As seniors across the state flex their muscles at their regional North Carolina Senior Games, two top competitors in Pitt County said they are grateful for ECU Health’s Wellness Centers where they can train for competition, learn a new skill and above all keep moving.
The North Carolina Senior Games began in 1983, as did the local Greenville-Pitt County Senior Games. The local event invites athletes aged 50 and above from Beaufort, Bertie, Hertford, Martin and Pitt counties to compete in over 40 events encompassing sports like bowling, bocce ball, basketball and track and field. Medalists are then invited to the state and, should they keep winning, the national games.
Shirley Darden-Gibson, 71, has competed in 13 Greenville-Pitt County Senior Games. “The Beast from the East” as she is known by friends and competitors regularly takes first place in track and field sprinting events, and last year clinched a silver medal at the National Senior Games in Des Moines, Iowa. Darden-Gibson said the games feed her competitive fire, a fire that is sparked in part by her workouts at the ECU Health Wellness Center in Greenville.
“Our wellness centers in Greenville, Washington and Ahoskie provide members and guests with a wide array of resources, equipment, facilities and classes to improve their overall wellness,” said Jonathon Unger, director of ECU Health Wellness Centers. “People of all ages can depend on these resources to keep themselves moving and prepared not only in competition, but in their day-to-day lives. Improving health through flexibility, strength and cardio exercise is important for people of all ages and ECU Health is grateful for organizations like the Greenville-Pitt County Senior Games who promote recreation and wellness across our 29-county region.”
Darden-Gibson works out five days a week for two and a half to three hours each session. She taught aerobics at the wellness center in Greenville for 20 years and takes full advantage of the center’s many resources, where she can run on the indoor and outdoor tracks, lift weights and participate in classes like yoga and Pilates. She also does aquarobics in the center’s indoor pool and enjoys finding new activities.
“The wellness center is very important to me,” Darden-Gibson said. “Fitness has always been part of my life. I believe that the body is a temple, and I believe in taking care of my temple. It belongs to us and I believe we are responsible for its maintenance.
“The gym is a great resource to train for my competitions. I know a lot of people here because I taught here, and they are very supportive. They’ll tell me ‘You’re the beast!’ and I’ll tell them they’re right, but there’s a lot more beasts out there. That’s why I have to stay at the top of my game.”
Don English, 87, has taught yoga at the wellness center in Greenville since 2002, with a short break to move into the private sector. He also competes in cycling at the senior games, where last year he won a silver medal in the 5K time trial and a gold in the 10K time trial at the national games in Des Moines, Iowa. English said he cycles between 75 and 100 miles a week with friends and teaches three to four yoga classes a week, too.. He said he hopes cycling and yoga will keep him fit well into his 90s.
“I feel very strongly that, as we age, it’s so important to keep our legs strong,” English said. “It’s so easy to lose leg strength. I have read that you should lift weights, to tighten and strengthen your muscles, should do something to lengthen and stretch the muscles, for me that’s yoga, and then a cardiovascular exercise. For me, that’s cycling.”
English also teaches chair yoga, for people who can’t or don’t want to get down on a mat, and teaches seniors how to get up and down off the floor in the event of a fall. NC Department of Health and Human Services data indicates that more than 20,000 residents aged 65 or older were hospitalized by falls in 2024.
Darden-Gibson said she finds maintaining her “temple” is a great step toward injury prevention and healing from injuries when they do occur. She said in 2015, an abdominal surgery that was estimated to take six months recovery time only took three months because she was in excellent physical shape.
“I believe we can have a better handle on sickness, illnesses, disease if we take the initiative to care for own health,” she said. “They have meds, and thank God for meds and doctors, but I think there’s more that we can do ourselves, that can maybe help us stay on top of that.”
ECU Health Wellness Centers are located in Greenville, Ahoskie and Washington and offer a broad range of fitness and exercise programs, and aquatic and wellness services for all ages and fitness levels. The medical fitness facilities are designed to empower users to achieve their optimal health. More information about ECU Health Wellness Centers is available here.
When Kimberly and Waylon Williford welcomed their daughter Abigail into the world 18 years ago, her arrival did not go according to plan. Born at just 30 weeks and weighing 2 pounds, 11 ounces, Abby spent the first 91 days of her life in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at the James and Connie Maynard Children’s Hospital at ECU Health Medical Center. For the Willifords, those months were filled with fear, hope and a deep trust in the hands caring for their daughter.
“For 91 days, the NICU was her home, and the staff became so much more than caregivers,” Kimberly said. “They became family. On the days I could not be there, I found comfort in knowing she was surrounded by people who loved and protected her as their own.”
Today, Abby is a senior at the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics, a residential STEM high school. The Willifords return to the NICU each year on Abby’s birthday, with a cake in hand, to honor the people who made Abby’s future possible. She recently returned to the NICU to celebrate her 18th birthday, a milestone she doesn’t take for granted.
“I know some babies born premature like I was don’t make it to 18 – especially 18 and healthy – so I think that’s an amazing accomplishment and testament to both my doctors and God,” Abby said.
The ritual that began when she was young has grown more meaningful with time.
“It has been an important part of my life to go back and show my appreciation for the NICU team,” Abby said. “Even if they weren’t there when I was born, I still love to show my appreciation for other people who are doing the same thing and taking care of the NICU babies like they took care of me.”
Kimberly shares that sentiment.
“Over the years, while some staff have retired or moved on, what has never changed is the compassion and dedication of those who continue to care for the smallest and most fragile patients,” she said.
Kimberly also hopes their visits bring optimism to patients and families in the NICU themselves.
“We hope Abby’s visits offer encouragement on the hard days and a glimpse of hope for families walking through those early days,” Kimberly said.
Abby also volunteers at ECU Health Beaufort Hospital in the summers while she’s home from school. Abby’s time spent at ECU Health Beaufort made an impression on Volunteer Services Manager Angelina Brittle. Brittle first met Abby in 2024, shortly after stepping into her role. Abby had already been volunteering since 2023 as part of the ECU Health Volunteen Summer Program, and Brittle said she immediately recognized something special.
“I instantly knew from the moment I met her, she was going to be a great mentor for the new high school kids coming in,” Brittle said. “She is a go-getter. She is so kind, super smart and just has a big heart for helping others. She is a really great Volunteeen, and I can’t wait to see all the great things she’s going to do.”
Abby set a personal goal of completing 60 volunteer hours before graduating high school. She surpassed that with more than 75 hours at ECU Health Beaufort. She has served in a variety of departments, including the ambulatory surgical unit, cardiac rehab, the emergency department, the main lobby, the Marian L. Shepherd Cancer Center and the workroom.
“All of those different areas allow for exposure in different fields of practice, but also allow her to engage with different disciplines,” Brittle said. “And with that, I have seen that she has made some amazing connections.”
Brittle often observes volunteers interacting with patients from a distance, and she says Abby shines in those moments. For patients in the hospital, the presence of the Volunteens can offer a welcome distraction from the reason they’re in the hospital. She says patients frequently strike up conversations with high school volunteers.
“I’ve seen her grow in her ability to engage with our patients,” said Brittle. “She makes our patients smile when she sees them, especially in the ambulatory surgical unit. She’s just a light, and I hope one day she returns here as a working professional.”
Abby’s mother often shared stories about the doctors and nurses who cared for her, and those stories planted a seed. In the fall, Abby will begin studying biology and public health at East Carolina University Honors College on a pre-med track.
“Her experience has shaped the person she is becoming,” Kimberly said. “It gives her perspective, compassion and a deep appreciation for life. It continues to guide her dream of one day becoming a physician.
“We are forever grateful for the hands that held our daughter at the very beginning,” Kimberly said. “Because of them, we get to watch her step into a future that once felt uncertain.”
Share your story with us at go.ecuhealth.org/gratitude. Stories like these show the lasting impact of the Maynard Children’s Hospital.
The first thing 83-year-old Sam Fulmer asked when he discovered he needed shoulder replacement surgery was, “when can I play tennis again?”
“I am an athletic nut, and I’ve played tennis since the Cuban Missile Crisis,” Sam joked. “That’s what, 62 years? But it got to where it hurt to hit a tennis ball, and that’s when I knew I needed to see a doctor.”
Pain on the court
After his service as a Marine – which is where he picked up his tennis habit – Sam found a job in North Carolina as a statistician and bookkeeper for a phosphate mine. Through the years, he’s remained active by playing tennis and riding bikes.
As a result, Sam is no stranger to joint replacement; he’s had both knees and a hip replaced. While he’s seen several doctors over the years, his most recent experience with Dr. Shawn Yeazell, a fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon at ECU Health Orthopedics, was especially positive.
“My daughter works with ECU Orthopedics and she recommended Dr. Yeazell. I was able to get seen by him quickly, which was a great selling point for me.”
Another benefit, Sam said, was how quickly he was scheduled for surgery, and on Oct. 3, Sam had his reverse shoulder replacement at the ECU Health Medical Center.
Trusted care close to home
“Surgery went well and I had zero pain, which is practically unheard of for shoulder surgery,” Sam said.
Sam was eager to begin his recovery, and in a few days, he began physical therapy at ECU Health Beaufort Hospital Outpatient Rehabilitation.
“It was so easy to set up my appointments, and they have great people working there,” he said. “I worked with Rhonda Sillitoe and Jennifer Bylykbashi, and what a wonderful experience that was. I wanted to do more, but they told me they have to follow the surgeon’s protocol. The surgeons track your progress and we had to follow their rules, which isn’t easy because I’m a little hard headed. But they were right.”
In two weeks, Sam “passed with flying colors,” but his daughter encouraged him to continue his rehabilitation.
Rebuilding strength
Sam and his wife, Davey, were already members of the ECU Health Wellness Center – Washington, so it was easy to transition his recovery from outpatient rehab to the Wellness Center.
“I got to work with Russ Sohooli, who we already knew from going there, and he scheduled me for eight sessions. I can’t tell you how good Russ is; he’s in a class by himself.”
Sam recently completed his eight weeks with Russ, but after a short break, he plans to do eight more sessions.
“Being active is part of our lifestyle,” Sam said. “If you embrace that, you’ll have a better life – especially when you get to 65. That’s when you can make a bad turn. But if exercise is a part of your life, it’s a joy.”
Sam said he was most impressed with the smooth and easy coordination among the ECU Health locations and people.
“Everyone talked to everyone – even Russ was aware of my surgery and its protocol and what I’d already done in therapy,” he said. “We refer everyone to ECU Health Orthopedics because you get seen quickly and they help you get back to what you want to do.”
Two months ago, Sam got the green light to play tennis again.
“Dr. Yeazell told me to start easy, to not start by playing matches but just to hit the ball around with Davey or the bank board,” he said. “You have to work your way back and at first you might be afraid that it will hurt, but you have to build back that confidence and now I can hit the ball as hard as ever.”
The Office of Community Health at ECU Health brought barbers and health professionals together for an afternoon of education, fellowship and hands‑on learning during its Barbers for Life men’s health event.
ECU Health Lifestyle Medicine hosted a Dining with the Doc event especially for barbers throughout eastern North Carolina. The gathering highlighted the essential role barbers play as trusted community leaders, often serving as the first line of conversation when it comes to well-being.
“Today is all about empowering barbers as community health leaders,” said Almon‑Re Alston, community health engagement coordinator, ECU Health.
Alston organized the event alongside the ECU Health Lifestyle Medicine Clinic, which routinely hosts Dining with the Doc.
This particular demonstration stemmed from a previous meeting where barbers expressed interest in learning more about healthy food choices – not only for themselves, but so they could share practical guidance with their clients. Because barbers are often trusted confidants, equipping them with knowledge about healthy lifestyles can help strengthen community well being and support long term health improvements across the region.
Ariana Lohmann, a lifestyle coach and chef at the ECU Health Lifestyle Medicine Clinic, hosted the live cooking demonstration and began by demystifying tofu, showing barbers how to marinate and roast it for flavor and texture.
“It’s a really inexpensive, high protein option,” she explained, noting that all ingredients were purchased from everyday grocery stores. In addition to tofu, the menu included salad ingredients, homemade dressing and fresh vegetables.
Lohmann emphasized that healthy eating doesn’t have to be expensive. The meal she prepared cost about $4.85 a serving.
Lohmann said events like this matter because they expose people to possibilities they may not have considered.
“A lot of times, the food we prepare at Dining with the Doc are things people haven’t tried, and so they’re hesitant to try it,” she said. “They get an opportunity to try new things and be in a group of community members who are doing the same things.”
Beyond nutrition, Alston hopes the initiative chips away at long‑standing barriers.
“We have to push back against the stigma that says Black men don’t go to the doctor or don’t take care of themselves,” Alston said. “Every man deserves to feel comfortable getting screened, asking questions and talking about his health. When barbers come together like this, it shows the community that taking care of yourself is something to be proud of.”
Dining with the Doc includes a live cooking demonstration preparing a simple, affordable, heart‑healthy dish while discussing the benefits of whole‑food, plant‑forward eating.
The centerpiece of the afternoon was a men’s health awareness talk by Dr. David Michael, medical director for the ECU Health Lifestyle Medicine Clinic and clinical informaticist, who covered the six pillars of lifestyle medicine: nutrition, exercise, sleep, substance abuse, stress management and healthy relationships. Dr. Michael also discussed the rising rates of chronic disease, especially among Black and Latino men, and the importance of early detection. Drawing from decades of clinical experience, he emphasized that lifestyle changes can prevent, and in some cases reverse, chronic conditions such as type 2 diabetes and hypertension.
Dr. Michael also highlighted the unique role barbers play in health conversations. He encouraged barbers to ask simple questions about sleep, stress and daily habits, noting that these conversations can open the door to life changing awareness.
“When you’ve got someone in your chair, you talk about everything — and health can be one of those conversations,” Dr. Michael said. “Whether it’s social connection, nutrition or even checking blood pressure, you have opportunities to bring these things up. The truth is that a lot of people are living with chronic conditions they don’t even know about.”
“That connection between barbers and community health is exactly why the Barbers for Life initiative exists,” said Kelly Spivey, community health improvement coordinator, ECU Health. “Barbers see so many people in their chairs, and they can make such an impact in so many people’s lives. Barbers for Life is our way of giving the barbers all the tools in their toolbox to be able to inform their clientele about all these amazing, healthy initiatives.”
Spivey believes events like this strengthen the network of barbers across the region.
“It brings them together, it lets them know what resources we have,” she said. “If they see it firsthand, then they’ll be able to do it more. I hope the barbers gain a new vision on how they can prepare good food. We all have traditions and culture, but we can tweak little things that make a really big difference.”
For many attendees, the event wasn’t just informative – it was personal. Barber Wady Santos of Bongos Barbershop in Greenville said participating in the initiative is part of giving back.
“We as barbers tend to give back to the community,” Santos said. “Getting educated about health gives us the opportunity to help our customers learn about their own health.”
Santos plans to bring what he learned straight back to his shop.
“I’m excited to start changing my nutrition habits and helping my customers do that as well,” he said. “We’re very thankful that ECU Health has provided that for us.”
Event organizers also trained the barbers on taking blood pressure and gifted each barber a blood pressure cuff for their shops.
“Today just proves that when barbers are equipped with knowledge, resources and support, they become more powerful advocates for healthier communities,” said Alston.
To learn more about future Dining with the Doc events free and open to the public, please visit www.ecuhealth.org/events.
As a child, Jennifer Giordano, Cancer Center outreach coordinator, was deeply impressed with nurses.
“I always wanted to be a nurse,” she said. “When I went to the doctor, the nurses were warm and kind, but also steady and wise. I wanted to be that person when I grew up.”
Giordano has indeed been that person during her nearly 30 years as a nurse and 34 years with ECU Health. The Beaufort County native switched from the bedside to community outreach a decade ago, and the change was a good fit.
“It’s great to be on the front end of disease and cancer care and help navigate our patients towards cancer screenings,” she said. “We make a difference, because early detection is key.”
Expanding early detection
In her role, Giordano has been a part of many initiatives that provide education and resources for individuals at risk for cancer.
“We do pop-ups for PSA blood tests for prostate cancer, and last year we screened 22 high-risk individuals,” she shared. “We distribute kits to test for colorectal cancer, perform skin cancer screenings, and run a breast clinic for uninsured patients. It’s a great gig.”
Giordano also works closely with the Lung Cancer Initiative (LCI), a North Carolina organization that connects lung cancer patients and their loved ones with the medical and research community, fuels research, furthers education and supports access to cancer care.
Giordano leads monthly, low-dose CT lung cancer scan clinics for under and uninsured patients, and she also serves on the LCI’s Early Detection Advisory Committee, where she is a champion for the Screening Saves Lives program.
For her work with the LCI, she was recently recognized as the 2025 Dr. Jennifer Garst Healthcare Professional of the Year. The award honors a health care professional who goes above and beyond in providing supportive, patient-centered care, which the LCI said Jennifer “exemplifies . . . in every aspect of her work.”
Why the work matters
Winning the award was humbling and surprising, Giordano said, but it was also deeply personal.
“My dad was a single father, and he started smoking when he was 12,” she explained. “He’s a gifted artist and a talented musician – he’s so much more than a smoker. In 2016, he called me and said something was wrong. We made an appointment with his primary care physician, and they discovered a tumor in the right upper lobe of his lung.”
Giordano’s father underwent chemotherapy and radiation due to the location of his tumor. During that process, his physicians discovered a significant aortic valve stenosis that, once his cancer treatment was complete, required a transcatheter aortic valve replacement. At 79, he’s now doing well, but seeing her father go through cancer treatment gave Jennifer a different perspective.
“Smokers are often blamed for their outcomes, and you can hear it in patients’ voices that they are shaming themselves,” she said. “My dad did that too. He waited a long time to be seen by a doctor, and we all know cancer is easier to treat if it’s caught early. I want our patients to know there’s more to them than being a smoker, and that we’re not here to shame them.”
That’s why Giordano dedicated her award to her father, and why she continues to serve patients with compassion – although she is reluctant to stand in the spotlight.
“When I talk to patients and welcome them, I try to put them at ease and love on them. I want to be that nurse who is smart and gentle, who makes you feel like family but also that we’re going to take care of you,” she said. “Being an outreach coordinator is something I get to do.”
Raleigh (April 21, 2026) – The American Cancer Society (ACS) has awarded ECU Health Cancer Care its annual Health System Partner of the Year Award for 2025, a national honor presented in recognition of an incredible partnership and astounding achievements in improving the lives of cancer patients and their families.
“We are grateful for ECU Health’s partnership and our shared goals to reduce barriers to cancer care, promote early detection and prevention, and improve the quality of life for people facing cancer and their caregivers,” said Dr. Arif Kamal, chief patient officer at the American Cancer Society. “Through their support of the American Cancer Society McConnell-Raab Hope Lodge in Greenville, health equity initiatives and statewide advocacy policies, ECU Health has helped more people have a fair opportunity to prevent, detect, treat and survive cancer — and we’re honored to recognize them.”
The Health System Partner of the Year Award recognizes a health system partner that provides exemplary patient care in alignment with the American Cancer Society’s mission. ECU Health Cancer Care has proven to be a collaborative and dynamic partner whose financial support and volunteer leadership has made a significant impact on ACS mission programs, health priorities and revenue goals. ECU Health’s contributions to the American Cancer Society McConnell-Raab Hope Lodge, and engagement with ACS roundtables, VOICES of Black Women study and advocacy efforts across eastern North Carolina exemplify the comprehensive partnership ACS strives to build.
“We are deeply honored to receive this national recognition from the American Cancer Society, a partner whose mission aligns so closely with our own commitment to advancing cancer care across eastern North Carolina,” said Dr. Emmanuel Zervos, executive director of cancer services at ECU Health, and professor at the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University. “In a region as vast and rural as ours – where cancer incidence and mortality are among the highest in the state – our partnership with ACS is essential to breaking down barriers, expanding access to care and ensuring patients and families receive the support they deserve. This award reflects the dedication of our team members, and we look forward to continuing this meaningful partnership to improve outcomes for every person we serve.”
ECU Health has been a longtime supporter and partner of the American Cancer Society, providing financial and hands-on support for the Hope Lodge. The McConnell-Raab Hope Lodge, one of 31 ACS Hope Lodge communities nationwide and the only one in North Carolina, provides free lodging for cancer patients and their caregivers while traveling for treatment. ECU Health leadership and staff regularly volunteer at the lodge, serving meals, assisting at the front desk and supporting facility needs. They are also longtime supporters of the American Cancer Society Relay For Life event, which brings the community together to raise funds, support survivors and honor loved ones affected by cancer.
“Over the past 13 years, I have had the privilege of working alongside the remarkable professionals at ECU Health, whose compassion, expertise and unwavering dedication shine through in every interaction,” said Robbie Tilley, associate director, cancer center partnerships, for ACS. “Their enduring partnership with the American Cancer Society reflects a deep and genuine commitment to improving the lives of cancer patients, supporting families, and strengthening communities across eastern North Carolina.”
Along with UF Health in Gainesville, Fla., ECU Health is one of just two health care systems nationally to receive this award.
Greenville, NC – Dr. Warqaa Akram, colorectal surgeon with ECU Health Cancer Care, became the first surgeon in North Carolina to perform colorectal procedures using the da Vinci Single Port (SP) robotic platform. Dr. Akram completed the state’s first two single port colorectal surgeries on March 16, 2026, at ECU Health Medical Center.
The da Vinci SP system allows surgeons to perform complex colorectal procedures through a single small incision — which may be hidden in the belly button or along the waistline — rather than multiple incisions required in traditional minimally invasive surgery. Because the incision also serves as the extraction site, patients experience a single incision operation.
Dr. Warqaa Akram
“This platform opens a new chapter in colorectal surgery, allowing us to offer patients advanced, minimally invasive care through a single small incision,” said Dr. Akram. “With improved visualization and greater precision, we can preserve healthy tissue and offer a less invasive option – tailored to each patient – for both cancerous and non cancerous conditions. Integrating this technology into ECU Health’s surgical oncology program further enhances our ability to deliver advanced, high quality surgical care close to home for the communities we serve.”
The da Vinci SP system provides enhanced visualization and access to angles previously difficult to reach. This allows surgeons to address polyps and tumors higher in the rectum that were difficult to treat in the past. ECU Health will use the SP platform for a wide range of colorectal procedures, including colon and rectal cancer resections, partial and total colectomies, surgery for inflammatory bowel disease, diverticulitis surgery, rectal prolapse repair ostomy reversals and minimally invasive resections for select benign or early rectal tumors.
“Being able to offer this technology means patients in eastern North Carolina can receive advanced colorectal care close to home,” said Jay Briley, president of ECU Health Medical Center. “We are proud to be the first institution in the state to perform this single‑port robotic colorectal surgery, expanding access to innovative, minimally invasive treatment options. This milestone reflects our commitment to ensuring patients in our region don’t have to travel long distances to receive the highest level of care.”
ECU Health team members that were part of the new procedure include: Warqaa Akram, MD, FACS, Jennifer Bryant, RN, Paula Boyd, surgical technologist, and Smith Accius, surgical first assist.
Greenville, N.C. – ECU Health is proud to announce $2.6 million in grants awarded by The Duke Endowment for projects that will help advance the health system’s mission to improve the health and well-being of eastern North Carolina. The grants include: $600,000 to expand and integrate the Healthier Lives at School and Beyond program into ECU Health’s electronic health record and $1,295,065 to participate as a site for the Bridge to Health Initiative. An additional $710,000 was awarded to ECU Health’s Primary Care Learning Center.
“The Duke Endowment’s support allows ECU Health to launch and bolster existing programs that will make a meaningful difference in the lives of people across eastern North Carolina,” said Dr. Scott Senatore, chief philanthropy officer, ECU Health Foundation.
“These grants help us expand access to care, strengthen our clinical workforce and address long standing barriers that impact health outcomes in our region. We are honored by this investment and energized by the opportunity to build healthier communities together.”
$600,000 to the Healthier Lives at School and Beyond program
Healthier Lives at School and Beyond is a school-based telehealth program that has historically provided interdisciplinary care – quality nutrition education and counseling, behavioral health, and acute minor medical care services – directly into rural school settings. The program was launched in 2016 by the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University (ECU) and is now a collaborative effort between ECU and ECU Health and has added pediatric asthma services. The program has steadily expanded since its 2016 inception in Duplin County and has been awarded new funding to broaden its evidence-based tele-behavioral services for students across rural eastern North Carolina. The program has become a vital access point for pediatric mental health care in communities facing severe provider shortages, high poverty rates and significant barriers to treatment. The grant funding will support program integration into ECU Health’s electronic health record (EPIC), provide access to ECU and ECU Health physicians and clinics and streamline continuity of care for the child. The grant also supports the expansion of virtual counseling and school-based care coordination into Hertford and Bertie counties and provides continued support in Duplin, Jones, and Sampson (Clinton City Schools) counties, reaching more than 17,000 students and 2,300 staff members. Telehealth services will be available Monday-Friday during normal school hours, and providers will work with local school staff to minimize the time students are away from class. Telehealth-enabled care will also be made available to teachers and staff of each school.
$1,295,065 for Bridge to Health
This grant will establish the ECU Health Transitional Care Clinic, designed to bridge the gap between hospital discharge and long-term primary care for high-risk adults in Pitt County. Building on the existing ECU Health Immediate Care Clinic – Greenville, the new clinic will expand medical and social support services, trauma informed care and coordinated referrals to community partners with a goal of improving long term health trajectories and quality of life for patients with complex needs who face significant medical and socioeconomic challenges. These patients lack a primary care provider and face significant social and economic barriers – factors that contribute to avoidable emergency department use and hospital readmissions. Using EPIC’s Risk for Readmission score, eligible patients will receive follow up within 7–14 days of discharge, with a goal of serving 400 patients annually and reducing avoidable emergency department use and readmissions.
$710,000 to ECU Health’s Primary Care Learning Center
The ECU Health Primary Care Learning Center will be a new clinic in North Greenville. Its focus is to expand access to care for underserved populations, provide a training site for our growing class size of the BSOM, and foster an appreciation for the field of primary care in an effort to increase our pipeline of physicians choosing that specialty. The center will serve as a fully integrated primary care medical home staffed by family physicians, advanced practice providers and interprofessional teams. The clinic will offer comprehensive services including access to behavioral health, social work, nutrition, health coaching, pharmacy support, and lab services. An additional goal is to address the significant barriers of access to care that drive avoidable emergency department use in the region, where more than 50,000 ED visits each year are considered preventable. The Primary Care Learning Center will provide consistent access for underserved residents while strengthening the workforce pipeline for rural eastern North Carolina.
Randy Mintz, a registered nurse with the ECU Health Enterprise Resource Team, began his nursing career in 1999, and he joined ECU Health in 2009, but health care was not his first career.
“I was in the military,” he said. “My dad and brother were in the Air Force. My dad was from Wilmington, and I grew up there until I was 14 or so and we moved to Wichita Falls, Texas. When I finished high school, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do, but I didn’t want to stay there. I decided to give the military a shot.”
After his four years in the Air Force, during which time he was stationed in Germany and then New Mexico, Randy signed up for the National Guard, where he served as a medic.
“I think working in health care was always in the back of my mind,” Randy said. “In the Air Force I considered an EMT class, but it just didn’t work out and I let it go.”
Once he was out of the military, Randy wanted a stable career with benefits, and he decided to enter law enforcement. He found a job in a detention center, but a few weeks in, he met Pat Kosman.
“We had a few inmates who were sick, and Pat was a gruff, older nurse who worked there. She said, ‘Randy, you should go to nursing school.’ I told her she was crazy – I was going to be a cop.”
At the same time, Randy was in school where he took sociology, psychology and criminal justice classes.
“The college was kicking off this EMT program, and one of the instructors asked if I wanted to take an EMT basic class. I thought it was a good idea because in law enforcement, as a first responder, it could be a good opportunity.”
Randy took the class, and then he took the intermediate class.
“It was kind of fun and I did really well. And in the second class, I had awesome clinicals at the hospital.”
And who was his preceptor at that hospital? Pat Kosman.
“When the clinicals ended, she told me I really needed to go to nursing school. She said, ‘you’ve got a knack for this.’”
Randy “flipped the switch” and spoke with his advisor about changing his career plan to nursing. She helped him fill out the application for nursing school, and a few weeks later, he was called in for an interview with the program director.
“There were a few pre-requisites I needed to complete, which would take another semester, and I got in. I was like, wow – I’m really meant to be here. That’s how it all started.”
“And Pat – she was instrumental in making it happen. I’m not sure what she saw in me, but she set the path in motion,” Randy added.
Randy said his work in the military has shaped the way he approaches nursing, specifically how he interacts with his colleagues and leadership.
“When you’ve been a nurse for 26 years, you lead different teams and you want to treat everybody you work with the way you’d want to be treated,” he said. “Especially if you’re in a leadership position – you want your team to know you work for them. You’re there to serve them and make their world a little bit better.”
That carries over to his current role with the Enterprise Resource Team.
“The team is like the central staffing office for the entire health system,” he explained. “I go to the Medical Center, Edgecombe and Beaufort, but the system is set up by region, and you pick which region you’re in. Then you get an email or text at five in the morning that tells you where you’re going that day, where you’re needed.”
While working in a variety of locations can be challenging, Randy said it provides insight into how different departments function.
“You bring some good influence and values, and it offers a different way of thinking and doing things,” he said.
To anyone considering a career in health care, Randy said he had some advice for them.
“Health care, and nursing especially, is a great opportunity to provide for yourself and your family. The investment up front may seem like a lot, but there are so many opportunities, from clinical education, leadership, nurse practitioner, CRNA – you may not even realize how many there are until you’re in it. The beginning is the same, but there are different pathways you can take.”
Randy’s path hasn’t been a straight one, but he doesn’t regret his decision.
“I never thought I’d be doing this, but it’s been really fun,” he shared. “I’m happy I was pushed in this direction. We have the opportunity to take care of our community, and whether you’re in one of the community hospitals or the Medical Center, you’re making a big impact.”
Greenville, NC – The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) recently awarded ECU Health Medical Center Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU) a silver-level Beacon Award for Excellence for 2025. This national honor recognizes units that demonstrate exceptional patient care, outstanding outcomes and a commitment to creating and sustaining healthy work environments.
“Earning the Beacon Award for Excellence is a powerful reflection of the dedication our Surgical Intensive Care Unit nursing team brings to patients every single day,” said Trish Baise, chief nursing executive, ECU Health. “This recognition affirms ECU Health’s commitment to evidence based practice, teamwork and a healthy work environment that allows exceptional care to thrive. I am incredibly proud of this team and the standard of excellence they continue to set for our organization and for eastern North Carolina.”
The ECU Health Medical Center SICU is a 24-bed unit that provides support for nearly 900 critically ill surgical and trauma patients per year and is a crucial part of ECU Health Medical Center as a Level I Trauma Center. The Beacon Award for Excellence recognizes unit caregivers who successfully improve unit outcomes and align practices with AACN’s six Healthy Work Environment Standards. These include the overall health of the work environment, better nurse staffing and retention, less morale distress and lower rates of workplace violence. Units that earn this annual award meet specific criteria established by AACN that represent the characteristics and components of the unit environment that nurses can influence to achieve nursing excellence.
“This achievement reflects the extraordinary skill, compassion and resilience our SICU nurses bring to the bedside every day,” said Tara Stroud, chief nursing officer, ECU Health Medical Center. “The Beacon Award underscores ECU Health nurses’ unwavering commitment to delivering safe, evidence-based care in an environment where teamwork and professional growth truly thrive. Their focus on continuous improvement directly elevates the experience and outcomes of the patients we serve.”
Beacon-awarded units distinguish themselves by excelling in various areas demonstrated in their application. Through participation in the Beacon Award program, units can compare and reflect on their performance compared to global applicants. According to AACN, all awardees demonstrate dynamic and outstanding performance in the areas of patient outcomes, nursing workforce and work environment.
“The Beacon Award for Excellence recognizes caregivers in outstanding units whose consistent and systematic approach to evidence-based care optimizes patient outcomes,” said AACN President Rebekah Marsh, BSN, RN, CCRN. “Units that receive this national recognition serve as role models to others on their journey to excellent patient and family care.”