Lindsay Dunning has been a patient access representative with ECU Health Neurosurgery for 13 years. She was drawn to her role in part because of her own diagnosis of scoliosis as a child, an experience that she said helps her connect with the patients she serves every day.
“I see patients come in and they’re worried, and I tell them I understand where they’re coming from and it’ll be okay,” Dunning said.
The Robersonville native never expected she would help her husband during a time of medical crisis, however.
“It was a Monday night in June 2022, and I was up feeding our four-week-old,” Dunning shared. “My husband Jeff had just put our four-year-old to bed and came in complaining his chest hurt. He said he didn’t feel right. Even though he didn’t have a history of heart issues, I said right then we were going to the ED.”
That decision, in part, saved her husband’s life.
“The doctors told him he’d had a heart attack, and they were going to do a heart catheterization immediately,” she said. “I had gone home to get our older child to school, and by the time I got back to the hospital, five doctors came into his room and told him he needed a triple bypass.”
An unexpected diagnosis
This news caught Lindsay and Jeff, who was only 38 at the time, by surprise.
“Jeff broke down; he didn’t know what to do,” Lindsay said. “He was going to have to miss work. We had an infant and a small child at home, and my mother had recently died. On top of that, my sister-in-law had just had her baby at 27 weeks, and our niece was in the NICU. We had a lot going on.”
Thankfully, Lindsay’s mother-in-law was there to help watch the kids while Jeff underwent surgery. Dr. Michael Bates rearranged his schedule so he could perform the surgery before he went out on vacation.
“Dr. Bates came in the morning of surgery and it was like he’d known us our whole lives,” Lindsay said. “He gave me a hug and said everything was going to be okay. You just felt his confidence about how things would go.”
“He needed three bypasses and we did all three with arteries instead of veins,” Dr. Bates shared.
“Arterial bypasses last longer and improve survival, and we routinely do that here at ECU Health for younger patients. Our rate of multi-arterial bypass is two times the national average and is a marker for high-performing cardiac surgery programs.”
The road to recovery
During Jeff’s 11-day hospital stay, Lindsay said he received great care, right down to one of the volunteers who regularly took him for a walk in the halls. Jeff also participated in cardiac rehab, but he was determined to recover as quickly as possible and walked a mile every morning.
“Jeff works with the North Carolina Department of Transportation, so he wanted to get back to work as soon as possible,” Lindsay said.
Once he returned home, Jeff still required some assistance, and Lindsay had her hands full with two small children. Thankfully, she said, their community of family, friends and co-workers chipped in by establishing a meal train, taking Jeff out for rides, calling and texting and mowing their lawn.
Jeff went back to work that August, and his annual cardiology follow-up appointments show everything is working as it should. Lindsay said that Jeff tells her regularly, “You saved my life!” She’s pretty humble about that, but she is quick to thank Dr. Bates and God for his quick and skilled intervention.
“The Heart Center is top notch, and we are so thankful for the care we received and for Dr. Bates,” she said. “He told us that Jeff’s condition was a ‘ticking time bomb,’ but he expects this bypass to last Jeff a lifetime.”
Greenville, N.C. – The North Carolina Statewide Telepsychiatry Program’s Pediatric Program (NC-STeP-Peds) has been named the recipient of the 2026 Psychiatric Services Achievement Gold Award by the American Psychiatric Association (APA), one of the field’s highest national and international honors recognizing innovation and excellence in mental health care delivery.
The award was presented during the APA Annual Meeting held in May in San Francisco. Established in 1949, the award recognizes programs worldwide that demonstrate leadership in service delivery, quality improvement and meaningful engagement with patients, families and care teams.
NC-STeP-Peds, an initiative of East Carolina University’s Center for Telepsychiatry, was recognized for its innovative, technology-enabled approach to addressing pediatric mental health needs, particularly in rural and underserved communities.
“Improving access to high-quality behavioral health care for children is one of the most urgent challenges facing our communities,” said Dr. Sy Saeed, executive director of NC-STeP and professor and chair emeritus in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine at the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University. “This recognition reflects the strength of our partnership and our commitment to reaching children where they are with timely, evidence-based care.”
Nationally, one in four to five children and adolescents are affected by a mental health disorder, yet fewer than half receive treatment. Access challenges are even more pronounced in North Carolina, where approximately 33% of residents live in rural areas and behavioral health providers are concentrated in urban centers. NC-STeP Pediatrics continues to work to address these significant mental health needs. NC-STeP-Peds serves children statewide, from Murphy to Manteo.
Launched in 2023, NC-STeP Pediatrics brings together clinicians from across the state to expand access through telepsychiatry, virtual reality, AI-supported knowledge management, and integrated, team-based care models. Using a population health approach, the program partners with pediatric practices across the state.
To date, the program has:
- Screened more than 47,000 children and adolescents for mental health symptoms.
- Supported more than 5,800 patients with follow-up evaluations by behavioral health managers.
- Connected more than 400 patients with child and adolescent psychiatrists.
- Delivered integrated care to more than 760 children and adolescents.
- Completed over 2,000 patients visits
“NC STeP Pediatrics demonstrates how academic medicine and health system collaboration can transform access to care, particularly for patients in rural communities,” said ECU Health CEO and Brody School of Medicine Dean Dr. Michael Waldrum. “By leveraging technology and innovation, we are reaching a greater number of children and families across North Carolina. This recognition is a testament to the mission-driven team members who continue to expand NC-STeP’s impact in the state.”
The program has emerged as a nationally recognized model for expanding access to pediatric behavioral health services in rural communities. Its collaborative co-management approach supports primary care providers and pediatricians while enhancing care coordination, improving patient experience and strengthening mental health outcomes.
A group of five eastern North Carolina high school students with disabilities capped off a rewarding year interning at ECU Health Medical Center with a graduation ceremony Tuesday.
Dasani Cherry, Denise Clemons, Deshanti Morris, Jah’Terrion Sherrod and Joshua Tripp made up the eleventh graduating class for Project SEARCH, a rigorous yearlong internship program for students with developmental and intellectual disabilities during their last year of high school. The five graduates worked in various areas around ECU Health Medical Center where they learned tangible, marketable skills that can help them find competitive employment.
During the graduation ceremony Alexus Hyman, a receiving clerk at ECU Health Medical Center, told the students that their willingness to challenge themselves took strength.
“Sometimes the world may underestimate you,” Hyman told the class. “Sometimes they may only see you for your disability instead of your ability, but hear me clearly — your disability does not disqualify you. It gives you a different kind of strength built on perseverance, patience, resilience and heart.”
This year’s class was the first led by Jay Cotton, Project SEARCH instructor, who said he most enjoyed getting to know the students on an individual level where their unique personalities could shine through. He acknowledged that learning how to work with other team members and acclimate to the fast-moving pace of ECU Health Medical Center empowered students just as much as learning proper sanitation practices or how to use office equipment.
“These graduates had the chance to learn so much in a hospital setting,” Cotton said. “They learned people skills, developed a work ethic and saw how it feels to be in a workplace. When they got here, they were completely green to a job environment. They learned where to show up, how to navigate this big campus and its various units, how to get ready to work in the morning and clock in on their own. We showed them what to do, but they developed that independence as they worked.
“Along the way, they received encouragement in the knowledge that they can work and become employable young men and women. Even with their disabilities, they can still do what they need to do.”
Morris said she was nervous when she first started working at the Medical Center. She was not certain how to carry out her jobs, which started in the Medical Center cafeteria, then transitioned to guest services and ended in pediatrics at James and Connie Maynard Children’s Hospital at ECU Health Medical Center. With encouragement, repetition and time she said her confidence soared.
“I feel good about it now,” Morris said. “I’d like to find a job or go to college.”
Tripp is ready to find yet another job now that he has graduated from Project SEARCH. He already mowed lawns and worked on a hardware truck when he was not carrying out his internship duties.
“I’m ready, feeling prepared, come in here and get it done,” Tripp said. “I’m proud of what I do stocking stuff up, cleaning, taking the trash out. I’m ready to get a job and make that money.”
Project SEARCH is a partnership between ECU Health Medical Center, Pitt County Schools, McCloud & Associates, Inc., and the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services’ Division of Employment and Independence for People with Disabilities.
“My aunt raised me, and she told me we’d never have anything if we didn’t work for it.”
That’s the motto Mary Swinson has lived by her whole life, and at 83, she has no plans to stop.
“I just love to work,” she said. “I started out in the tobacco fields when I was nine years old, and I’ve been working ever since.”
Swinson was born in Greene County, and after she grew up, she moved to New York City where she cleaned houses and kept the children for a local family. While she liked parts of living in the big city, it was too fast paced for her and she decided to return home to North Carolina after three years.
She found work in Wilson, first with Collins Aerospace and then Wrangler Jeans, where she worked for 10 years. When the Wrangler factory closed down, Swinson found a new job with ECU Health.
“I had a friend, Barbara, and she worked here,” Swinson said. “She asked if I wanted to work in housekeeping, and that’s how I got on here.”
That was 25 years ago, and Swinson has seen a lot change in that time; managers have come and gone and the hospital has grown. What hasn’t changed is her love of her work.
“I like working in housekeeping,” she said. “I’m off by myself and I get the satisfaction of seeing things accomplished.”
Even when she gets knocked down, Swinson gets right back up.
“In the Emergency Department, I was taking out the trash when someone knocked into me,” she said. “I’m little; I don’t weigh much, so I fell down. I didn’t get hurt, though, and even though my manager wanted me to get checked out, I just wanted to get back to work.”
Tasha Jones, manager of supply chain management, said Swinson’s impact on ECU Health and her team is unmistakable.
“She is a loving, generous, selfless person who consistently exemplifies a strong work ethic and commitment to this organization,” Tasha said. “On days I feel overwhelmed, she appears at exactly the right moment, and whether it’s her playful banter or a warm hug, she knows just what I need. That encouragement, no matter the form, always gives me the extra push to keep going.”
Swinson has no plans to retire anytime soon.
“I’m not ready to retire,” Mary said. “I don’t want to just sit around the house.”
To new and current team members, Swinson had a bit of advice: “When you come here, do your job and do it well.”
“Ms. Mary can outwork and outpace anyone on the team,” Tasha shared. “She is truly one of a kind and we are all better because of her.”
To learn more about job opportunities with ECU Health, visit Careers.ECUHealth.org
Greenville, N.C. – ECU Health has been awarded $1,497,500 from The Duke Endowment (TDE) to participate in the Maternal Infant Health (MIH) Carolinas initiative, a multiyear effort to improve maternal and infant health outcomes across North Carolina and South Carolina, strengthen care coordination and advance health equity. H.E.A.R. (Healing, Equity, Advocacy and Respect) 4 Mamas and Babies (H4MAB) is a text- and phone-based screening and referral program developed at The Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) to identify medical, behavioral health and social needs early in pregnancy and throughout the postpartum year.
“ECU Health is proud to serve as a pilot site for this proven maternal health model, allowing us to bring an innovative, evidence‑informed approach to mothers across our 29‑county region,” said Angela Still, executive director, Women’s Services, James and Connie Maynard Children’s Hospital at ECU Health Medical Center.
“By integrating comprehensive, stage‑specific screenings with coordinated nursing and social work support, we can better identify needs early and connect patients with the clinical and community resources that help them thrive. We are excited to collaborate with MUSC and peer programs to advance maternal and infant health outcomes for families throughout eastern North Carolina.”
The model proactively connects participants to timely, trusted services and has demonstrated significant improvements in the detection and treatment of mental health conditions, including maternal depression and anxiety as well as substance use disorders, chronic health conditions, intimate partner violence and unmet social determinants of health needs.
TDE’s investment will support the awarded sites in planning and implementing H4MAB. This includes participation in a peer learning community and access to a comprehensive Technical Assistance and Training Center led by MUSC in collaboration with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The center provides training, technology, cross-site evaluation and data resources along with ongoing technical assistance to strengthen implementation. It will also collaborate with state agencies, Medicaid programs and private payers to explore long-term reimbursement pathways for program sustainability.
ECU Health is among five health systems TDE selected to form a network aimed at mitigating risk factors that lead to poor maternal and infant health outcomes while ensuring families across the Carolinas receive the timely support they need to thrive. ECU Health will collaborate with local health care providers, public health agencies and community-based organizations to share information about H4MAB and connect families with medical, behavioral health, social support and peer support resources. ECU Health will also convene a community advisory board to provide feedback, identify resource gaps and ensure that implementation reflects local context and community experience.
“We are thrilled to launch this initiative in partnership with MUSC, UNC-Chapel Hill and five health systems,” said Jay Kennedy, senior program officer with The Duke Endowment’s Health Care program area. “Our aim is to work together to replicate and scale this program in hopes of improving health outcomes for more women and infants across the Carolinas.”
Greenville, N.C. – Project SEARCH, an educational program offered at ECU Health Medical Center, is proud to announce five students recently graduated from the program: Dasani Cherry, Denise Clemons, Deshanti Morris, Jah’Terrion Sherrod and Joshua Tripp. Project SEARCH is a one-year internship program for students with developmental and intellectual disabilities during their last year of high school with the goal of providing real-world practical skills and increasing their chances of competitive employment.
“Project SEARCH at ECU Health is a place where students have the opportunity to gain essential job skills and grow,” said Doris Hill, Project SEARCH coordinator at ECU Health. “When our students pick up new skills it’s not just a win for them, but also for our hospital and our community. Witnessing their growth and success is truly inspiring, and we look forward to seeing them thrive in their careers.”
The Project SEARCH program at ECU Health Medical Center began in 2015 through partnerships with Pitt County Schools, McCloud & Associates, Inc. and Employment and Independence for People with Disabilities. Students complete internships in various departments at the hospital including the ECHO Lab, Gastrointestinal Lab, Central Services, hospital cafeterias, Hospitality, Shipping and Receiving, Neuroscience Intermediate Unit, Heart Café, Physician Lounge and Pediatrics.
This year’s students who participated in the program are enrolled at various Pitt County high schools including Farmville Central High School, J.H. Rose High School, North Pitt High School and South Central High School.
“Seeing Project SEARCH students grow, learn new skills, and discover what they can do through Project SEARCH is really uplifting,” said Jay Cotton, Project SEARCH instructor. “Their dedication and hard work will help them in their future jobs, and it feels great to play a part in their journey as they get ready for rewarding careers.”
The employment rate for youth with disabilities is about 60 to 70 percent less than youth without disabilities, according to the Office of Disability Employment Policy. Project SEARCH has proven results with a 65 percent employment and 90 percent retention rate nationally. The Project SEARCH program began in 1996 at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC) and was developed to meet entry-level employment needs at CCHMC, support their diversity initiative and partner with schools and community services agencies. Project SEARCH is now an international program with over 716 program sites in 48 states and 11 countries.
It might come as a surprise to her high school self, but Anne Chadwick has spent 44 years treating, tending to, and connecting with patients in eastern North Carolina. Now, her passion and commitment have been honored with ECU Health’s first ever DAISY Lifetime Achievement Award.
Chadwick, an ECU Health staff nurse with 2 North at ECU Health Medical Center in Greenville, was recognized with the award in front of more than 500 of her peers on May 20, during the 2026 ECU Health Nursing Summit. The honor intends to spotlight a nurse with 25 or more years of experience who has demonstrated a lasting legacy of compassionate care, mentorship, advocacy, lifelong learning and transformational leadership.
For Chadwick, what began as a simple decision developed into something much, much deeper.
“When I was in high school, I had absolutely no idea what I wanted to do,” Chadwick said. “I had some good friends say they were going into nursing so I said, ‘OK. I’ll do nursing.’ When I started working, I fell in love with it. 44 years later, I still love it.
“I have not one regret going into this field.”
In addition to her clinical time, Chadwick is an adjunct instructor at Pitt Community College where she teaches the next generation of nurses. She values being able to make a difference in her career.
“I hope that what I bring to nursing I can give to my students and fellow nurses,” Chadwick said. “When patients and family members thank you for taking care of them or their families, that’s what touches you. It makes you want to be the best nurse you can be.”
The 13th annual ECU Health Nursing Summit is a two-day event that brought together more than 400 nurses from across the system. Each year, the summit offers an opportunity for nurses to connect, reflect on the future of the profession and celebrate their impact. Participants engaged in breakout sessions focused on research, innovation, leadership development, well-being and technology. The summit also featured educational sessions, keynote speakers, networking opportunities and vendors showcasing the latest in health care innovations, allowing nurses to explore cutting-edge technology designed to enhance patient care.
“When nurses come together to share experiences, challenge traditional thinking and learn from one another, incredible things happen,” said Trish Baise, chief nursing executive at ECU Health. “This summit reflects our commitment to creating a culture where nurses are engaged, empowered and equipped to lead transformation. The future of health care will be shaped by nurses, and I am excited to see the innovation and leadership emerging across our system.”
Tara Stroud, chief nursing officer, ECU Health Medical Center, said the annual summit is also a celebration.
“We are so proud of our ECU Health nurses and the care that they deliver,” Stroud said. “It’s so important to be able to give back to them and ensure they can grow professionally to be the best nurses they can be. Our nurses do remarkable things every day, so this is an opportunity for us to really celebrate that amazing work.”
A number of deserving candidates were nominated for the DAISY Lifetime Achievement Award. That list was painstakingly narrowed down to five finalists: Barbara “Dee” Abrams, care manager at ECU Health Edgecombe Hospital; Andrea Jeppson, licensed practical nurse at ECU Health Duplin Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit; Lou Ann Proctor, staff nurse at ECU Health Medical Center’s Pediatric Intensive Care Unit; Dr. Sharona Johnson, executive director of Advanced Clinical Practice at ECU Health; and Chadwick. All five represented more than 200 years of nursing expertise.
Over 42 years, Abrams has made an impact on the Edgecombe County community through her work with patients and colleagues. She said ECU Health Edgecombe Hospital has always felt like home.
“There’s nothing else that I’d rather do,” Abrams said. “I think what has kept me in the field is just doing my best and working as a family to help others.”
Jeppson will soon mark 40 years in nursing. In that time, she said nursing has changed, but caring for people has not. Jeppson initially felt called to the career after she saved a neighbor from choking on food.
“She came out waving a dish cloth, she was choking on a piece of steak,” Jeppson recalled. “I just ran across the yard and did the Heimlich maneuver, and we managed to get the steak out. I thought, maybe I want to be a nurse.”
Proctor has been a nurse for over 38 years. Her mother, two aunts and a great aunt were also nurses. They taught her the value of compassion, something she takes into her role working with patients and her fellow team members.
“You’re not in this alone,” Proctor said. “You go into a room by yourself to check vitals or administer medications, but if that alarm goes off there are three people at your door. People come running when there’s a need.”
Johnson said that as a youth, she could tell nurses cared about people. That resonated with her on the way to her 39-year career in the field.
“I think we owe it to our patients to know part of their story, because that is what defines their life,” Johnson said. “We’re a shared humanity and we need to realize that.”
Stroud said all of the nominees were worthy of the Lifetime Achievement Award, finalist or not. She said Chadwick personifies the qualities that exemplify what it means to be an exceptional nurse, and that her commitment to the profession and her patients deserved recognition.
“Anne shows heartfelt compassion, exceptional clinical skills and a commitment to growing the future of nursing,” Stroud said. “She spends so much time teaching other nurses and students how to succeed in the field.”
Chadwick also thanked her team who she said do a phenomenal job taking care of patients. She said anyone considering a career in nursing should just do it.
“This is a great career,” Chadwick said. “You have to show compassion and care for your patients. It is about people.”
Logan Craft’s passion for horses isn’t what led her to her career in Human Resources, but it certainly informs the way she serves ECU Health team members.
As a service representative, she plays a key role in supporting team members, from welcoming new hires to answering questions and providing guidance.
“I love customer service,” she said. “I got my degree in business administration with a concentration in management from East Carolina University, and it’s been a great opportunity to work here.”
That care and connection extends beyond Craft’s day job; she learned a lot about patience, responsibility and trust from the horses she trains and competes with.
“When I was five, I started with English riding,” she said, referring to the style of riding that emphasizes balance and precision. “I worked with many talented horses, and the experience shaped my skills and passion for the sport.”
Nine years ago, Craft took those skills and tried barrel racing for the first time.
“I knew some people who did barrel racing,” she said. “I thought it would be fun, so I tried it, and now I’m obsessed. I own three horses and do a lot of training and exercising, along with work and my social life, to compete across the state and the southeast.”
Her commitment has won her a few prizes and belt buckles along the way.
“I was the National Barrel Horse Association (NBHA) 2020 North Carolina 4D youth state champion and champion and reserved champion in my district a couple years ago,” she said. “I have also qualified for the NBHA youth and teen world championships between 2018 and 2021.”
A lot of Logan’s racing happens along the East Coast and in Benson, North Carolina. She was quick to note that barrel racing in rodeos and barrel racing with divisions differ primarily in structure and competition format.
“In rodeos, the fastest time wins, period,” she said.
Barrel racing with divisions means all riders, regardless of their skill level, run in the same race and have the chance to place. Each race includes four divisions based on time, from Division One (1D) to Division Four (4D).
Race day is a full-day event, from feeding and transporting the horses, to familiarizing the horses with the arena, to the race itself – which is always with three barrels and only lasts about 16 seconds. After everyone has raced, times are entered into the computer and winners of each division are notified.
“It keeps me busy. I take care of the horses and train them, because it’s a special skill to race. Every horse is different and they must stay calm and adapt to different environments,” she said.
Whether she’s guiding a team member through a new role or preparing a horse for competition, Craft approaches both with the same mindset: connection and consistency.
“Horses depend on me every day no matter how busy life gets,” Craft said, “and it’s the same for team members who come to HR for attention and care.”
To learn more about joining team members like Logan Craft at ECU Health, visit our Careers website.
Greenville, N.C. – ECU Health Beaufort Hospital – a campus of ECU Health Medical Center now offers the MISHA Knee System for patients suffering from medial knee osteoarthritis. The MISHA Knee System is designed to reduce the daily physical toll on the knee joint, offer rapid pain relief and preserve patients’ natural anatomy.
“The MISHA Knee System fundamentally changes how we can support patients living with medial knee osteoarthritis by giving them a joint preserving option that delivers real, measurable relief,” said Dr. Dimitri M. Thomas, orthopedic surgeon, ECU Health Beaufort Hospital. “For many people who want to stay active but aren’t ready for a knee replacement, this approach fills a longstanding gap in treatment options. It’s exciting to bring this level of innovation to our community and help patients regain comfort, confidence and mobility.”
Knee osteoarthritis affects more than 15 million Americans and can make everyday activities painful and difficult. Non-surgical treatments such as medications, injections or physical therapy sometimes do not provide relief, and they are often left with ongoing pain and limited mobility. The MISHA Knee System is a less-invasive approach designed to reduce knee pain and help patients return to the activities they enjoy by reducing the peak forces on painful knee joints while walking, running or simply standing. No removal of bone, cartilage or ligament is required.
“ECU Health Beaufort Hospital is committed to ensuring that patients in our region can access advanced, patient centered solutions close to home, and the MISHA Knee System is a powerful example of that commitment,” said Dennis Campbell II, DHA, RN, president, ECU Health Beaufort Hospital. “By offering this innovative treatment locally, patients do not have to travel long distances to receive cutting edge orthopedic care or to find relief earlier in their treatment journey. We are proud to expand access to high quality options that help people stay active, remain in their communities and maintain their quality of life.”
The procedure is covered by Medicare. For those interested in learning more, please contact ECU Health Orthopedics – Washington at 252-946-6513.
The newly dedicated room in memory of Ann Parsons inside ECU Health’s Tender Evaluation, Diagnosis and Intervention for a Better Abuse Response (TEDI BEAR) Children’s Advocacy Center is filled with toys, games, puzzles, books and, of course, teddy bears, all designed to create a safe environment for children in crisis. For those at the clinic, dedicating the room to Parsons’ memory symbolizes her legacy as a nurse practitioner who committed decades of her life to supporting thousands of pediatric patients.
Parsons spent 17 years as the clinic’s medical provider. TEDI BEAR is a partnership between the Department of Pediatrics at the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University and James and Connie Maynard Children’s Hospital at ECU Health Medical Center that serves children from birth through 18 who may be victims of abuse. TEDI BEAR and the Mt. Olive Children’s Advocacy Center in Duplin County are valuable resources for families in eastern North Carolina, an underserved region with few behavioral health options for children and adolescents. TEDI BEAR provides forensic interviews, medical evaluations, child advocacy and specialized therapy designed to help children heal from trauma.
Parsons was described as a committed advocate for the pediatric patients she saw at TEDI BEAR, always focused on doing what was best for victims in their healing process.
“She was so thorough,” said Wendy Shouse, a mental health manager at ECU Health who worked with Parsons for over 15 years. “I would not call her soft spoken, but she had a very calm, collected presence that put people at ease. I never really saw her feathers ruffled. That presence left an impression on the families, professionals and patients she worked with. If patients had questions about their long-term health after their experience, I knew they could count on Ann to answer them.
“Even at times when our team got frustrated over particular cases or systems, Ann would always say ‘We just have to do what we can to help the child.’ That was our focus.”
In 2025, Parsons died in the weeks following an unexpected medical event. It shocked her coworkers and supervisor, Dr. Matthew Ledoux, pediatrician in chief at ECU Health. He remembered Parsons as “a great colleague and friend.”
Upon reviewing Parsons’ tenure with the clinic, Ledoux, Shouse and fellow team members were stunned to discover she had examined or seen over 5,000 patients, a revelation that quantified the staggering impact she had across the region.
“It was so impressive,” Ledoux said. “Ann dedicated so much of her life to those many abused and neglected children. We felt there was a need to honor her dedication to those children.”
Team members considered dedicating an examination room in Parsons’ memory. Conversations on that topic turned to a different room that people who knew Parsons felt better reflected her impact on patients. It was the room where, after forensic exams and interviews on traumatic topics, kids could find a friend in the form of a stuffed animal, many of which are teddy bears from which the clinic draws its name. The comforting companions are donated by community supporters and Shouse said they serve as a reminder that patients will continue to receive support from TEDI BEAR team members.
“It’s a small something that helps them transition from their medical exam back to the world outside,” Shouse said. “You don’t want to open them up, talk about their abuse experience and then just kick them out the door. This room is a reset.”
In 2025, the 54 children’s advocacy centers across North Carolina served 11,844 children. TEDI BEAR and ECU Health’s Children’s Advocacy Center in Mount Olive serve approximately 1,000 children per year. The centers served about 930 children in 2025.
Research shows that one in 10 children are sexually abused by the age of 18 years old. Approximately 86% of that abuse goes unreported, and younger children aged one through six are likely to have more difficulties disclosing abuse compared to older children. A small amount of those disclosures, about 16%, are made directly to authorities, with most disclosures made to peers.
Parsons worked well with the various people who made their way through TEDI BEAR, be they parents, law enforcement officers or social workers. In their time together, Parsons provided medical examinations and Shouse administered behavioral health assessments. Their bond, forged by their proximity and strengthened through shared experience, was one based in mutual respect.
“What I appreciated most about Ann was that I could ask her any question,” Shouse said. “Nothing was ever ridiculous or stupid. I am not a medical provider — I am a therapist. We do not necessarily use the same medical terms. She never made me feel like I was inferior or bad at my job when I had to clarify things. I was always comfortable.”
Shouse said that many patients keep the stuffed bear from their first visit, even after aging out of pediatric therapy when they turn 18. That is something she hopes reflects how the clinic, and Parsons, helped patients.
“I think she would appreciate the room and how it gives these kids some measure of comfort. It is the last step in making sure they are alright,” Shouse said. “That’s what Ann was all about.”
For more information about how you can support TEDI BEAR, please contact the ECU Health Foundation at 252-847-5626 or click here and complete the form.