When Ashley Dunn, a quality nurse specialist on the ECU Health Medical Center patient safety team, graduated from nursing school in 2008, she found a place in Pitt County Memorial Hospital’s labor and delivery unit. She loved her team and her work, but in 2014 she was sidelined with an unexpected diagnosis.
“I found out I had cystic fibrosis, which I was not expecting. That took me away from the bedside, so I worked in outpatient case management with Access East until 2016.”
Ashley then switched to working in the post anesthesia care unit (PACU), but the pandemic required another change.
“My doctors did not want me anywhere near the bedside, but I still wanted to work with the hospital. That’s when I found this role in patient safety. Everything fell into place like it was meant to be.”
An unexpected journey
Around the same time she joined ECU Health, Ashley and her husband, David, also wanted to grow their family. Despite polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), her cystic fibrosis diagnosis and the everyday stress of life and work, Ashley said she and David assumed things would work out.
“Nothing was happening,” she said. “We didn’t feel pressed to do IVF early on, but then suddenly I was 37 and we felt like we were running out of time.”
Ashley and David underwent IVF and over the next couple of years, she had three embryo transfers.
During that time, she needed multiple testing modalities and a surgery to improve her chances.
“Three transfers didn’t work, and we had one left,” she said. “We said this is it, the last chance, so we threw everything but the kitchen sink at it to make it work. And that last embryo stuck.”
Once pregnant, Ashley said she was doing well until she started leaking amniotic fluid at 28 weeks.
A strong start
“It was a Wednesday and I went to the hospital, knowing I wouldn’t be coming out without a baby,” she said. “I wasn’t in active labor, so they hoped I could get to 34 weeks. Just in case, they gave me steroid shots and magnesium to prevent complications.”
By that Saturday, however, Ashley began feeling mild contractions. They progressed throughout the day, until by that evening, Rhys Dunn was born at two pounds, 14 ounces.
“He came out kicking and screaming,” she laughed.
Rhys was born a fighter, but at 28 weeks, he needed to go to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at James and Connie Maynard Children’s Hospital. This was challenging, especially when it was time for Ashley to discharge home.
“It’s so hard to leave the hospital without your baby,” she said. “There was a lot of back and forth for us. But we felt at peace about him being there because we had a team that knew what it was doing and cared about us.”
There was even a camera set up so Ashley and David could check on Rhys anytime of the day or night, and the staff were available by phone if they wanted to call for an update on Rhys’s status.
“The nurses were so attentive; the doctors were great. A speech therapist helped him with his feeding. The care partners and the volunteers were helpful,” she said. “The team in labor and delivery were supportive and checked in on us. We felt Rhys was well taken care of, and when he came home, he was ready.”
After 71 days in the NICU, Rhys went home on Father’s Day weekend, and now, he is a happy one-year-old.
“He’s hit all his milestones and he’s very much a happy baby,” Ashley said. He’s sweet as pie, and he brings us so much joy. We have been so blessed.”
Ashley emphasized that she and her family are fortunate to live close to the Maynard Children’s Hospital and the high-quality care they provide.
“I was in a NICU support group and so many parents had to drive two or three hours to see their babies. How lucky we are to have a NICU in our backyard,” she said. “To have that quality of care so close is a luxury.”
The whole experience was a “whirlwind,” but Ashley said it’s been worth it.
“The life we have now wouldn’t be possible without the hospital and the people working there,” she said. “We are so thankful to each and every person.”
Share your story with us at go.ecuhealth.org/gratitude. Stories like these show the lasting impact of the Maynard Children’s Hospital.
When an emergency unfolds in eastern North Carolina, citizens can rest assured help is on the way thanks to the Eastern Healthcare Preparedness Coalition (EHPC) at ECU Health and the many community groups that support it.
The preparedness coalition serves as the region’s State Medical Assistance Team, or SMAT, comprised of multidisciplinary medical and nonmedical volunteers. SMAT has operated in eastern North Carolina for decades and serves the area from its Regional Operations Center at ECU Health Medical Center in Greenville.
One of SMAT’s most vital capabilities is its 50-bed field medical station, which can be set up in the event of hurricanes, natural disasters or mass casualty events. The field medical station allows providers to deliver on-scene treatment during emergencies, allowing for earlier intervention and reducing the need to transport patients longer distances. In special circumstances, the group can turn large sites like gymnasiums or arenas into alternate care sites for patient treatment.
These capabilities are particularly important in the vast rural parts of the state, where ECU Health serves 1.4 million people in a 29-county region. Unlike urban and suburban parts of the state where multiple hospitals operate within the same county, many residents rely on SMAT’s ability to bring care to them rather than displace residents across multiple counties.
Should medical transport be necessary, the unit also boasts one of 11 medical ambulance buses in the state, capable of carrying 20 stretchers or 30 patients in seats and is equipped with basic life support capabilities. The bus’s capabilities were leveraged in March when SMAT was called to assist Pitt County Emergency Management with medical transport capabilities during a gas leak at a Greenville solar panel manufacturing plant. Staff were forced to evacuate the building while first responders from Pitt and Martin counties investigated. Some employees showed signs of general illness and required treatment on the scene. A handful of patients were transported to ECU Health Medical Center for further evaluation.
According to Chris Starbuck, director of emergency management for ECU Health, doctors were already triaging patients when the ambulance arrived and transport was seamless. Starbuck said SMAT’s ability is strengthened by longstanding relationships among SMAT members, ECU Health clinicians and local emergency responders.
“I’ve been in this role for years. I’ve seen people come and go, but for the most part we have a lot of retention and a lot of longstanding relationships,” Starbuck said. “You have everybody’s cell phone number, you’ve already met, you’ve already developed plans, you’ve conducted exercises, people know each other. If something happens, you’re a call away. That interconnectedness is a huge benefit to our region.”
Jim McArthur, deputy director of Pitt County Emergency Management, has been in Greenville since 2016. In all that time, from his roles as a firefighter and paramedic to now, he said SMAT has offered friendly faces and a deep well of institutional knowledge that bolsters emergency response. Many team members have roots in local responder organizations, too, which means longstanding relationships continue to flourish even in the most trying circumstances.
“SMAT’s communications capabilities and their knowledge of the team, their knowledge of emergency communications and the emergency response system are assets to our community,” McArthur said. “All of the folks there are local and have experience either in the hospital here or in the field – in fire and EMS or both. All those people that function within that disaster services area know the folks here that they’re going into the street with, so we can get things done quickly and well. They do an excellent job of maintaining their equipment and making sure it’s ready for service.”
Even though many SMAT assets are not needed every day, McArthur said their presence provides reassurance – not just for responders, but for the community.
“Our community should be comforted in knowing we have very specialized emergency response resources of all kinds that can respond to problems,” McArthur said.
“SMAT is so much more than a couple of people that respond to a car accident. These are folks who go out into the region to make sure that health care facilities, doctors, offices, nursing homes and whatever other critical pieces of daily life can continue to provide what they need,” McArthur continued. “The fastest road to recovery is to get people back to whatever their normal daily life is. The whole mission of the SMAT crew is to do that. Knowing SMAT has all that equipment in their warehouse and knowing that they can leverage those resources to help get the local response on track and get us where we need to be, is really comforting.”
Eastern North Carolina families now have a more unified, comprehensive resource for child health, safety and wellness. ECU Health’s Tender Evaluation, Diagnosis and Intervention for a Better Abuse Response, or TEDI BEAR, Children’s Advocacy Center and ECU Health’s Center for Child and Family Wellness (CCFW) have officially come together under one roof, improving coordinated prevention and intervention services for children and families across the region.
The move was celebrated during a special event highlighting April as Child Abuse Prevention Month. Team members, community partners, law enforcement and ECU Health leadership gathered to recognize the significance of the co-location and the expanded opportunities it brings.
“We can’t raise healthy communities if we don’t raise healthy children,” said Tara Stroud, senior vice president and chief nursing officer at ECU Health Medical Center. “Bringing these teams together creates a comprehensive program that lets us move forward in a different way.”
For Noemi Rivera, director of TEDI BEAR and the Mt. Olive Children’s Advocacy Center, the partnership represents a natural alignment of missions.
“We see children at the request of law enforcement or child protective services when there are allegations of abuse,” Rivera said. “We provide advocacy services, forensic interviews, medical exams and refer them into our services for mental health.”
TEDI BEAR and Mt. Olive Children’s Advocacy Center serve approximately 1,000 children each year, offering a full continuum of services that would otherwise require families to navigate multiple agencies on their own. Rivera emphasized that without a Children’s Advocacy Center like TEDI BEAR, families would face fragmented care such as visiting the Department of Social Services, police, hospitals and mental health providers separately.
“Children deserve to tell their story one time,” she said. “Our forensic interviewers make that possible.”
CCFW complements that mission by focusing on prevention. CCFW Director Bonnie Jean Kuras described the center as a hub for programs that keep children safe, healthy and out of the hospital.
“We focus on prevention of injury, prevention of illness and the opportunity for families to manage their stress,” Kuras said. “Safe driving, safe sleep, suicide prevention, our Pediatric Asthma Program and school health programs – anything and everything that keeps children well.”
Together, the two organizations form what Kuras calls “two dynamic mission‑aligned ecosystems,” united in their commitment to strengthening families and communities.
The new shared building is a trauma‑informed environment designed to support children during some of the most difficult moments of their lives. Rivera noted the importance of creating a space that feels safe and hopeful.
“When children come here after experiencing the worst thing that’s ever happened to them, the building matters,” she said. “When they leave with a teddy bear, we’re sending them back into the world with hope.”
TEDI BEAR and Mt. Olive helped children from 31 counties last year. The combined efforts of TEDI BEAR, Mt. Olive Children’s Advocacy Center and CCFW support not only individual children but the broader community. That work relies heavily on their partnerships with law enforcement, district attorneys, mental health providers and medical professionals who Rivera said were on the front lines of abuse cases.
“Our partners are the boots on the ground,” Rivera said. “We cannot do what we do without them.”
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.