The Bennett Award for Outstanding Rehab Members is given annually to two ECU Health rehabilitation therapists who demonstrate a commitment to excellence in his or her field.
In 2025, Amy Becker, audiologist IV at ECU Health Medical Center, and Rhonda Beal, physical therapist IV at ECU Health Edgecombe Hospital, were recognized as the award winners. Winners are nominated by their peers and selected by a committee.
Amy Becker
A Virginia Beach, Virginia native, Becker said she didn’t have an “aha” moment when it came to being an audiologist.
“I started as an elementary education major, but I switched to speech therapy,” Becker said. “I didn’t know anything about audiology, but I kept an open mind and discovered that was a better fit for me.”
Audiology studies hearing and balance disorders and focuses on the treatment and rehabilitation of individuals with those diagnoses.
“Someone suggested I look into ECU Health, and the exact job I was looking for just happened to be posted,” she said.
That was 11 years ago, and Becker said she enjoys her work and her team.
“I like the variety of patients we see and the options for treatment. The technology we use is always evolving and I’m learning all the time,” she said. “I love my coworkers and the collaboration with other professionals. The work I do requires a team approach, and we are helpful to each other. Our team is small but mighty.”
Becker said she also enjoys helping patients from across eastern North Carolina, many of whom come from rural communities outside of Greenville.
“I see patients who drive from the Outer Banks, Duplin County and even from the Virginia state line to see us,” she shared. “We are the largest pediatric audiology clinic—and the only place that accepts pediatric Medicaid for hearing aids and provides cochlear implants—east of I-95.”
Becker didn’t know she’d been nominated for the Bennett Award and was surprised to learn she’d won, but the award’s reputation was well known.
“I didn’t know Wanda Bennett, but I know she was highly regarded and respected in rehabilitation,” she said. “No one goes into this work for the recognition, but it was validating to be nominated by my peers. I was honored.”
Rhonda Beal
Beal has been a physical therapist for 36 years, more than eight of which have been with ECU Health. The Tennessee native has worked in a variety of settings, including outpatient therapy, rehabilitation, acute care and long-term care, and now she serves as a pelvic floor therapist at ECU Health Edgecombe Hospital.
“I like taking care of people,” she said. “When our pelvic floor therapist left, they offered me the role. I had no previous knowledge of pelvic floor rehabilitation, but I was up for the challenge. I feel like I provide something my patients have needed for a long time, and I learn something new every day.”
Beal said she also loves her team and the collaboration among different disciplines, and she’s appreciative to her leadership for supporting her journey into a new area of expertise.
“I was given the opportunity to move into pelvic health and receive continuing education. The team’s support has made it so I can do my work efficiently and well, and because of that, my caseload has grown,” she said.
Like Becker, Beal didn’t know she had been nominated for the Bennett Award until her husband, daughter and grandkids suddenly appeared during a staff meeting.
“Ironically, I’d considered skipping the meeting because I was leaving the next day for vacation and I had a lot of work to do,” Beal recalled. “But then my name was on the screen that I’d won the award. I was shocked.”
Her gratitude for being recognized—especially since she was nominated by a colleague and former student—has inspired Beal to consider who she wants to nominate for 2026.
“Sometimes we get busy doing other things, but it’s awesome to recognize workers in rehab,” she said. “I feel undeserving; there are so many others who deserve this award more than me.”
For more than four decades, Camp Rainbow and Camp Hope have given children with serious health conditions something rare: the chance to simply be kids.
Camp Rainbow, which began in 1982, and Camp Hope, established in 1991, serve children across eastern North Carolina with complex medical needs. Camp Rainbow welcomes children with cancer, hemophilia and other chronic bleeding disorders, while Camp Hope is designed specifically for children with sickle cell disease.
Behind the scenes, a dedicated team from ECU Health and the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University’s Pediatric Hematology/Oncology division, comprised of nurses, physicians, child life specialists, social workers and volunteers ensures campers are supported around the clock.
“This is a week where they can step away from hospitals and clinics,” said Tamika Mackey, child life specialist at the Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Clinic at ECU Health and the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University and director of Camp Hope and Camp Rainbow. “They still take their medications, and we have 24-hour medical care available, but more importantly, they get to just be kids.”
This year, 56 campers joined for the week. While many arrive feeling nervous or unsure, that hesitation quickly fades.
“At the beginning, they’re a little nervous about being away from home,” Mackey said. “But by midweek, you can see the change. They’re having fun, making friends and trying new things.”
That transformation is one of the most powerful parts of the experience. Throughout the week, campers participate in activities like canoeing, paddleboarding, horseback riding, arts and crafts and challenge courses. New this year, a “Medals of Honor” program recognized campers for kindness, respect and helping others, reinforcing a sense of community and encouragement among peers.
But beyond the activities, it’s the connections that matter most.
For many campers, this is the first time they’ve met someone else living with the same condition.
“A lot of our campers come from rural eastern North Carolina where there aren’t many – if at all – kids going through the same diagnoses as them,” said Mackey. “It means a lot to them. They can talk about their experiences, their treatments, their time in the hospital. They realize they’re not alone.”
That sense of belonging is what keeps campers coming back, even long after their time as campers ends.
Landon Cherry, 17, has attended Camp Hope for years and says each summer offers something new.
“The people are great, the counselors are great, and every year feels like a new experience,” he said.
“You get new bunkmates, new friends.”
For Cherry, who has sickle cell disease, the camp provides something he can’t always find at home or school.
“We can relate to each other,” he said. “Everyone here has something different, but we understand what each other is going through.”
Whether swimming in the lake, participating in activities or simply spending time together, those shared experiences create strong bonds.
“You come here, and you can just have fun,” Cherry said. “That’s the best part.”
For some, the camp’s impact extends beyond childhood. Many volunteers were once campers themselves, returning to give back to a program that shaped their lives.
Jacy Gibbs, 20, first came to Camp Rainbow at age nine after being diagnosed with cancer. She immediately found a sense of connection and a sense of purpose.
“It felt reassuring to know there were other people like me,” she said. “Even though I had support around me at home, I still felt alone sometimes. Camp gave me a place where I didn’t have to think about that. I could just be normal.”
After attending as a camper for eight years, Gibbs is now in her third year as a counselor, fulfilling a goal she set for herself during that very first summer.
“I remember standing up on the last night of my first week of camp and saying I wanted to be a counselor one day,” she said. “Now I get to be that person for someone else.”
Today, she sees firsthand the same transformation she once experienced.
“It’s really special to watch the kids make connections and build friendships,” she said. “It brings out that inner child in me again.”
As a cancer survivor and college student at East Carolina University, Gibbs also recognizes the importance of being a visible example for campers.
“It means a lot to show them what’s possible,” she said. “That they can get through it and still live their lives.”
For Mackey, those full-circle moments are among the most meaningful.
“They want to come back and help the younger kids,” she said. “They want to encourage them to try new things, to build confidence, to feel supported.”
That support can even extend into medical milestones. Mackey noted that some campers gain the confidence to take medications independently after seeing their peers do the same — a small but meaningful step in their care journey.
Ultimately, Camp Rainbow and Camp Hope are about much more than a week away. They are about building confidence, fostering independence and creating lifelong connections, all while reminding children that their diagnosis does not define them.
“They come here unsure,” Mackey said. “But they leave with friendships, confidence and memories that stay with them long after camp ends.”
Camp Rainbow and Camp Hope are offered free of charge to children with chronic illnesses and were made possible this year by generous support and donations to the ECU Health Foundation and from
Children’s Miracle Network, the Pamlico Neuse Women’s Coalition, the James and Mamie Richardson Perkins Trust, the Mildred Sheffield Wells Charitable Trust, Jalen’s Nation, Beau’s Buddies and other individuals and civic organizations.
Greenville, N.C. — Martin County and ECU Health are celebrating new, historic investment included in the State Budget to support a regional system of care that will strengthen access to essential health services in eastern North Carolina, including $25 million to re-establish essential health care in Martin County and $15 million of initial support to expand bed capacity at ECU Health Beaufort Hospital in Washington.
The funding for health care in Martin County included in the state budget, along with $35 million in NC Care funds previously allocated to the project, allows ECU Health and Martin County to move forward with efforts to reach a formal agreement.
While this funding marks important progress, additional investment to meet the full $150 million for ECU Health Beaufort is required to fully implement a sustainable regional system of care model needed to improve sustainability and expand inpatient capacity for the surrounding communities.
“This budget represents meaningful progress toward a sustainable model of care for Martin County, Beaufort County and eastern North Carolina,” said Dr. Michael Waldrum, CEO of ECU Health. “Rural Americans are facing unprecedented challenges that continue to threaten the viability of health care in their communities. We are grateful for the support of our state elected leaders for infrastructure funding as we pursue rural health initiatives designed to improve the health and well-being of the most vulnerable communities in North Carolina. As the only health care partner with a viable plan, as well as a willingness to re-establish care in Martin County, we remain committed to working with county leaders and state partners to make high-quality local health care a reality on behalf of the patients, families and communities we are honored to serve.”
Leaders from Martin County and ECU Health said they will continue working toward a formal agreement that will define the structure, responsibilities and commitments needed to re-establish essential services in Martin County and advance this regional vision. Importantly, this process will take time as there are contingencies noted in the letter of intent that must be resolved to make this vision a reality. They emphasized that sustained partnership and careful planning will be critical to moving the work forward.
“This investment helps move an important vision forward for Martin County and the surrounding region,” said Drew Batts, County Manager for Martin County. “The effort to acquire this funding has been long and hard fought with Martin County’s team and ECU Health’s team working hand in hand every step of the way. This would not be possible without the efforts of multiple residents and business leaders from Martin County. We appreciate the partnership with ECU Health and the support from state leaders as we continue working toward a long-term solution that restores access to care and serves our residents well into the future.”
Additional details will be shared as planning progresses.
Dr. Shannon Longshore has built her career around a simple but powerful belief: children deserve honesty, compassion and the very best care medicine can offer. In her many roles across the pediatric medicine community, that patient-focused approach is making a major impact.
Recently named Senior Medical Director and Surgeon in Chief at James and Connie Maynard Children’s Hospital at ECU Health Medical Center, Dr. Longshore also serves as Division Chief of Pediatric Surgery at the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, medical director of Pediatric Trauma since the program’s inception, and medical director of the Eastern Carolina Injury Prevention Program (ECIPP).
For more than 13 years, Dr. Longshore has been a cornerstone of the pediatric surgery community in eastern North Carolina, guiding families through some of the most frightening moments of their lives, performing lifechanging operations, and helping shape the future of pediatric care at ECU Health.
Dr. Longshore earned her medical degree at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis. She went on to complete a general surgery residency at the University of California, Davis in Sacramento, followed by a research fellowship at Washington University in St. Louis, and ultimately a pediatric surgery fellowship at Loma Linda Children’s Hospital in Loma Linda, California. She is board certified in both General Surgery and Pediatric Surgery, bringing nationally recognized expertise to the region’s only children’s hospital.
For Dr. Longshore, technical skills are only part of the story.
“I love the idea of having a problem and being able to fix it,” she explained. “Most pediatric surgeons will tell you the congenital anomalies – babies born without their esophagus connected – those are the cases we love to treat the most. You do that operation, and they go on to live a pretty normal life. That feels amazing.”
If you ask Dr. Longshore what keeps her grounded in such a demanding specialty, she will tell you it’s the kids.
“Kids just want to get better,” she said. “There’s no secondary gain for them. They want to get back to playing, back to school, back to being themselves.”
Erika Greene, trauma program manager at Maynard Children’s Hospital, said Dr. Longshore’s leadership is nothing short of extraordinary.
“Even after reaching the highest level of pediatric trauma verification, Dr. Longshore never stops looking for ways to grow our program,” Greene said. “She continues to strengthen our pediatric trauma resources, expand our team and ensure we have pediatric expertise at the bedside the moment patients arrive.”
When Dr. Longshore stepped into leadership of ECIPP, the program was much smaller in scope. Over time, her vision and persistence helped elevate them into nationally recognized efforts.
“She has really helped take us to the next level,” said Sue Anne Pilgreen, manager of ECIPP and ECU Health’s Pediatric Asthma Program. “She’s been incredibly intentional about helping us pursue grant funding, supporting research and encouraging publications and presentations.”
That support has translated into meaningful growth and visibility.
“For example, we had two presentations accepted at the Pediatric Trauma Society meeting last year,” Pilgreen said. “That’s a very big deal and having two accepted was an even bigger accomplishment. She played a huge role in helping us get there and making sure we had a seat at the table.”
Pilgreen also credits Dr. Longshore as a consistent advocate for prevention initiatives.
“She was involved at every level,” Pilgreen said. “Whether it was meeting with leaders, supporting new initiatives or going into schools with us, she’s always been willing to show up and do the work.”
That hands-on, “boots on the ground” leadership style, combined with strategic vision, has helped grow the program from a small team into a comprehensive effort focused on child safety across the region. ECIPP has reached thousands through prevention efforts, including more than 3,000 individuals in mental wellness initiatives and over 2,600 people through firearm safety programs in 2025. The program also plays a critical role in reducing preventable injuries through traffic, pedestrian and passenger safety efforts, reaching more than 3,200 individuals in 2025 through occupant protection initiatives and supporting environmental improvements that make roads safer for the community.
“It’s taken our program from being great to something truly exceptional,” Pilgreen said.
Dr. Longshore is quick to emphasize that exceptional pediatric care is never a solo effort. It’s the product of a deeply collaborative environment.
“When you interact with child life, or our therapy dog, Sam, our anesthesia team or our nursing team, that’s their mission: to make this the best possible experience for kids,” she said. “Nobody wants their child to have surgery, but it’s our job to make it the best experience we can.”
After more than a decade in Greenville, Dr. Longshore is beginning to see the lasting impact of her work.
“It’s a small community,” she said. “You start taking care of siblings. You run into families at swim meets. Someone will point to a child and say, ‘You operated on him.’”
Her own children were swimmers, and she recalls a moment when a parent approached her on the pool deck to share how far their child had come since surgery.
“As surgeons, we don’t always get that long term follow up,” she said. “To see a child you operated on swimming next to your daughter, that’s the cool part of this job.”
As Surgeon in Chief, Dr. Longshore now plays a pivotal role in shaping the vision and culture of Maynard Children’s Hospital. Her leadership blends clinical excellence with a commitment to ensuring that every child and family who walk through the doors feels seen, supported and cared for.
“She’s never satisfied with ‘good enough’—she always wants to do better,” said Greene. “She always wants to do more, to be better, to serve children in every way possible. You couldn’t place a more perfect person in the role of chief of Surgery.”
Greenville, N.C. – ECU Health is proud to welcome its first class of ophthalmology residents on June 25, 2026, marking another significant milestone in the growth of its Graduate Medical Education programs since its inception 50 years ago. The new ophthalmology residency program will welcome three residents who are set to begin training later this month. The inaugural residency class will be Dr. Vamsee Vemulapalli, Dr. Omar Nusair and Dr. Joseph “Mitch” Clayton.
“ECU Health’s new ophthalmology residency program is an exciting step forward for the health system and the patients we serve,” said Dr. Ann Ostrovsky, chief of ophthalmology, ECU Health. “This program allows us to train skilled ophthalmologists while expanding access to high-quality eye care across eastern North Carolina. It represents a long-term investment in both medical education and the health of our communities, and we are proud to welcome our first residents. We look forward to the impact they will have.”
The ophthalmology department at ECU Health was established in 2023 under the leadership of Dr. Ostrovsky, who prioritized the development of a residency program as a key component of the department’s long-term vision. With support from ECU Health’s Graduate Medical Education leadership, the program quickly gained accreditation and successfully recruited its inaugural class. Interest in the program was strong, and more than 500 applicants competed for three available positions. ECU Health matched with Drs. Vemulapalli, Nusair and Clayton, all of whom bring additional clinical and research experience following dedicated research years.
The four-year residency program includes an initial postgraduate year focused on broad clinical training followed by three years of specialized ophthalmology education. Residents will gain hands-on experience in diagnosing and treating a wide range of eye conditions while working alongside experienced clinicians. In addition to training residents, the program is expected to enhance patient care across the region.
“This milestone reflects 50 years of growth and commitment within ECU Health’s Graduate Medical Education programs,” said Dr. Mary Catherine Brake Turner, Associate Dean for Graduate Medical Education at the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University and ECU Health Medical Center. “Launching our first ophthalmology residency program expands training opportunities for future physicians and strengthens access to care for the communities we serve. We are proud to welcome these residents as we continue to grow programs that develop the next generation of physician leaders for eastern North Carolina.”
The program further strengthens educational opportunities for medical students. ECU Health will host students from the Brody School of Medicine and visiting institutions, offering clinical rotations and early exposure to ophthalmology. These experiences help build interest in the specialty and support the program’s future recruitment efforts.
“I had a perfectly normal pregnancy and delivery,” Rebekkah Rostek said of her daughter Gemma’s birth. “Then the week of her first birthday, she had her first seizure.”
That terrifying moment sent the Rosteks to their local hospital in New Bern, but they were quickly transferred to ECU Health Maynard Children’s Hospital when Gemma’s seizures didn’t stop.
“She had what’s called clustering seizures, and she had maybe 50 of them in the time between going to the hospital in New Bern and arriving at Children’s,” Rebekkah recalled. “She was taken to the PICU, and they thought she had an infection.”
The doctors tested Gemma for a multitude of illnesses, but nothing quite added up. Her symptoms resolved, they sent her home in time to celebrate her first birthday and she did well – for a while.
Uncovering the cause
Six months later, Gemma again experienced clustering seizures. Back at Children’s Hospital, the Rosteks met Dr. Ahmed Ibrahim a pediatric neurologist.
“He suggested genetic testing based on Gemma’s symptoms, and that’s when we discovered she had a rare genetic epilepsy disorder called PCDH19.”
The PCDH19 gene makes a protein involved in cell-to-cell signaling, and mutations can cause clustering seizures, developmental challenges and neurological complications. While the diagnosis was frightening, Rebekkah said it also gave her and her husband information they needed.
“Dr. Ibrahim’s recommendation changed the course of our daughter’s care forever,” Rebekkah said.
“It allowed us to better understand Gemma’s condition and how to advocate for the specialized care she needs. Dr. Ibrahim’s knowledge, attentiveness and compassion have meant more to our family than words can fully express. I’ve never met a doctor of his caliber.”
With a diagnosis in hand, Rebekkah said they are now empowered to help Gemma when seizures happen.
“We know what to look for and we feel prepared. We have emergency medications we can administer at home, but if Gemma starts clustering, we seek medical treatment at the hospital,” Rebekkah said.
“Since her first seizure, we’ve been to Children’s six or eight times.”
Support every step of the way
“The second we walk through the doors of Maynard Children’s Hospital, there is relief in knowing Gemma is surrounded by people who genuinely care about her well-being and understand the seriousness of her condition,” Rebekkah said. “We know she is safe. We know she is being listened to. We know she is receiving exceptional care.”
That care comes from a variety of teams, from the Emergency Department and general pediatrics to the PICU, dietary services and Child Life specialists.
“We’ve had so many doctors, like Dr. John Biondi, and nurses, like Corbin [Martin] in the PICU, who have been phenomenal,” she said.
Rebekkah said that Maynard’s reminds families they aren’t carrying their burdens alone.
“Anything we’ve needed, down to help with insurance documents and access to the Ronald McDonald House, they’ve relieved the pressure. We want families walking through a similar circumstance to know there is hope. Rare diagnoses can feel isolating, but there is support from those who dedicate their lives to helping children like Gemma.”
She also praised support organizations, such as PCDH19 Alliance, which provides information, funds research and assists individuals with PCDH19 and their families. Having access to that information, and to positive stories from other families like hers, has been a lifeline.
Good days ahead
As for Gemma – she is an energetic almost-four-year-old with a zest for life.
“She loves her older brother, Emmett. She can ride a bike with no training wheels and she loves to swim. She’s a good friend at school and loves her two Golden Retrievers and her cat. She’s so funny and cute as a button.”
Gemma just finished a dance recital, she is taking gymnastics and in November, the family plans a visit to Disney.
The good days are good, and the bad days are bad, but there are more good days than bad ones,”
Rebekkah said. “It’s unpredictable and we don’t take things for granted because we don’t know what the seizures will do.”
“
Maybe it’s because of the epilepsy, but Gemma is fearless,” Rebekkah added. “At this point, I just tell her to shoot for the stars and we won’t hold her back. Epilepsy has been a significant part of her journey, but it does not define who she is.”
Share your story with us at go.ecuhealth.org/gratitude. Stories like these show the lasting impact of Maynard Children’s Hospital.
About 100 kids saddled up on June 18 for a bike rodeo at Hillcrest Park in Winterville, where ECU Health Injury Prevention Program team members, Safe Kids Pitt County, Winterville Safe Routes to School, the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NDCOT) and HBCU Coalition of Pitt County teamed up to teach them essential bicycle safety skills and provide protective equipment.
Cycle and Serve, an all-ages bike rodeo, equipment giveaway and service event provided kids with free helmets, reflective gear and other safety equipment. Kids also had the chance to hone their critical cycling safety skills. Courses were set up to teach them braking, turn signaling, how to react to traffic signage and how to safely navigate obstacles like ramps or debris.
“Wearing a properly fitted helmet is one of the most effective ways to reduce the risk of serious head injury during a crash,” said Ellen Walston, injury prevention program coordinator and Safe Kids Pitt County coordinator at ECU Health. “We are so grateful for the opportunity to educate kids of all ages about cycling and connect them with local partners and resources who put safety first. Keeping our roads safe is everyone’s responsibility, and the skills our participants learned today will play an important role in keeping them safe and healthy on their bicycles.”
Learning bicycle safety is a key step to prevent injury. According to NCDOT data, there were 1,011 crashes involving bicyclists in 2025, the second year in a row with over 1,000 such crashes statewide. About 40% of the 2025 crashes resulted in suspected minor injuries and three percent were fatal.
Along with properly fitted helmets and reflective gear, Walston recommend bicyclists wear bright colored clothing and ride in the same direction as the flow of traffic. She said kids should ride their bikes on sidewalks when possible and that cyclists should always remain aware of their surroundings.
Greenville, N.C. – The 2026 ECU Health Board Quality Leadership Award winners were recognized at the ECU Health Board of Directors meeting held on Tuesday, June 23. These winning teams exemplify ECU Health’s system-wide commitment to achieving zero harm, delivering exceptional experiences and advancing patient outcomes through high-quality, compassionate care.
“These projects exemplify the talent and passion that team members have for addressing complex health care challenges in our rural region,” said Dr. Andy Tewari, chair, ECU Health Board of Directors. “The wide range of teams recognized today shows the scope of their commitment to innovation and serving our patients in eastern North Carolina.”
Projects demonstrating excellence reflected two or more of the following traits:
- Sustained Quality and Safety Improvement: Quantifiable improvement in an organizational priority that advances the goal of zero harm and demonstrates reliability over time.
- Compassion in Action for Safety: Demonstrated teamwork and commitment to protecting patients and team members from harm through consistent application of safety behaviors, communication and a fair and just culture.
- Innovation and Continuous Learning: Implementation of innovative, evidence-based solutions that enhance clinical quality, safety and operational reliability.
- Reduce Variations in Quality Outcomes: Meaningful work that identifies and reduces barriers and promotes quality and safety for all populations served.
Four teams earned awards this year, chosen from a competitive pool of nominations and thoughtfully reviewed by the selection committee.
The winning teams are as follows:
A team from ECU Health Medical Center submitted “Antimicrobial Stewardship Program (ASP) Review of Restricted Antimicrobial Use and Compliance.” The project improved ECU Health Medical Center’s electronic health record and antimicrobial stewardship program workflows. It yielded $270,000 in cost savings and reduced unnecessary antimicrobial use, supported safer patient care and helped fight antimicrobial resistance.
The project leaders were Nicole Nicolsen, PharmD, BCPS, BCIDP, ASP/Infectious Diseases (ID) pharmacist manager, and Melissa George, PharmD, BCIDP, ADP/ID pharmacist. Team members were David Laurent, PharmD, BCPS, BCIDP, ASP/ID pharmacist, Emily Perez, PharmD, ASP/ID pharmacist, and Allison Field, PharmD, VCID, AAHIVP, ASP/ID pharmacist.
A team from ECU Health North submitted their project “Two-Year Central Line Associated Blood Stream Infection (CLABSI) Free Initiative: Driving Interdisciplinary Excellence Through Daily Nurse Quality Huddles and Rounding.” Efforts from the project led to zero hospital-acquired CLABSI cases.
The Project Leaders were Aparesh Balla, MPH, QS III, Maryland Hicks, BSN, RN, WCC, QNS II, and Chelsey Shearin, BSN, RN, IP II. The team members were Dr. Jude Ojie, hospitalist medical director, Dr. Rudo Gwanzura, chief of staff, Wanda Neathery, manager of patient care services, Jennifer Pilgreen, manager of patient care services, Karen Liles, RN, vascular access team, and Ann Strickland, RN, vascular access team.
A team from ECU Health Physicians submitted “Improving Hypertension Control in Ambulatory Care.” The project used a data-driven approach to improve blood pressure test accuracy, repeat measurement and home monitoring documentation by standardizing how blood pressure tests are conducted.
Project leaders were Crystal Ashley, RN, BSN, and Dr. Samuel Moskowitz. Team members were Marsha Becker, RN MSN, Dr. Dean Miner, Jessica Walker, MSHIIM, BSPH, Jason Monroe, MBA, Wendy VanLandingham, RN, BSN, Jennifer Jones, RN, and Drillious Gay, RN, MSN.
A team from ECU Health Ambulatory Quality Services submitted “Improving Outcomes: A Patient-Centered Approach to Hypertension Management.” The project used a community-funded initiative in July 2025, to improve home monitoring for blood pressure with blood pressure cuffs, patient education and integrated patient-entered readings through MyChart.
The project leader was Gail Scheller, RN, AMB-BC, AE-C, Ambulatory Quality Nurse Specialist. Team members were Barbara Adams, manager, Outer Banks Health Family Medicine – Avon, Stephanie Huband, manager, Outer Banks Health Family Medicine – Kitty Hawk, Cynthia O’Neal, manager, Outer Banks Health Family Medicine – Manteo, Sean Dunigan, manager, Outer Banks Health Family Medicine – Nags Head East and Kristen Daniels, manager, Outer Banks Health Internal Medicine – Nags Head.
“These teams worked with purpose to build the tools, dataflow and support that empower our care teams to do their best work for patients in service to ECU Health’s mission and enterprise goal of clinical excellence,” said Dr. Niti Armistead, Chief Clinical Officer and Chief Quality Officer, ECU Health. “Their efforts remind us that quality improvement is one of the most powerful ways to bring meaning and joy into the work of caring for patients.”
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.