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.”
As a former East Carolina University football player, Javon Brumsey knows all about hard work. Now a teacher for South Central High School, where he recently won the Beginning Teacher of the Year award, Brumsey always considered himself to be in good shape.
“I just turned 38, and I’ve always been a fit guy,” he said. “But last summer I noticed I got out a breath walking up and down hills and I had a different feeling in my chest and throat.”
That feeling went away – for a while. It resurfaced after a steak dinner, and Brumsey decided it was time to do something.
A serious threat revealed
“I asked my wife to stop at Walmart on the way home from the restaurant, and I took my blood pressure there,” he said. “It was high, so we bought a cuff and I checked my blood pressure twice a day. It was high every day.”
Worried, Brumsey made an appointment with his physician, but initial tests didn’t show anything was wrong aside from the high blood pressure readings. He was put on medications with instructions to reach out if his other symptoms returned.
“My blood pressure went down, but I kept having the strange feeling in my chest and feeling short of breath,” he said. “They checked me for reflux and they tried asthma medication, but that didn’t help. They were confused.”
Then, Brumsey’s cardiologist decided to try a CT scan using dye, and that’s when they found the blockage.
Located in his left anterior descending artery, the blockage was the kind that causes a heart attack sometimes known as the “widow maker,” so called because that artery supplies half of the blood to the heart.
“They called me back to the doctor’s office the same day, so I knew it was serious,” Brumsey said. “They tried to see if they could treat the blockage with a stent, but the artery was 95% blocked.”
Brumsey was admitted to the hospital immediately and scheduled for bypass surgery with Dr. Michael Bates the next day.
A renewed commitment to health
Brumsey recovered in the hospital for two weeks after surgery, followed by a second, shorter hospital stay to treat an infection. Once he was home for good, he immediately made an appointment with ECU Health’s Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation program.
“While I was in the hospital, I lost 15 pounds. I was feeling weak from being in bed, so I was excited to get my strength back,” he said.
From day one, the rehabilitation team made Brumsey feel like he was in good hands.
“The therapists knew I was strong and a big guy, but they wanted to be sure everything went well so they started me out light and gradually increased the challenge,” he said. “They were patient and supportive, checking my vitals every day before I worked out and again before I left. I trusted the process, and they looked out for me.”
In addition to exercise, Brumsey took a class on nutrition, including how to read food labels and prepare food, and he learned how to monitor his own vital signs at home. The class was helpful, and the connection he made with his fellow classmates encouraged him.
“I was the youngest one there, but everyone was supportive. Being with people who had also gone through this experience was a big deal,” he said. “It gave me motivation and that, along with my trust in God through this process, kept me motivated.”
Now, Brumsey continues to do what he can to prevent something like this from happening again.
“I had no family history of this. It was out of the blue,” he shared. “I have a treadmill at home and a weight bench, and I plan to continue exercising and eating better. I’ve been married for 10 years in July, and we have three kids. I want to stay on top of things.”
Brumsey also said he’s appreciative of the care he received at ECU Health, and he encourages anyone experiencing similar symptoms to see their doctor.
“Everyone did such a great job,” Brumsey said. “For anyone going through what I did, I recommend ECU Health to take care of them. I trust them.”
A poet said if you write a sonnet for someone, you love them. But if you write 40 sonnets for that person, you love writing sonnets.
Students at the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University love their patients, putting it into poetry.
ECU Health and the Brody School of Medicine co-hosted the seventh annual Legacy Teachers event at the Murphy Center in Greenville, honoring patients who have shaped medical students’ understanding of care, empathy and presence.
The event featured remarks from Brody School of Medicine leaders Dr. Amanda Higginson, associate dean for student affairs, and Dr. Jason Higginson, executive dean and chief health officer at ECU Health, along with ECU Health leaders Dr. Christina Bowen, chief well-being officer; Dr. Julie Oehlert, chief experience officer; and Brian Floyd, chief operating officer.
Both Dr. Amanda Higginson and Floyd reflected on formative patient experiences from their own training.
“I remember the first patient I ever examined at the end of my second year of medical school,” Dr. Amanda Higginson said. “That experience stayed with me every time I stepped into a room, reminding me why I became a doctor.”
Fourteen students honored 16 patients, and their families, as Legacy Teachers. Students shared written reflections, with several choosing poetry to capture their experience. The focus set not on diagnoses, but on people.
Marriam Azam nominated Lomia Acklin and described an immediate connection.
“Lomia was going through many challenges, but her strength and resilience, and her passion for her family is inspiring,” said Azam. “We connected. Her strength gave me strength.”
Acklin said her experience with Azam was so different than other experiences she’s had in medical offices.
“She would listen to me and ask me what she could do better for me,” said Acklin. “Marriam created a personal space where I felt comfortable. She listens and we work together. I would leave a meeting with her feeling hopeful. Like my doctor was part of the family and was going to help me get through this.”
As these stories were shared, the students and patients stood together. However, some students stood alone, dedicating the honor in loving memory of a patient that passed.
“There is a sacred relationship between student and patient,” said Dr. Oehlert. “We can learn so much from these relationships. How to listen with empathy, be open and be present.”
In many cases, it’s about being a friend.
That lesson was especially evident for Vedika Modi, who met Benjamin Clark while rotating at James and Connie Maynard Children’s Hospital.
Benjamin and his parents, Amanda and Gary Clark, brought some fun and light to the Kids Immunosuppressed Specialty Unit (KISU) during the holidays with their family tradition of using mailboxes as an Advent calendar.
Modi connected quickly with Benjamin and his family. She’d wake up excited to get to work and see him.
“Gary and Amanda taught me how to show up as a family,” said Modi. “They were an example and inspiration for me not only as a doctor but as a person.”
“Vedika lifted the room up when she walked in,” said Amanda. “She was so eager and willing to learn, but what mattered was she talked to Ben like a person, on his level and connected with him on what he cared about.”
The Clark family had extra to celebrate as the day prior, Benjamin rang the bell at Maynard Children’s Hospital and is officially cancer free.
Michael Li, a Brody student and master of ceremonies, summed up the spirit of the program.
“One of the greatest gifts we receive as medical students is time with patients,” Li said. “The lessons we can’t learn in a textbook shape how we care for people and build trusting relationships.”
On March 28, the class of 2028 at ECU’s Brody School of Medicine gathered in a university ballroom surrounded by family, friends and physician leaders at the school to be “coated” and proceed to clinical rotations at ECU Health Medical Center.
It had been just eight days since the class of 2026 opened their sealed invitations to residency on Match Day but nearly three years since the last white coat ceremony. This year marks the first time the medical school has held the ceremony before the start of students’ third year, a momentous curricular transition from the preclinical to the clinical years of school, and it recognizes the accomplishment of completing the foundational science curriculum.
“In one week, the class of 2028 begins their clinical journey in the hospital and in clinics, and we celebrate the start of that journey today,” said Dr. Jason Higginson, executive dean of the school.
During the ceremony, students processed to the stage to be coated by a faculty member. They recited the physicians pledge for the first time. They also received words of wisdom from seasoned physicians that included Higginson and Dr. Christina Bowen, a family medicine doctor and Chief Well-being Officer at ECU Health.
A 2003 graduate of the Brody School, Bowen urged the class to consider the white coat a tangible symbol of the responsibility each future physician will have to patients.
“It represents trust,” she said. “Patients will trust you with their stories, with their fears, with some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives. They will not remember most of what you will say; however, they will remember how you made them feel.”
Bowen gave the class three points of wisdom to carry with them as they continue their medical school journeys. She told them to stay connected to their “why,” the moment they knew they wanted to care for others through medicine.
“That moment will anchor you when everything else feels uncertain,” she said.
The second point she emphasized was that how one shows up is just as important as what one knows.
On March 28, the class of 2028 at ECU’s Brody School of Medicine gathered in a university ballroom surrounded by family, friends and physician leaders at the school to be “coated” and proceed to clinical rotations at ECU Health Medical Center.
It had been just eight days since the class of 2026 opened their sealed invitations to residency on Match Day but nearly three years since the last white coat ceremony. This year marks the first time the medical school has held the ceremony before the start of students’ third year, a momentous curricular transition from the preclinical to the clinical years of school, and it recognizes the accomplishment of completing the foundational science curriculum.
“In one week, the class of 2028 begins their clinical journey in the hospital and in clinics, and we celebrate the start of that journey today,” said Dr. Jason Higginson, executive dean of the school.
During the ceremony, students processed to the stage to be coated by a faculty member. They recited the physicians pledge for the first time. They also received words of wisdom from seasoned physicians that included Higginson and Dr. Christina Bowen, a family medicine doctor and Chief Well-being Officer at ECU Health.
A 2003 graduate of the Brody School, Bowen urged the class to consider the white coat a tangible symbol of the responsibility each future physician will have to patients.
“It represents trust,” she said. “Patients will trust you with their stories, with their fears, with some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives. They will not remember most of what you will say; however, they will remember how you made them feel.”
Bowen gave the class three points of wisdom to carry with them as they continue their medical school journeys. She told them to stay connected to their “why,” the moment they knew they wanted to care for others through medicine.
“That moment will anchor you when everything else feels uncertain,” she said.
The second point she emphasized was that how one shows up is just as important as what one knows.
“Medicine will teach you how to diagnose, to treat, to intervene,” Bowen pointed out. “But healing happens in a relationship. In eye contact. In presence. In listening without rushing.”
The final point she shared was for the students to take care of themselves as intentionally as they care for others.
“The culture of medicine will sometimes ask you to push yourself past your limits and to give more than you have,” she said. “But sustainable excellence comes from alignment. From tending to your own well-being physically, emotionally and spiritually. This is not a luxury. It is essential to the kind of position and human you are meant to be.”
In closing, Bowen told the Class of 2028 that they were stepping not into a profession — but a calling.
“A calling to bring both science and humanity together in the care of others,” she said. “The most powerful thing you can bring to medicine is your authentic self. Wear this coat with humility. Wear it with courage. And wear it with a deep understanding that the work you are stepping into matters, not just because of what you will do, but because of who will be.”
The white coat ceremony marks the first time a student puts on the garment historically associated with the profession, but at this phase, they wear a short white coat that extends just past the waist. The full-length white coat is later.
“Students beginning their studies in medical school see their education and role as future physicians as aspiring to be worthy of the long white coat,” wrote Dr. Mark Hochberg in a history published in the American Medical Association’s Journal of Ethics.
“It’s a symbol of how far we’ve come,” said a rising third-year student, Ji In Han. “After a year and a half of hard learning and, you know, failing a couple times, and learning how to get back up, I think this is really significant.”
Han and fellow student Naimi Pothiwala, a 2022 graduate of ECU, were outside the ballroom after the ceremony along with U.S. Army Capt. David McGriff, associate professor of military science at ECU.
Both Han and Pothiwala singled out the Brody School of Medicine’s strong mission-driven focus to produce doctors for the state of North Carolina, especially its rural and underserved communities that comprise much of the east.
“I was very familiar as an undergraduate major here in public health with the region and its health disparities,” Pothiwala said. “I knew Brody was directly impacting the region — I wanted to contribute, too.”
“Oh, yeah, it absolutely mattered to me to come here,” said Han, “because I grew up without health insurance, so my whole purpose of entering medicine was to serve other underserved patients.”
The Brody School of Medicine offers students more direct patient care over the course of clinical rotations than many other schools and has developed a reputation among graduate medical education programs for students who are ready to treat patients on Day 1, Higginson said.
Today, more than 90% of medical schools in the nation hold a white coat ceremony. The first such event, held in 1994, was sponsored by the Arnold P. Gold Foundation, which also started the Gold Humanism Honor Society, a national honor society dedicated to honoring those students who exemplify humanism in medicine. This year’s ceremony was assisted by Gold Humanism Honor Society members from the classes of 2026 and 2027: Katy Flax, Morgan Maner, Madison Kendrick and Michael Kovasala.
U.S. News & World Report listed the Brody School of Medicine a Tier 1 institution in its 2025 Best Medical Schools rankings. This year, more than half of the school’s rising graduates matched into primary care specialties — and more than 40% are staying in North Carolina for that training.
This white coat ceremony also featured a public introduction of the medical school’s four new learning communities. The communities will offer a system of support for students throughout their careers. The procession of students to the stage Saturday, instead of strictly alphabetical, was arranged by community.
The learning communities include the Bertie Buccaneers, led by House Dean Dr. Mary Lenfestey; the Roanoke Raiders, led by House Dean Dr. Don Norris; the Pamlico Privateers, led by House Dean Dr. Jill Sutton and the Cape Fear Corsairs, led by House Dean Dr. Juliana Jaramillo.
The names of the communities were “thoughtfully chosen to reflect the culture of eastern North Carolina, East Carolina University and the Brody School of Medicine,” said Kema Gadson, an associate dean at the school.
“The houses will be more than communities. They are lifelong affiliations grounded in mentorship, service to eastern North Carolina and the foundation of physicians committed to improving the health care of others.”
Brody graduates enjoy on average 33% less student debt load at the time of graduation — a fact that frees them to choose front-line primary care, though other specialties and sub-specialties may be more remunerative.
The school’s top financial award was created to do just that. The Brody Scholars program provides full tuition, fees and enrichment opportunities for four years of medical education to students selected. This year, cousins Hyman Brody and David Brody pledged an additional $10 million to the program, a gift that prompted the university’s Board of Trustees to vote to name the university’s new seven-story, $265 million facility the Brody Center for Medical Education.
One such Brody Scholar participating in Saturday’s ceremony was Rebecca Cloninger.
“It is hard for people to understand what we go through as students if they’re not a student, but for family and friends to see us on this day, yes, this is a little bit ceremonial, but it really does mean we’re stepping into a new part of our lives,” Cloninger said.
A daughter’s love and her selfless decision to donate bone marrow, and life, highlighted the importance of organ, eye and tissue donation during ECU Health Medical Center’s annual Pause to Give Life observance on Wednesday, April 1.
On Oct. 3, 2022, Daneilya Whitney’s mother was diagnosed with acute leukemia. At the time, she and her mother were taking classes to become registered medical assistants (RMAs). Whitney considered abandoning that route in the wake of the diagnosis, but said her mother convinced her to keep pursuing the certification.
“We did the first part of the class together, she was my partner beside me working together,” Whitney, now an RMA, said. “Then she got sick. I had to finish that part myself.”
It was another scary situation for Whitney’s family. Her father died of colon cancer in 2011.
When that happened, an organ donation or transplant was not an option. Her mother remained on the transplant list after two potential bone marrow donors backed out at the last minute. Comprehensive screenings and tests found Whitney was a safe match to donate. The decision was an easy one, Whitney said, and she jumped at the opportunity to give life to the woman who had given it to her.
“I think more people should donate and know that recovery is fine,” Whitney said. “I was strong doing it with four small children, and I recovered in no time. I hope everyone feels the urge to register as a donor.”
Screening consisted of a home cheek swab, blood work and injections to help Whitney safely overproduce bone marrow to donate to her mother. The whole process took a week, she said, which she was able to undergo in tandem with the second part of her RMA test. She said her doctors helped her through the process from its inception to after the bone marrow was harvested.
“It was well worth it, and if I had the option to do it again I would,” Whitney said. “My mom is doing well. She is fully recovered and back to her spicy self.”
Jay Briley, president of ECU Health Medical Center, said that last year the hospital saw 31 organ donors, 76 tissue donors and 75 eye donors. The Medical Center also conducted 96 cornea transplants, eight full globe transplants and could use eight eyes for research.
Pause to Give Life is a national undertaking during Donate Life Month in April. During Wednesday’s observance, ECU Health Police officers raised a “Donate Life” flag to honor donors, their families, people waiting for transplants and recipients given the gift of life. Participants also held a moment of silence at 10:08 a.m., signifying that one donor can save eight lives, to recognize the over 3,000 patients across North Carolina waiting for life-saving transplants.
“It is a joy to have everyone gather for a few minutes to take a mindful pause and reflect on something that is such an important part of what we do,” Briley said.
Cynthia Stone, director of Transplant and Dialysis Services at ECU Health, said the event serves as a small recognition of an incredible gift, naming both deceased donors and living kidney donor patients who selflessly offer a part of themselves to heal another person. The outcomes, she said, are powerful.
“Patients come back to life,” Stone said. “They go from being tied to a dialysis machine three times a week for four hours at a time to being back at work, to being parents or grandparents.”
Over the past few years, Stone said more people have registered as organ, eye and tissue donors. Still, the need for more remains – in eastern North Carolina 564 patients are waiting for kidney donations. Patients can learn more about organ donation and transplantation, at ecuhealth.org/transplant, or they can register as an organ donor on MyChart.
Jordan Satchell discovered an interest in sign language early on, an interest that was reinforced in high school when she took sign language as a foreign language. By the time she made it to college, she was uncertain of what path to follow until she realized her school offered a sign language interpreter program.
“I switched majors the very next week,” Satchell said.
That was at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and after graduation, she attended the University of North Florida where she graduated with a master’s degree in American Sign Language (ASL) and English Interpreting.
Satchell didn’t learn specific medical sign language skills, but she eventually found herself working in the emergency department (ED) at ECU Health as an experience coordinator.
A door opens in Language Services
While working in the ED, Satchell’s manager introduced her to Reid Barnes, the ASL coordinator with Language Services at ECU Health.
“Reid told me about this new residency program and suggested I apply, which I did,” Satchell said. “I thought nothing would come of it, but they picked me.”
The two-year residency is a first, not only for ECU Health, but for the country.
“ASL interpreters are trained as generalists,” Barnes shared. “They are equipped to interpret in any setting, but if they want to pursue specialized training, that’s up to their discretion.”
ECU Health’s American Sign Language Residency program was developed to improve medical interpreting for individuals wanting to hone their skills and understand medical and health care systems. While interpreters in North Carolina must hold and maintain a state license to practice, and national certification is required for a full North Carolina Interpreter and Transliterator Licensing Board (NCITLB) license, there is no additional training required for specialization. That makes this program unique.
As the first resident, Satchell has helped build the program by providing Barnes with feedback, and it didn’t take her long to get started advancing her skills. During her first week, she was called down to outpatient rehabilitation to help with a patient in their speech language pathology appointment.
“The next time, I was called down to the ED,” Satchell added. “Reid was off campus so he asked me to go. The patient was hearing, but they had a Deaf family member. The meeting turned into a palliative care conversation and that really hit me because I’m such a softy, and the family was crying.”
Satchell explained that as an interpreter, she doesn’t speak in third person; she speaks as the person for whom she is interpreting – which can make conversations personal.
While the work can be challenging, Satchell said Barnes has been supportive.
“He’s been a great mentor. When I doubted my ability, he reassured me and that helped with my training and my confidence,” Satchell said.
Ready for the next step
Now that her residency is nearly complete, Satchell said she feels prepared for her future career plans.
“This program doesn’t just help with medical interpreting,” she said. “It also refined how I work with people. Working here has 100% prepared me for working in this field.”
“Jordan’s growth during her time with us has surpassed any expectations,” Barnes shared. “She’s improved her technical skills (ASL signs and technical jargon) as well as her soft skills (flow of interpretation and customer service). She’s demonstrated problem solving and system navigation, and she’s helped educate providers and assisted with conference presentations. Her time with ECU Health will benefit her regardless of where she goes next.”
ASL is the third most common language in the United States, after English and Spanish, yet Jordan said many people are unaware of the need for ASL interpreters and the service they provide, especially in a medical setting.
“There is an improved continuity of care with Deaf patients when they have interpreters,” Satchell explained. “A lot of people don’t realize that patients not having access to their native language impacts their understanding of medical advice and information. Having access to an interpreter makes patients more likely to seek and follow through with the medical care they need.”
Barnes said they are recruiting for the next ASL resident to continue growing the pipeline for interpreters with medical specialization. Those who are interested in learning more about the program can reach out to [email protected].
“There’s no program like this in the country. Bigger states, like California, don’t have anything like this,” Satchell said. “There’s no program designed in a hospital where you have training like this, and the hope is we can grow this program to host more interpreters at more locations.”
Greenville, N.C. – ECU Health is proud to announce Dr. Julie Kennedy Oehlert, DNP, RN, Chief Experience Officer, was again named to Becker’s Hospital Review’s “CXOs to Know” list for 2026, recognizing her leadership in transforming the organization’s culture to improve patient experience and outcomes.
Dr. Julie Kennedy Oehlert
“Making Becker’s CXOs to Know list is a testament to ECU Health’s commitment to prioritizing experiences that contribute to positive patient visits, improved team member engagement and overall community health,” said Dr. Oehlert. “Together, we are creating an environment where patients and team members feel supported, valued and truly cared for. I am thankful to every ECU Health team member who lives our mission to improve the health and well-being of eastern North Carolina every single day.”
Chief experience officers play a vital role in shaping the full spectrum of patient and team experiences within their hospitals and health systems. According to Becker’s, the leaders featured on the list take a thoughtful, culture-driven approach, constantly seeking new ways to boost engagement, satisfaction and long-term loyalty.
Dr. Oehlert has partnered with her leadership colleagues to integrate highly reliable, people centered care into every level of the organization, championing initiatives that connect team member experience with patient experiences and outcomes. She pioneered the “Patient Choice Awards” to celebrate units and providers achieving exceptional and improved experience ratings from their patients, reinforcing a culture of compassion and excellence.
“Dr. Oehlert has championed experiences that focus on the human side of rural health care,” said Dr. Michael Waldrum, CEO of ECU Health and dean of the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University. “This recognition by Becker’s reflects our commitment to that vision and to our patients. Dr. Oehlert and ECU Health make it their goal to ensure patients and team members are treated with dignity and respect. We are grateful for her tremendous impact on patients and team members.”
This list celebrates CXOs for their unwavering dedication to enhancing the healthcare experience at every level. Becker’s showcases these accomplished leaders whose vision and efforts are central to the success of their organizations. The Becker’s Hospital Review editorial team accepted nominations for this list and curated it to showcase the great work of CXOs from hospitals and health systems across the nation.
GREENVILLE, N.C. – Radio listeners will once again help make a big change for kids during the 29th annual Music for Miracles radiothon March 26-27. The radiothon raises funds to help sick and injured children in eastern North Carolina through Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) to benefit the James and Connie Maynard Children’s Hospital at ECU Health Medical Center and will air on 107.9 WNCT and all Inner Banks Media (IBX Media) radio stations including Talk 96.3 and 103.7; Oldies 94.1 and 102.7; and 94.3 The Game.
The two-day radiothon raises funds to benefit the programs and services of Maynard Children’s Hospital, which serves pediatric inpatient and outpatient patients from 29 counties across eastern North Carolina. One hundred percent of the funds raised by ECU Health’s CMN program directly supports programs and services of Maynard Children’s Hospital.
“Once again, we are thrilled to have the radiothon on all our IBX Media stations to raise funds for James and Connie Maynard Children’s Hospital. It’s the highlight of our year to support the Children’s Hospital,” said Henry Hinton, president, Inner Banks Media. “I’ve personally had a grandson who needed care there, and it is a true blessing for all of eastern North Carolina to have it here. We’re looking forward to two exciting days and hope everyone will participate as they are able.”
In 1998, the first radiothon raised $5,400. Last year, the radiothon raised more than $113,000. Thanks to the loyal listeners of 107.9 and the dedicated radio staff and personalities, the event has raised more than $4 million to date. At Maynard Children’s Hospital, these funds have been used to purchase life-saving medical equipment and diversionary items for kids, provide team member and patient education and to help build new facilities.
“The radiothon continues to be one of our most impactful annual traditions, and we are deeply grateful for the steadfast dedication of the 107.9 WNCT team and everyone at Inner Banks Media,” said Elise Ironmonger, director of programs for the ECU Health Foundation. “Their commitment to broadcasting live for 12 hours across two consecutive days, supported by countless hours of planning and behind-the-scenes coordination is truly remarkable. This event is made possible through the partnership of hospital leaders, team members and, above all, the courageous miracle children and families who generously share their stories. We invite everyone to tune in and be inspired by the hope and healing this event helps make possible.”
The entire 24 hours of the radiothon will be broadcast live on 107.9 from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. both Thursday and Friday, with the other stations broadcasting intermittently throughout the two days. To give, please call 1-800-673-5437 (1-800-673-KIDS) or visit www.GiveToCMN.com.