innovation in health care.
The summit featured a dynamic lineup of keynote speakers. North Carolina Senator Gale Adcock shared insights on leadership. Claire Zangerle, chief executive officer of American Organization for Nursing Leadership, and Trish Baise, chief nursing executive at ECU Health, sat down to discuss the power of influence at every level. Dustin Bass, vice president of System Emergency Services at ECU Health, emphasized the strength of unity in The Power of Us. Phil Gwoke, CEO of BridgeWorks, tackled the importance of cross-generational collaboration in health care.
For attendee Susan Hoover, director of Perioperative Services at Outer Banks Health Hospital, the event was a powerful reminder of the mindset behind leadership.
“Senator Adcock really reminded us that what we tell ourselves impacts who we are as a leader and as a person,” Hoover said. “That’s something that can get lost in day-to-day business, but having it put forward again was very beneficial.”
Attendees engaged in breakout sessions focused on research, innovation, leadership development, well-being and AI/tech. Nurses explored cutting-edge technology firsthand, with vendors displaying innovative solutions designed to enhance patient care.
“My favorite part was visiting the technology zone,” Hoover shared. “There were several vendors showcasing different modules that will be beneficial for our teams. I’ll definitely take that back to our senior leaders.”
As the event drew to a close, Baise reflected on the summit’s impact.
“What we witnessed wasn’t just professional development; it was a renewal of spirit,” she said. “In every breakout session, keynote address and hallway conversation, I saw the very heartbeat of health care—nurses exchanging ideas, supporting one another and embracing innovation with open arms and open minds.”
Kelly Barnette, nurse manager of Patient Care Services, OBGYN at ECU Health Duplin Hospital, emphasized how the event fostered meaningful connections.
“This is my third Nursing Summit since being in this role, and one of my favorite parts is seeing that I actually know so many people outside of my community hospital,” Barnette said. “The networking, the conversations and the shared energy make it truly special.”
“Our gathering served as a testament to the profound impact of collective energy,” Baise said. “When nurses unite, we don’t just talk about change—we create it. We empower one another to challenge the status quo, lead with empathy and uplift the communities we serve.”
Resources
More than 50 organizations focused on mental health participated in ECU Health’s 13th annual Mental Health Expo on Thursday, May 22.
The event, held at Eastern AHEC in Greenville, was free for everyone and helped connect community members with resources available in eastern North Carolina. Glenn Simpson, executive director for behavioral health at ECU Health, said that is the most important part of the Expo – ensuring everyone knows who to connect with if they or a loved one are in need.
“Mental health is health, mental illness is a disease, substance use disorder is a disease, it’s not a character flaw or something like that,” Simpson said. “We want people to know, because there is a stigma attached to mental health in many ways, that it is OK to ask for help. When you want to ask for help, we want to make sure people know who to ask. This is to help eastern North Carolina become aware of the resources available to them.”
Simpson said one in five adults in the United States suffer from a diagnosable mental illness and taking a moment to talk with a provider or a professional about your mental health is just as important as discussing blood pressure and other physical health needs.
The event also featured three presentations on mental health – two by psychiatrists and one by a therapist – covering nature’s benefit on mental health, the mind-body connection and more.
“Having experts here to bring their perspectives and understanding to this community is a great opportunity. I think it’s a great chance for folks to hear from professionals about small ways to improve mental health, like getting outside or healthy lifestyle choices,” Simpson said. “We’re just grateful to have everyone here working toward the same goal and helping get people to the resources they may need.”
He also said it was an exciting opportunity to share information about the upcoming state-of-the-art, 144-bed behavioral health hospital in Greenville, slated to open in 2025.
Resources
In the heart of eastern North Carolina, community partnerships are driving meaningful change in rural health care. ECU Health, alongside Conetoe Family Life Center and Access East, hosted a CommUNITY for Health and Wellness event at the Robersonville Public Library on Friday, May 16, to provide free health screenings, education on health care benefits, fresh produce and essential resources to residents.
ECU Health Community Engagement Coordinator Charmaine Reader provided everyone who walked by the pop-up with a friendly face and information about the event.
“We’re here to show love, love on the community of Martin County and provide resources that address social determinants of health like food security, health care access and more,” said Reeder.
Creating access to care in Martin County is a particularly important endeavor. The county’s only hospital closed in 2023 but the need for services remain.
This event is one of many ways ECU Health has rallied around the community in alignment with the organization’s mission to improve the health and well-being of the region.
For Debbie Burkhart, manager of the Robersonville Public Library, the event was a natural extension of her passion to support her community. Robersonville Public Library hosts one of ECU Health’s Health Hubs, helping community members connect with vital resources by offering technology-equipped spaces for virtual health care visits and support for social determinants of health like food, housing and employment.
“Today we’re also shedding light on our health hub location where they can gain access to these resources Monday through Friday,” said Reeder. “Debbie is great with helping individuals and connecting them back to us when they need assistance. She also helped spread the word about today and helped us get people here who needed to be here.”
Burkhart sees the library as not just a place for books but a resource for the community, whether that means helping people access health care information or simply providing a welcoming space.
“It’s all about community,” Burkhart said. “Without the community, we wouldn’t have a library; without the library, we wouldn’t have a community.”
After people got their free blood pressure screenings, Conetoe Family Life Center welcomed attendees on their bus to shop for free, fresh, locally grown produce. Jamie Harrison from Conetoe Family Life Center emphasized the importance of bringing fresh produce and nutrition education to residents.
“A lot of eastern North Carolinians live in a food desert,” Harrison said. “By partnering with ECU Health, we can help bridge that gap by making healthy food more accessible. Events like this introduce people to new fruits and vegetables and get them to try fresh recipes. We also can provide education on helping people grow their own produce.”
Sandra Grigg, a local resident, appreciated the impact of these initiatives on her community and said she comes to events like this because of how important the resources provided are to all of the residents.
“I want people to know that Martin County is full of really great people,” said Grigg. “They just need more information, and the fact that you’ve got the table here that’s talking about how to get health insurance if you don’t have it, that’s really, really important. I would encourage people to always come to these because of the information, because of what they teach you, what they show you.”
Greenville, N.C. – ECU Health is proud to announce the opening of the IMPACT (Integrated Model of Perinatal Addiction Care and Treatment) Clinic, a new outpatient addiction medicine clinic dedicated to providing specialized care for pregnant individuals facing substance use disorders. Located within the high-risk clinic at the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, this clinic is the first and only clinic of its kind in eastern North Carolina.
“We know that perinatal substance use disorder is a medical disease—not a moral failing,” said Dr. David H. Ryan, obstetrician-gynecologist, addiction medicine provider and clinical assistant professor at ECU Health and the Brody School of Medicine. “Many individuals facing this challenge are eager to seek treatment but struggle to access the care they need due to stigma and systemic barriers. The IMPACT Clinic will provide a supportive and comprehensive approach to treatment, helping patients navigate recovery while receiving essential medical and prenatal care.”
Recognizing the unique challenges and barriers to health care that pregnant women with substance use disorders face, ECU Health has assembled a multidisciplinary team to provide integrated treatment, including obstetric care, mental health services, lactation support, social work and educational resources. The clinic will also be serviced by medical residents to train future providers in addiction medicine and obstetrics and gynecology.
“The IMPACT Clinic headed up by Dr. David Ryan is a tremendous step forward in ECU Health’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology mission to make eastern North Carolina a better place for mothers and infants to be born and thrive,” said Dr. James Whiteside, department chair, Obstetrics and Gynecology, ECU Health and the Brody School of Medicine. “Given the significance mental health disorders have in maternal death and illness in North Carolina, it is essential these and related services are expanded.”
The IMPACT Clinic aims to improve outcomes for pregnant individuals in North Carolina, where substance-related mortality rates are concerning. According to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services from 2019-2020, one in four maternal deaths was attributed to unintentional overdose. With only five other programs in the state offering dedicated OBGYN addiction care within a single setting, ECU Health will become the sixth, filling a critical gap in resources for eastern North Carolina residents.
“Access to specialized health care is often limited in rural communities, and ECU Health is working to change that,” said Brian Floyd, chief operating officer, ECU Health. “By establishing the IMPACT Clinic, we are expanding essential addiction treatment and maternal health services in eastern North Carolina, ensuring that pregnant women receive expert, compassionate care without having to travel long distances. Initiatives like the IMPACT Clinic support our mission and help us build the national model for academic rural health care.”
The clinic began seeing patients on May 7, 2025, through referrals from OBGYN providers, including private practices and health departments. Services will be available to individuals actively experiencing substance use as well as those in recovery. Patients seeking more information about the IMPACT Clinic can call 252-744-2350.
When Ophelia Hill applied for a job at ECU Health in the Medical Center cafeteria in 2009, she was looking for a stable job that could grow with her. “I was working in fast food, and my aunt and uncle both worked at ECU Health. I wanted to work where I could retire, and this job [in Food and Nutrition] was my foot in the door,” she said. “I needed to earn money and I needed stability.” Little did she know that job would lead her to a role as lead surgical tech coordinator with the East Carolina Heart Institute (ECHI) at ECU Health Medical Center.
Ophelia, a Greenville native, always knew she wanted to help people – something that matched well with her work at ECU Health. “I worked in the cafeteria for a while, but I wanted to do something different, so I applied for a job in Material Services and worked in Laundry & Linen,” she said. “I did that for 11 or 12 years, but I was also a nursing assistant and would pick up shifts from Central Staffing when they needed me.”
Ophelia found that she enjoyed the work as a nursing assistant, but there wasn’t an opportunity to work in that role full time. “I knew I wanted to do hands-on patient care,” she said.
A trip up to 4 North with a colleague solidified that goal. “One of my friends in Supply Chain often worked on 4 North and one day I went with her. I saw staff performing a bedside procedure in a patient’s room and I asked her about it,” she shared. “‘What are they doing, and how can I do that?’ I wondered. That very night I researched different careers and found the surgical technician certification program at Wilson Community College, so I applied and I got in!”
Shortly after being accepted, Ophelia discovered the certification program was transitioning to an associate’s degree. It was also about that same time when she learned about the HomeGrown program from her team leader.
The HomeGrown program supports ECU Health team members seeking a first-time degree while providing the flexibility for them to continue working at ECU Health. Seven different degree programs are eligible for the program, including surgical technology, and eligible team members can work part time while being paid full-time and maintaining their benefits. “Mr. Vandiford, my manager at the time, told me about the program and he and my team were so great about letting me adjust my hours so I could do what I needed.”
Ophelia graduated with her associate’s degree, and three years ago, she started her new job as a surgical technologist in the ECU Health SurgiCenter. She later transitioned to the ECHI, and in December, her leader suggested she apply for a lead coordinator position. She started her new role on March 9.
The new position requires Ophelia to use her skills as a surgical technician to support the team at the ECHI. “I work a late shift and cover for those who get off at 3 p.m., so I still have to scrub up,” she shared. “I also work closely with the sterile processing department (SPD) staff to create trays and instrumentation, call in orders for broken equipment and keep up with the surgical flow. Wherever they need me, that’s where I am.”
The path to this role might have been a long one, but Ophelia said she feels like it was meant to be. “It seemed like when I stepped into this role, I didn’t have obstacles and it wasn’t as hard to do the work because I love it.”
It also helps that she works with a great team. “I love the flexibility of this job, and the people I work with make it possible for me to do anything. Not everyone gets that kind of support.” She also values making a positive difference in patients’ lives. “I get to be a part of a team that increases the quality of life for each patient we see,” she said. “We all have a common goal, and that’s what gets me going.”
Ophelia isn’t quite done with her education yet, either. “In May, I will graduate from Pitt Community College with a degree in health information technology,” she shared.
None of this would have been possible without the support of her fellow team members, her leadership and ECU Health’s HomeGrown program.
Last year, ECU Health and the national nonprofit Undue Medical Debt announced an initiative to help eliminate more than $186 million of past-due hospital medical debt for more than 32,000 qualifying patients. Under the Undue Medical Debt guidelines, eligible community members are those whose medical debt exceeds 5% or more of their annual income or who earn at or below four times the current federal poverty-level income (which is $31,200 for a family of four). Community members did not need to take any action, as the eligible hospital medical debt was automatically eliminated for those who qualified.
Debt relief letters were sent out in December and January, and now recipients are sharing their stories.
“This is a miracle that arrived at the right time,” said Nicolas M. of Winterville. He owed nearly $32,000 in medical debt. “These last few months have been especially difficult, but we always try to make the [debt] payments in one way or another.
When I entered the system to make my payment, I did not find the bill… to my surprise and joy I found the Undue letter, indicating that I owed nothing. It seems incredible to us; we thought we would never finish paying that debt. We never thought that something like this could happen to us. We cried with happiness and gratitude. Thank you very much for this help, you have been angels for us, and we will be eternally grateful.”
Heidi of Grosse Pointe had this to say: “When I read that Undue Medical Debt had paid off over $6,000 in medical expenses acquired when we were trying a biological chemotherapy to treat my conditions, a debt that would take me nearly a decade to pay off, I couldn’t believe it. I was floored [and] in complete shock. I just started crying in relief. I didn’t choose to get sick. Undue Medical Debt threw me not just a lifeline, but a complete escape raft. You have changed a life, and I’ll never forget it.”
“I didn’t even apply for assistance. I am so very thankful,” Beth of Edenton said when her more than $1,000 bill was abolished. “What an incredible way to start the year!” shared B.T. of Farmville, after their nearly $1,300 bill was forgiven.
Each debt relief recipient expressed surprise and gratitude at learning their medical debt had been forgiven.
This initiative aligns not only with the system’s commitment to serving underserved communities of the East, but it also ECU Health’s long-standing practice of non-predatory billing, which emphasizes charity care, zero-interest payment plans, transparent pricing and dedicated resources to help patients navigate financial requirements.
“Partnering with Undue Medical Debt allows us to live out ECU Health’s mission in a truly meaningful way – by extending empathy and support beyond the hospital walls,” said Andy Zukowski, chief financial officer at ECU Health. “Medical debt can be a significant burden for individuals and families, especially in the rural and underserved communities we are proud to serve. Through this collaboration, we’re able to help relieve that burden for those who qualify, reinforcing our commitment to improving the health and well-being of eastern North Carolina. It’s not just about financial relief – it’s about dignity, access and aligning our actions with our core values of integrity, compassion and accountability.”
NCWorks is an initiative through the state of North Carolina for young adults aged 18 to 24 who are interested in exploring careers in health care. The program brings together various statewide agencies including the Department of Commerce, Public Instruction and the NC community college system to create opportunities for young jobseekers to find employment.
NCWorks offers tools, resources and knowledge needed to build a strong foundation for participants to begin their career. ECU Health is one of many work sites across the state for the NCWorks program.
In addition to helping young adults gain valuable skills, the program also creates a pipeline of talent that potentially leads to participants becoming members of the ECU Health team. By equipping young professionals for success, ECU Health strengthens its workforce and contributes to the local community by acting on the mission of improving the health and well-being of eastern North Carolina.
The program runs for approximately three months during which participants are part-time team members at ECU Health, gaining hands-on experience in a health care setting. During these three months, they learn about roles in health care from their fellow team members.
Throughout the program, participants are supported with continuous coaching from the workforce development team through learning skills and receiving guidance to help them thrive in professional environments. Both technical and soft skills are important for working in a professional environment and the program helps them develop and navigate these skills.
Program participants also receive guidance and mentorship from current ECU Health team members to learn the ins-and-outs of the workplace. At the end of the program, participants understand the importance of ECU Health’s mission, vision and values and have embedded that into their daily work.
Kara Dozier, a member of the Food and Nutrition Services team, is currently serving as an ambassador and the first participant of the NCWorks Project at ECU Health.
Kara got involved in the program when she met Toyta Kee, a talent pipeline consultant at ECU Health, at a job fair at the Greenville Convention Center. “I saw Ms. Toyta’s ECU Health sign and decided I’m going to talk to her and see what this is about. I did, and I gave her my application that I had printed out, and she said she would contact me,” Kara said.
Kara reached out to Toyta and got connected with the NCWorks program, which Kara has now been a part of since October 2024.
“Overall, my favorite thing about the program is it allows me to be more self-sufficient and provides a great opportunity for different positions at ECU Health,” she says, “I definitely would recommend this program to everybody who’s interested because it is a great opportunity for anybody who wants to get their foot into the ECU Health door!”