Greenville, N.C. — ECU Health Medical Center recently surpassed 100 GammaTile® procedures for patients with brain tumors, marking a significant milestone in advancing access to innovative cancer care across eastern North Carolina. The achievement places ECU Health among a limited number of centers nationwide with this level of experience using GammaTile®, an FDA-approved, surgically targeted radiation therapy designed to improve outcomes for patients with operable brain tumors.
“Reaching 100 GammaTile® procedures is a significant achievement that reflects ECU Health’s commitment to advancing brain tumor care for patients across eastern North Carolina,” said Dr. Stuart Lee, chief of the division of Neurosurgery at ECU Health and medical director of The Gamma Knife Center at ECU Health Medical Center.
“For many of our patients, GammaTile® offers the advantage of receiving surgery and radiation treatment during a single hospitalization, helping reduce barriers to care and ensuring they can access advanced treatment closer to home. There are few centers in the country with this level of experience, and it reflects the expertise of our multidisciplinary team and our commitment to advancing the standard of care for patients with brain tumors.”
With the American Cancer Society estimating more than 24,000 malignant tumors of the brain or spinal cord diagnosed in 2026 across the United States, the need for timely access to advanced treatment options continues to grow.
ECU Health began offering GammaTile® therapy in 2019 and has steadily expanded its use, particularly for patients with metastatic brain tumors requiring surgery. The treatment involves placing small, bioabsorbable collagen tiles embedded with radiation sources directly into the tumor cavity at the time of surgery, allowing for immediate, localized radiation therapy. Unlike traditional approaches, which often require patients to return weeks after surgery for radiation treatment, GammaTile® delivers therapy at the time of tumor removal, eliminating delays and reducing the risk of missed or postponed follow-up care.
“For patients across eastern North Carolina, this milestone means greater access to advanced cancer treatment close to home,” said Jay Briley, president, ECU Health Medical Center. “By bringing these cutting-edge treatments to our region, we can provide the specialized care patients need without requiring them to travel far from their homes and support systems. This achievement reflects ECU Health’s ongoing commitment to innovation and reinforces our role as a regional leader in delivering specialized care.”
In early 2026, ECU Health earned GammaTile® Center of Excellence Program designation from GT Medical Technologies, recognizing the organization’s clinical expertise, patient education and commitment to improving outcomes for patients with operable brain tumors.
Greenville, N.C. – ECU Health Medical Center was one of 32 institutions across the nation to participate in the national ROADS (Randomized Controlled Trial of Resection Surgery and GammaTile® versus Standard of Care) clinical trial, a randomized study investigating how GammaTile® therapy compares to the traditional standard of care for patients in treatment for newly diagnosed, operable metastatic brain tumors.
The study, conducted by GT Medical Technologies, determined that GammaTile® therapy, which ECU Health began offering in 2019, can significantly lower rates of tumor regrowth in those patients and improve overall survival rates compared to traditional treatment, which consists of surgery and recovery before patients undergo stereotactic radiation therapy (SRT), a form of targeted radiosurgery, at the tumor site.
“The results of the ROADS clinical trial are very encouraging,” said Dr. Stuart Lee, chief, division of neurosurgery, ECU Health, and medical director of The Gamma Knife Center, ECU Health Medical Center. “Patients who underwent surgery with GammaTile® saw dramatically lower rates of tumor bed recurrence and significantly improved overall survival compared to patients who had surgery followed by radiosurgery four weeks after their operation. We are proud to participate in this important clinical study which affirms ECU Health’s commitment to providing the highest level of care close to home.”
ECU Health earned GammaTile® Center of Excellence Program designation from GT Medical Technologies in early 2026. The designation honors institutions that demonstrate outstanding clinical skill, patient education and commitment to improving outcomes for patients with operable brain tumors. On May 21, 2026, ECU Health celebrated treating its 100th GammaTile® patient. ECU Health is one of six GammaTile® treatment centers in North Carolina and was one of the first adopters of the technology in the eastern United States.
GammaTile® involves placing small, bioabsorbable collagen tiles embedded with radiation sources directly into the tumor cavity at the time of surgery, allowing for immediate, localized radiation therapy. The study indicated patients who received GammaTile® therapy experienced significantly lower rates of tumor regrowth, a greater likelihood of living longer without the tumor recurring and better overall survival compared to patients who received standard SRT.
“Clinical trials like ROADS give ECU Health the data we need to determine how we can offer the best possible care for patients in eastern North Carolina and a chance to share that data with other health systems across the nation,” said Jay Briley, president, ECU Health Medical Center. “Our participation in this trial reflects our commitment to leading the way in cancer care as a top performer nationwide and one of the few institutions with this capability in the state.”
A minimally-invasive procedure is helping patients at ECU Health feel more comfortable treating their benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).
Aquablation therapy treats lower urinary tract symptoms caused by BPH, a condition in which the prostate gland enlarges and leads to various urinary symptoms. Without timely treatment, BPH can cause severe health issues like permanent bladder or kidney damage, bladder stones and loss of control over the bladder.
Common symptoms of BPH include frequent urination, difficulty starting urination, a weak or interrupted urine stream, inability to completely empty the bladder and dribbling at the end of urination. BPH is particularly common among older men, affecting one of every two men between the ages of 51 and 60.
“BPH is one of the most common issues to affect men as we get older,” said Dr. J. Nathaniel Hamilton, chief of urology, ECU Health.
Aquablation therapy is an ultrasound guided, robotic-assisted, heat-free waterjet for the treatment of BPH. The system’s real-time ultrasound imaging provides the surgeon with a multi-dimensional view of the prostate enabling personalized treatment planning tailored to each patient’s unique anatomy. A jet of water is sent through a patient’s urethra to remove prostate tissue without the need for an incision and without impact to the anatomy that controls sexual function.
“New technology is always being developed for treatment in that space,” said Dr. Hamilton. “At ECU Health, we always strive to have the latest and greatest resources that give our patients a better quality of life,” Dr. Hamilton said. “Patients and their spouses are pleased that Aquablation helps address this common prostate issue without needing to make difficult sacrifices in their relationships.”
ECU Health started Aquablation in late January of 2025 and performed over 150 procedures within the first few months of the technology being available to patients.
Furthermore, Dr. Hamilton said clinicians can perform Aquablation faster than certain other procedures, which allows surgeons to address more cases and keeps patients from being under anesthesia for a prolonged period of time.
“The best patient is one who has significant urinary symptom and has not responded well to medications but doesn’t have a prostate large enough to require a simple prostatectomy, where we go in and remove the middle of the prostate gland,” Dr. Hamilton said. “Most of my patients are coming back saying they feel great, their bladder feels empty and they are not waking up at night anymore.”
ECU Health continues to perform the most Aquablation procedures in North Carolina east of Raleigh. With the procedure becoming more well-known, Dr. Hamilton said that its use will vary from person to person and that treatment is ultimately dependent on individual patients’ needs.
“We investigate what treatment works best for patients on an individual, case-by-case basis, and Aquablation may not be right for everybody,” Dr. Hamilton said. “When patients hear about the treatment or read about it, even if it’s not the right fit for them, I think it’s a great thing to get folks in the door and start a conversation about their prostate health.”
Patient’s interested in learning more about prostate care at ECU Health can visit Urology – ECU Health.
Greenville, N.C. – ECU Health is pleased to name Brian Dunn, CPA, MSA as chief financial officer, effective immediately. In this role, Dunn will oversee the Finance and Supply Chain departments for ECU Health and the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, helping advance the enterprise’s shared commitment to delivering high-quality care and improving the health and well-being of eastern North Carolina.
Dunn’s appointment as CFO follows the departure of Andy Zukowski, who recently left the organization after four years of significant contributions to pursue other opportunities.
“Brian has been an invaluable member of the ECU Health team for more than 15 years,” said Dr. Michael Waldrum, CEO of ECU Health and dean of the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University. “His collaborative, forward-thinking and detail-oriented approach has strengthened our financial position and supported strategic investments in our mission. Brian’s leadership and expertise have been instrumental in driving revenue growth, optimizing reimbursement, reducing costs and advancing long-term financial planning. His extensive experience and deep understanding of our organization will be invaluable as we continue transforming ECU Health to meet the needs of our patients, communities and team members while strengthening our ability to serve eastern North Carolina for years to come.”
Dunn joined ECU Health in 2011 and most recently served as senior vice president of Finance, where he provided leadership for corporate accounting and financial reporting, financial planning and analytics, treasury services, reimbursement and cost reporting, and strategic financial and capital planning. Throughout his tenure, Dunn has played a key role in reinforcing ECU Health’s financial foundation and positioning the organization for long-term sustainability.
“ECU Health’s commitment to serving rural communities has been at the center of my career for the past 15 years,” said Dunn. “It is an honor to serve as CFO and work alongside talented team members across ECU Health. Together, we will continue to strengthen our financial sustainability so we can invest in the people, programs and services that improve health outcomes in eastern North Carolina. I look forward to helping ensure ECU Health remains strong and well-equipped to meet the evolving needs of the patients and communities we serve.”
Dunn earned both his Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Master of Science in Accounting from East Carolina University. Prior to joining ECU Health, he spent more than a decade with RSM, one of the nation’s largest accounting firms, where he specialized in complex accounting, auditing and financial reporting for health care, governmental and nonprofit organizations.
As CFO, Dunn will continue supporting the financial integration goals of the joint operating agreement between ECU Health and the Brody School of Medicine, helping advance a shared-services model designed to improve efficiency, strengthen academic medicine and support the delivery of exceptional patient care across the region.
“I’m a Greenville native, and I’ve always had a deep connection to this community. I’ve never wanted to leave because I truly believe in the people who make this place special. Having the opportunity to serve my hometown through ECU Health has been incredibly meaningful.”
That sentiment is probably why Sara wanted to work at ECU Health from the beginning.
She began her career at the Wellness Center in 2018, where she opened the gym daily at 4 a.m. When COVID shut the doors, Sara wasn’t sure what the future held, but in 2022, she reapplied to the newly re-opened Wellness Center as a member accounts specialist. Graduation from ECU with a bachelor’s degree in health services management set her sights higher and she found her current role as coordinator of volunteer services at the Medical Center in 2024. Now, she’s pursuing her Master of Business Administration at ECU.
“Working in Volunteer Services has truly been one of the greatest blessings in my career,” Sara shared. “Every day, I work alongside individuals who selflessly give their time and talents to support our patients, families, and team members. Last year, our more than 400 volunteers supported 80 different Medical Center departments, contributing to the exceptional care we provide throughout our organization.”
Sara’s passion for connecting with people and hearing their stories has made Volunteer Services the perfect fit. Whether she is supporting adult volunteers, mentoring students, or creating new opportunities for service, she finds purpose in helping others discover the impact they can make.
“Working with our VolunTEENS has been one of the most rewarding parts of my role,” Sara said. “I love seeing students come in with curiosity and a desire to learn, then watching them grow in confidence throughout their experience. Being able to provide them with opportunities to explore health care, discover their passions, and take the next steps toward their future careers is such a privilege.”
Sara had no idea she was nominated for the Governor’s Volunteer Award, but later she discovered Traquavis Harris was the one who nominated her.
“He got to see me working every day and I’m grateful he recognized the dedication and passion I bring to this role,” she said. “I don’t do what I do for recognition, but I believe in the power of service and the difference people can make when they choose to invest in others.”
“The world cannot operate without people coming together for a common goal,” she added. “Be thankful for your blessings and give back as a thank you. The world is such a better place when people help one another. We’re all human, no matter what makes us different, and we all need help sometimes.”
Greenville, N.C. – Five ECU Health team members are among the first graduates from East Carolina University School of Nursing’s Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) program, a post-graduate certificate program that prepares specialized nurse practitioners to care for senior patients in acute care settings across North Carolina. The five ECU Health providers are Charlsie Woodard, Hunter Venters, Rachel Ferrell, Richa Dhungana and Angela Jones.
“As we continue to see the aging population grow nationwide, ensuring nurses at ECU Health and across the state have access to specialized training will continue to be a priority for ECU Health,” said Dr. Trish Baise, chief nursing executive, ECU Health. “Programs like this ensure our teams are prepared to deliver high-quality, specialized care close to home. We are grateful for our strong partnership with ECU, which continues to strengthen our workforce and elevate care across the region.”
The AGACNP certificate further prepares APRNs to deliver specialized acute and critical care services across a variety of settings including emergency departments, inpatient acute care units and intensive care units.
“Expanding the number of AGACNP-prepared providers helps address critical workforce shortages in these high-demand areas while strengthening access to specialty and acute care services for the rural and underserved populations of eastern North Carolina,” said Elaine Cudnik, executive director, Women’s and Children’s Advanced Clinical Practice, ECU Health. “By developing a highly qualified acute care workforce locally, ECU is helping to improve healthcare access, reduce disparities, and ensure that patients can receive timely, high-quality care closer to home.”
This program was established through ECU Health and ECU’s College of Nursing. ECU Health previously developed pathways for the development of the future of nursing care in eastern North Carolina with the establishment of an academic practice partnership, seeded by a $1.5 million investment from ECU Health over five years. This investment has provided the ECU College of Nursing with the opportunity to expand faculty and resources to support students in the Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner post-master’s certificate program and the development of the Doctor of Nursing Practice in AGACNP. Four graduates were granted financial support through the ECU Health Foundation. Dr. Kristie Hertel, serves in a dual role as an ECU Health trauma nurse practitioner and the AGACNP program director.
Jones, FNP, an Emergency Department Nurse Practitioner at ECU Health Bertie Hospital, also completed the program. Jones’ participation was not funded through the ECU Health Foundation’s tuition assistance program.
The program welcomed its first cohort in Spring 2025 and is designed to address the growing demand for acute care and gerontology services. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, nearly 18% of North Carolina’s population is 65 or older. The program ensures alignment with the Licensure, Accreditation, Certification and Education model as well as the Advanced Practiced Registered Nurse (APRN) Consensus Model by providing formal education preparation that matches the APRN’s population focus and practice setting. The additional certification supports regulatory compliance and ensures APRNs have the tools to practice to the full extent of their education, training and licensure in acute and complex care environments.
“We truly value the strong partnership between ECU Health and the College of Nursing to address the shortage of advanced practice nurses health care workers nationwide,” said Dr. Julie Linder, chair of the ECU College of Nursing’s Department of Advanced Nursing Practice and Education. “Collaborating within an academic health system lets nurses receive high-quality training they can carry forward into their work in specialized communities.”
Expectant mothers now have more options at ECU Health when it is time to have their baby. That includes Certified Nurse Midwives, or CNMs, whose expertise lies in supporting those moms-to-be throughout their pregnancies, all the way to the delivery table. At ECU Health, qualified, experienced CNMs are now empowered to work within the full scope of their practice authority, a change that aims to improve health care outcomes for mothers and babies while better distributing provider workloads across maternal care teams.
As of April, independent CNMs at ECU Health with at least two years and 4,000 hours of clinical experience are now able to admit patients to the hospital, discharge patients from the hospital and write all notes and orders without the need for a physician’s co-signature or supervision.
CNMs deliver babies from “standard risk” pregnancies while consulting with physicians to identify cases that come with higher risks of complication or need procedures like C-sections. They continue to work in tandem with other members of the maternal care team like OB-GYN physicians.
“This was an incredibly important step forward to ensure that we are using our providers to their full scope of practice in order to improve access to care and broaden our services,” said Elaine Cudnik, executive director for Women’s and Children’s advanced clinical practice at James and Connie Maynard Children’s Hospital at ECU Health Medical Center. “There is a nationwide shortage of OB-GYN providers and ECU Health is not immune to the challenges in recruiting that specialty. We continue to augment our services with advanced practice providers and independent certified nurse midwives who can support that critical maternal service here at ECU Health.
Added Cudnik, “I think allowing independent CNMs to work to the top of their license brings an incredible value to the community that we serve and will only expand the access that we’re able to provide.”
On the day the change went into effect two CNMs — Sarah Sears and Margi Reither — were granted independent CNM privileges at ECU Health. Reither called it a monumental step and the result of decades of advocacy. She is grateful that ECU Health now grants qualified CNMs more freedom in scope of practice.
“It is great, professionally, to be able to take care of our own patients,” Reither said. “That’s what we are truly grateful for. We have had wonderful support from our OB-GYN team who agree this is a good, professional decision. This was truly a team effort between midwives, physicians and administrators.”
Sears said the change is empowering, and that it shines a light on how midwives are crucial parts of an OB-GYN team.
“It makes us feel seen,” Sears said. “There is certainly a feeling of respect not just in being able to work with my patients in a new way, but from the health system recognizing what we do and making our roles more visible.”
More importantly, the change is good for patient outcomes. Sears said midwifery care is shown to improve maternal and neonatal outcomes. When physicians and midwives collaborate, it allows providers to play to their own strengths. For midwives, that is recognizing and managing standard risk labor and delivery.
“Physicians really are needed for the high-risk things, the abnormal circumstances that can arise during a delivery,” Sears said. “As midwives, we are focused on the normal. It comes down to working together to make sure our approach fits each individual patient on a case-by-case basis.”
Dr. James Whiteside, department chair, Obstetrics and Gynecology, ECU Health and the Brody School of Medicine, played a critical role in helping expand the scope of midwifery practice at ECU Health when he arrived at the health system in 2022. He said further expanding midwives’ scope of practice to include independent care is an important step toward addressing clinician shortages that continue to strain maternal care nationwide.
“We saw an opportunity to expand the role of midwifery across our region and leverage independent scope of practice for these integral members of our care teams,” Dr. Whiteside said. “More midwives will help us address the real challenges facing rural delivery, specifically when it comes to resources and the number of clinicians we have available to provide high-quality care and reduce risk associated with delivery.”
Dr. Dan Dwyer, chief medical officer, ECU Health Community Hospitals and an obstetrician, said he is excited for the positive impact the change will have on maternal services in some of eastern North Carolina’s most rural communities. CNMs will have reliable teams they can work with and the ability to transfer care to another clinician, or to another facility, as needed, in the most efficient way possible.
“Looking ahead, we are excited to introduce independent Certified Nurse Midwives (CNMs) into care teams throughout ECU Health’s rural community hospitals,” Dr. Dwyer said. “Teamwork is a cornerstone of our culture, and we are committed to recruiting and nurturing skilled CNMs whose dedication and values align with our mission. These professionals are essential to delivering the highest quality care in rural settings.”
Serving 29 counties and operating eight rural birthing locations, Dr. Dwyer said ECU Health faces a range of challenges — not least of which are recruiting and retaining talented healthcare professionals.
“To address these needs, it is imperative that every member of our health care team — including independent CNMs — practice at the top of their license. Creating an environment where everyone feels valued and welcomed is central to our approach,” he said. “The collaborative efforts of CNMs, family practitioners and obstetricians, supported by advanced digital technology and a robust network of sub-specialists, are critical to ensuring patients receive timely, appropriate care wherever they are. We take great pride in the strength of our teamwork and remain confident that, together, we can overcome future challenges and continue to provide exceptional care for our communities.”
ECU Health has maintained labor and delivery services at its rural hospitals. Midwives’ knowledge and skills play a prominent role in ensuring that quality care is available to even more patients in eastern North Carolina, Cudnik said.
“We strongly believe in midwives’ practice and their ability,” Cudnik added. “We strive to create a place where that expertise is valued and leveraged in a way that supports our unique rural academic mission. Not only will expanded access to care benefit community hospitals and rural communities, these midwives will also have a chance to teach students and residents at our ECU Health Medical Center. We’re excited to see the independent CNM program grow.”
An unprecedented illness that started with stomach pain and spiraled into multi-system organ failure proved to be a defining experience in Kayla Jordan’s young life. Looking back, 14 years later, the now 20-year-old Jordan said it also shows how team members at James and Connie Maynard Children’s Hospital at ECU Health Medical Center gave a scared little girl in an extended stay hope, support and the chance to just be a kid.
In 2012, Kayla, then six years old, was taken to her pediatrician in Beaufort County for vomiting and stomach pain. She and her mother, Rebecca Williamson, were directed to the emergency department across the street where tests revealed that Kayla had an inflamed pancreas. As her condition rapidly deteriorated, an EastCare team transported her to ECU Health Medical Center for advanced treatment.
“I was going downhill pretty fast. They put tubes in my nose that night and then sent me to Greenville,” Kayla said. “From there on out, I was pretty sick for about a month.”
In Greenville, a care team told Rebecca that her daughter had necrotizing pancreatitis, where severe inflammation can kill tissue in a person’s pancreas. They said 50 percent of the tissue in Kayla’s pancreas was already dead. Soon after, Kayla’s organs began to shut down. She was placed in a medically induced coma because her pain was so unbearable. Her family had a chance to say goodbye, just in case, before she went under.
Rebecca, an assistant nurse manager at ECU Health, was shaken. Her instincts as a mother overrode her education as a nurse.
“It’s funny, you can be a health care professional and your kid or your loved one or someone you’re close to gets sick and suddenly, it feels like you know a lot about nothing,” Rebecca said.
Pediatric physicians worked tirelessly to determine how a 6-year-old could possibly contract a condition typically seen in older adults with a history of alcohol use. They consulted with infectious disease doctors at the hospital and on the other side of the country, performed genetic testing and ran an array of viral tests to determine the best course of treatment. It took time, but tests determined that Kayla had contracted mycoplasma pneumoniae, the bacteria that causes walking pneumonia. The bacteria had completely bypassed Kayla’s lungs and instead attacked her pancreas.
Andy Williamson, Kayla’s stepfather and an ECU Health nurse practitioner, said the diagnosis was unprecedented.
“That is unheard of, but once they identified the bug, they could treat it,” Andy said. “As soon as we got the right antibiotics on top of it, you could start seeing Kayla improve.”
The medicine worked and, astonishingly, Kayla did not require surgery. She soon began her month-long road to recovery at Maynard Children’s Hospital, where in addition to her medical care, she participated in pet therapy, received tutoring and schoolwork to prevent her from falling behind in her classes, and progressed through physical therapy to recover her strength. Friends from school wrote her cards, and her teachers even came to read to her.
“I remember we celebrated the day that she made it all the way down to the little playroom,” Rebecca said. “She borrowed my husband’s credit card so she could play shop. There were so many things to help her feel like a kid.”
For her mom, the patient- and family-centered model of care was apparent. She also felt valued as a team member.
“They provided everything that my kid needed, not just for her health but for her mental state,” Rebecca said. “There were coloring books and crayons, playrooms and a pool and pet therapy.”
Rebecca’s ECU Health team also supported her during Kayla’s hospital stay.
“My nurse manager would come to check on me and ask if I needed anything,” said Rebecca. “They helped submit paperwork to get me started on my leave of absence. It was nice. I didn’t have to worry about my job and could worry about my child. I was treated like I was a family member of the hospital.”
Kayla celebrated her 20th birthday in February. She is now a rising senior at East Carolina University, where she helps broadcast Pirates athletics on ESPN+ and plans to pursue a career in sports broadcasting. She said she was a “frequent flyer” for many years at the emergency department as she dealt with stomach issues. She also recently had her gallbladder removed, a result of the pancreatitis she fought more than a decade ago.
“She’s so resilient,” Andy said. “Not many 18-year-olds get their gallbladders out. She continues to do so well, does well in school. She’s a very smart girl and she’ll do well. We’ll be there for her, like we always have been.”
For Kayla, it’s comforting to know that ECU Health team members are there to support her, whether that’s at home or elsewhere.
“Every time I’ve had to go to the emergency department or something like that, they were always very thorough with me, and they always took my past into consideration,” Kayla said. “There has been peace of mind for me and my mom, who always went with me. It always felt like a family environment.
“As a little girl, you don’t really understand what’s happening,” she continued. “Everyone still went above and beyond to make me feel like I was a normal kid. Looking back now, it shows that, for one, medicine is awesome, and secondly that having people who are right there with you the whole time makes a huge difference.”
In eastern North Carolina, summer can be a time of backyard cookouts or days spent at the beach. However, soaring temperatures and smothering humidity put residents at risk of heat-related illnesses that are even more dangerous for people with a heart condition.
Dr. Blase Carabello, ECU Health cardiologist and chief of the Division of Cardiology at the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, explained that the heart has to work overtime in extreme heat as the body tries to regulate its temperature.
“Most people are familiar with a car’s radiator, and they know that if the radiator does not work, they will be stuck on the side of the road with steam coming out of the hood,” Dr. Carabello said. “The human body’s radiator is the skin, and when you need to get rid of heat, your heart needs to pump extra blood to the skin to let that radiator work. Almost anyone with a heart condition who already has a weakened heart or some other difficulty is going to be stressed by the heat or have trouble regulating their body’s fluids.”
High temperatures put people at risk of heat exhaustion, which can cause symptoms such as lightheadedness, rapid pulse, low blood pressure, headache or nausea. Anyone who begins to experience those symptoms needs to get out of the sun and drink fluids, Dr. Carabello said. If you stop sweating in hot weather, or start shivering, that’s an indication your health is at risk.
Heat stroke, where the body reaches a temperature over 104-degrees, is a life-threatening condition that requires treatment.
“The body’s temperature can reach the point where it will shut down all activity unless you receive treatment,” Dr. Carabello emphasized. “If someone around you says they feel lightheaded or like they are going to faint in the heat, it is important to act. Check their pulse and, if that does not look right, call for help. It’s much better to have a false alarm than the alternative.”
Dr. Carabello said that when a heat advisory is issued, people need to use their best judgment and make the right decision for their health. When heat indices climb into triple digits, it’s very difficult for the body to regulate. He pointed out that at the World Cup, even some of the best athletes on the planet take heat breaks during their soccer matches.
“If some of the best athletes in the world need that, think about if you’re not on that level,” Dr. Carabello said. “People tend to think they can do anything, that they are super people, but the truth is that the kind of heat we can experience in eastern North Carolina can put your heart to the test. You don’t need to test your heart, so don’t do that. Just use plain, old fashioned, common sense.”
Time spent working with uninsured and underinsured patients helped bring Dr. Margaret Pearce back to her home state to train in ECU Health’s Rural Family Medicine Residency Program. After spending three years training in some of the region’s most rural communities, she made the decision to continue serving where her skills are most needed: right here in eastern North Carolina.
“I’m a problem solver,” said Dr. Pearce. “My mom has her PhD in math and would always do math problems with us. I like to approach cases with my eyes focused on finding a solution and doing the most that I can with a patient in the room, regardless of the resources at my disposal.”
According to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, one in six rural adults lack health insurance and adults in rural areas are 1.5 times more likely to be uninsured than people living in urban areas.
The same data says those residents also experience up to 1.8 times as much difficulty accessing health care services than urban residents. Nearly 75% of North Carolina’s 100 counties have reported limited access to local primary care available in their county. Those are the people Dr. Pearce said she feels called to help the most.
Dr. Pearce was born in Greensboro but moved around often growing up due to her father’s career. That included a prolonged stay in Texas, prior to returning to the Cary area for middle and high school. After she graduated from Western Carolina University with an undergraduate degree in chemistry, she entered the workforce before pursuing a master’s degree in public health administration from Thomas Jefferson University. She worked in public health in Winston-Salem before she returned to Thomas Jefferson for medical school.
When it came time to apply for her residency, Dr. Pearce’s father was battling kidney cancer. She knew that she had to go somewhere close to home as he recovered from the disease and knew she wanted to work with rural patients.
“I’m not a city person,” Pearce said. “In public health, I learned a lot about issues facing the uninsured and underinsured population. Those are my people, that’s where I’m supposed to be to help them. There are a lot of places facing those issues, but I knew rural medicine was where I wanted to make a difference.”
ECU Health’s Rural Family Medicine Residency Program provided Dr. Pearce hands-on experience at ECU Health Medical Center and most recently ECU Health Duplin Hospital in Kenansville. The program launched in 2021 and prepares family medicine resident physicians to provide comprehensive care across a variety of settings. Data shows that family medicine residents who spend 50% or more of their training time in rural settings are at least five times more likely to stay and practice in rural communities than physicians with no rural training.
“One of the most pressing challenges in rural health care is having enough clinicians available to treat really complex patients and help them prevent further health complications,” said Dr. Michael Waldrum, CEO of ECU Health, and dean of the Brody School of Medicine. “By exposing family medicine resident physicians to the disparities rural communities face, they experience the impact they can have on truly vulnerable patients. For some, that is a calling and this gives them an opportunity to answer that call.”
Dr. Pearce will continue to practice medicine at ECU Health Family Medicine in Richlands. She believes the experiences she helped patients navigate throughout her rural family medicine residency training, namely helping patients improve their own medical literacy to better understand preventive efforts and diagnoses, will translate to residents in Onslow County.
“Sometimes you have to reach people where they are and really work with them to get on the same page with their health care and treatment,” Dr. Pearce said. “I’m grateful I can serve a similar population to the one that I worked with during my residency and still have access to resources from the health system. I’ve already fallen in love with this area, so I know it’s the right place for me to be.”