Greenville, N.C. – ECU Health Beaufort Hospital – a campus of ECU Health Medical Center now offers the MISHA Knee System for patients suffering from medial knee osteoarthritis. The MISHA Knee System is designed to reduce the daily physical toll on the knee joint, offer rapid pain relief and preserve patients’ natural anatomy.
“The MISHA Knee System fundamentally changes how we can support patients living with medial knee osteoarthritis by giving them a joint preserving option that delivers real, measurable relief,” said Dr. Dimitri M. Thomas, orthopedic surgeon, ECU Health Beaufort Hospital. “For many people who want to stay active but aren’t ready for a knee replacement, this approach fills a longstanding gap in treatment options. It’s exciting to bring this level of innovation to our community and help patients regain comfort, confidence and mobility.”
Knee osteoarthritis affects more than 15 million Americans and can make everyday activities painful and difficult. Non-surgical treatments such as medications, injections or physical therapy sometimes do not provide relief, and they are often left with ongoing pain and limited mobility. The MISHA Knee System is a less-invasive approach designed to reduce knee pain and help patients return to the activities they enjoy by reducing the peak forces on painful knee joints while walking, running or simply standing. No removal of bone, cartilage or ligament is required.
“ECU Health Beaufort Hospital is committed to ensuring that patients in our region can access advanced, patient centered solutions close to home, and the MISHA Knee System is a powerful example of that commitment,” said Dennis Campbell II, DHA, RN, president, ECU Health Beaufort Hospital. “By offering this innovative treatment locally, patients do not have to travel long distances to receive cutting edge orthopedic care or to find relief earlier in their treatment journey. We are proud to expand access to high quality options that help people stay active, remain in their communities and maintain their quality of life.”
The procedure is covered by Medicare. For those interested in learning more, please contact ECU Health Orthopedics – Washington at 252-946-6513.
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, 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.”
Harmony Ward is a first-year undergraduate student at East Carolina University with a lifelong dream of one day becoming a nurse. It is a dream she almost had to put on pause as she instead found herself needing the very care she always hoped to provide.
Ward was just 17 years old when she started experiencing symptoms like dizziness and headaches. Then, her care team informed her of a terrifying discovery: a large tumor in her chest, wrapped around vital blood vessels near her spine and neck.
“I wasn’t really having symptoms from feeling the tumor,” Ward said. “I was having symptoms for another medical thing I have going on, which was diagnosed as multiple sclerosis (MS). I had an MRI done as part of my MS diagnosis, and that’s where they found the tumor.”
The diagnosis came as a shock. Not only was Ward grappling with MS, but she now faced a complex and potentially dangerous mass.
Dr. Robert Allman, a cardiothoracic surgeon at ECU Health and assistant professor of thoracic and foregut surgery at the Brody School of Medicine at ECU, was called in to evaluate the case. According to Dr. Allman, the tumor was a large mediastinal mass that extended into her neck and was wrapped around her subclavian artery. These tumors are rare and affect less than one percent of the population.
“Traditionally, removing something like that would require a very invasive surgery like splitting the breastbone, maybe even breaking the clavicle,” said Dr. Allman.
However, thanks to ECU Health’s advanced robotic surgery program, Dr. Allman was able to perform the procedure using minimally invasive robotic surgery.
“Harmony essentially just had to have four small incisions through her rib spaces because of the minimally invasive approach,” Dr. Allman said. “She was able to leave the hospital in two days. The pain benefit is enormous, and the recovery time and infection risks are significantly reduced.”
The timing could not have been more critical. Ward was just a month away from her high school graduation – a milestone she feared she might miss.
“I was very worried at first that I wouldn’t be able to make it to graduation,” she said. “But they said I would be healed in time. I actually got my stitches removed the day of my graduation so I could put on my dress and everything. It was a very emotional time.”
Dr. Allman remembers Ward not just for her medical case, but for her character.
“She’s very kind, very smart, very hardworking,” he said. “She really put her trust in us. We took our time to make sure she understood everything, and I’m just really happy we were able to help her this way. It allows her to pursue what she wants to do now.”
For Ward, the experience was both terrifying and transformative.
“This was the first time I’ve ever been in a hospital or had any surgeries, so it was very scary,” she said. “All of my medical problems hit me at once. I was going through the MS diagnosis and the tumor at the same time. I was just very worried, but Dr. Allman and his nurses, his team and my neurologist dealing with my MS were all very helpful and supportive and very calming.”
As Ward embarks on her journey toward one day becoming the nurse she’s always dreamed of, it is the perspective she gained as a patient that will guide her.
“I’ve always wanted to be a nurse to be able to help and take care of people,” said Ward. “This experience gave me a new perspective I can bring with me.”
Ruth McCorkle spent years traveling around the world during retirement on solo trips and trips with friends. In September 2023, her traveling was put on pause when unexpectedly learned she had serious kidney issue. Within days, she was placed on peritoneal dialysis (PD), which meant being hooked to a machine every night.
“I was kind of trapped to my machine every night,” said McCorkle. “I have been a traveler during my corporate career and since I retired, and I really enjoyed traveling with friends and by myself. Given that I went through a box of fluid every night, which is about two and a half gallons of fluid, it was logistically a nightmare.”
At age 74, sitting at home for dialysis each night was not how she envisioned her golden years.
“I’m cognizant that I have fewer years left to me than I have already lived, but that I come from a sturdy and long-living matriarchal line. I may have 20 more years, and I want to make the best of them,” said McCorkle. “Sitting home, waiting for my time to hook up to the machine is not making the best use of my life. Even with PD, my energy lagged, and I felt like I was in a fog most of the time. I was just staying alive, not really living.”
McCorkle was placed on the kidney transplant list.
After a year and a half on dialysis and two false-alarm calls as a transplant backup, her life changed again, this time for the better. One morning, she got the call: a kidney was available.
“They called at 11 a.m. and asked if I could be there by 2 p.m.,” McCorkle said. “I called my son, and he was all excited. My grandkids got all excited. And when I woke up the next morning, I had a new kidney.”
It was only fitting that McCorkle, who loves travelling, was given a new lease on life thanks to commercial aviation. The kidney arrived on a commercial flight from New York, thanks to LiveOnNY, transported in a LifePort Kidney Transporter, a specialized device that pumps a cold liquid solution to improve the organ’s condition prior to transplant. Unlike traditional methods, where kidneys are typically transported on ice in coolers, the LifePort Kidney Transporter offers active preservation and monitoring, potentially doubling storage time and increasing the number of viable organs available for patients. The LifePort Kidney Transporter also supplies data to assess kidney function throughout the transport.
“Using commercial flights with advanced preservation technology opens doors to more donor organs that might otherwise go unused,” said Dr. David Leeser, professor and chief of Kidney and Pancreas Transplantation at ECU Health and the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University. “It expands the donor pool and gives patients greater hope.”
McCorkle is now feeling much better, and while she’s still recovering and building her stamina back up, she is back to planning future adventures. McCorkle had to cancel a solo trip to Portugal when she began dialysis, but she’s already planning a new one for the fall and a trip to see her family in the Midwest.
McCorkle is grateful to her donor, the care teams and technology that helped her receive a new kidney at 74.
“We take pride in the impact we make on patients’ lives through kidney transplantation,” said Dr. Leeser. “Each organ represents a second chance, and it is our responsibility to ensure every opportunity is honored. We are deeply grateful to the donor and their family for their extraordinary generosity and to LiveOnNY for going above and beyond to help deliver this life-saving kidney to our patient.”
For more information the organ transplant program at ECU Health, please visit ECUHealth.org/Transplant.
Greenville, N.C. – ECU Health Medical Center is expanding advanced heart care with two new, state-of-the-art technologies for transcatheter tricuspid valve replacement. The new technologies – EVOQUE™, a first-of-its-kind transcatheter tricuspid valve replacement, and TriClip G4™, a minimally invasive clip procedure designed to reduce tricuspid valve leakage – offer new hope for patients previously ineligible for surgery, providing significant symptom relief and improved quality of life.
“These new procedures represent a major advancement in the treatment of tricuspid valve regurgitation, offering hope to patients who previously had limited options,” said Dr. Paul Mahoney, section chief, interventional cardiology, director, Cardiac Catheterization Lab, East Carolina Heart Institute. “With the EVOQUE valve replacement and the TriClip G4, we can now provide effective, minimally invasive solutions that reduce symptoms and improve heart function without the need for open-heart surgery. This is a significant step forward in improving outcomes and quality of life for patients with TR.”
Tricuspid valve regurgitation affects more than 1.5 million people in the U.S. and occurs when the tricuspid valve fails to close properly, allowing blood to flow backward. This condition forces the heart to work harder, potentially leading to heart failure. Risk factors include heart disease, atrial fibrillation (AFib), pulmonary hypertension, prior chest radiation therapy and structural valve damage. Symptoms can range from fatigue and shortness of breath to swelling in the abdomen, legs or neck veins.
Traditionally, treatment options were limited to diuretics for symptom management, with surgical intervention reserved for only the healthiest patients or those already undergoing left-sided valve surgery. However, with recent advancements, including the FDA-approved TriClip G4 and EVOQUE valve replacement, patients now have access to innovative, minimally invasive options that can significantly improve heart function and overall well-being.
“It is critical that patients in eastern North Carolina have access to the latest innovations in heart care close to home, so they do not have to travel far for cutting-edge treatment options,” said Dr. John Catanzaro, John “Jack” Rose Distinguished Professor and chief of the Division of Cardiology at the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, and director of the East Carolina Heart Institute at ECU Health Medical Center. “Our commitment to bringing the most advanced cardiac treatments to this region ensures that patients receive high-quality, life-changing care without unnecessary delays or burdens. I am proud of our heart and vascular care teams who continue to advocate for patients in our region and ensure they receive world-class treatment right here at ECU Health.”
ECU Health team members who participated in these groundbreaking procedures include Dr. Mahoney, Dr. Catanzaro, Dr. Melissa Moey, Dr. Wiley Nifong, Dr. Michael Bates and Dr. Brian Cabarrus. To learn more about ECU Health Heart & Vascular Care, please visit ECUHealth.org/Heart.
To be a health care provider is to answer a calling. For some, the journey to health care is a straight line; for others, the road is winding. This series features stories from ECU Health team members who took the winding road, but found the destination to be worth the effort.
Michael Firtha, a pediatric orthopedic surgeon at ECU Health, didn’t set out to be a doctor after high school. “I wanted to be a firefighter,” he said. As a child, Firtha had two uncles who were firefighters. “One was the district chief, and one was captain of the fire department in our hometown,” he shared. “I looked up to them as heroes. It’s an admirable career, and you really get to help people.” After high school, Firtha secured a scholarship to be a paramedic, a stepping stone to eventually becoming a firefighter like his uncles before him. After his exposure to the medical field, however, the Cleveland, Ohio, native decided to change his trajectory and pursue medical school.
After graduating from high school, Firtha completed his emergency medical technician (EMT) training while working in his local hospital’s cafeteria unloading boxes. This job, he said, gave him a strong work ethic. At the same time, Firtha also worked part-time as a firefighter at his local fire department. He then changed roles and served as a nursing assistant on the orthopedic trauma floor of the same hospital – a job he continued while in paramedic school. After that, he spent some time working in the emergency department as a paramedic. “Using my paramedic certification, I was hired as a full-time suture technician, where I was trained to perform laceration repair, splint application and work in the trauma bay,” he said.
That medical experience is what inspired him to become a doctor – and it taught him that every role in health care is valuable. “It was good to see the different sides of health care. Each role taught me different lessons that I use in my current position. Much like the human body, each role has a function that is uniquely and equally important that must work together as one unit to function and thrive,” he said. “I think getting that different exposure and seeing different perspectives makes you grateful for the whole process and the care that’s provided to patients.”
Once he decided to go to medical school, Firtha applied to many colleges, but he landed at Campbell University in Buies Creek, North Carolina. “Campbell is in rural North Carolina, so I was surrounded by a community similar to what’s here in Greenville,” he said. The experience was formative. “It felt like home – it’s a community that really bonds together.” He graduated from Campbell University as a doctor of osteopathic medicine, followed by a residency at the Cleveland Clinic and a fellowship at UC Davis Children’s Hospital/Shriners Northern California.
He landed on pediatric orthopedics because, he said, “taking care of children is one of the most important things anyone can do. My mom was a kindergarten teacher for more than 30 years, and I remember growing up and watching the impact she was having on future generations. I think this had a huge effect on me.” He also cited his experience in the emergency department, especially his work with children, as an influential one. “I immediately knew that my calling was to help kids in need,” he said. The rewards are plentiful, and Firtha said its gratifying to improve a child’s life. “You see an x-ray beforehand, and you can see the problem. Then you get to fix it.”
Firtha is glad he joined ECU Health, in part because the great team he works with. “Our pediatric orthopedic surgery group is young and focused on patient care. When we all focus on that one goal, we can really come together and accomplish more than as a single person,” he said. “I am so thankful for the opportunity to serve the children of eastern North Carolina here at ECU Health,” he continued.
“Providing excellent patient care to children with orthopedic injuries often requires a lot of resources and special implants and technology. ECU Health has been so supportive and allowed me to do whatever is necessary to provide the highest quality of care.”
Beyond that, however, he was drawn back to eastern North Carolina because of his great experience at Campbell and the similar community feel at ECU Health. “It felt like home, and eastern North Carolina is an ideal place to raise a family,” he shared. “My wife, our two little girls and I are incredibly happy in this community. It’s a place where you really feel like you’re impacting the community and making people better, and it is truly an amazing place to live.”
To those considering a career shift to health care, Firtha encourages them to go for it. “Health care is a field where you can feel good about the work you’re doing,” he said. “You help people and can be a hero in their eyes. You get to wake up every morning with a passion and a purpose for what you’re doing.”
ECU Health is advancing pediatric surgical care in eastern North Carolina by introducing robotic-assisted surgery, a cutting-edge approach that enhances precision, improves outcomes and expands minimally invasive options for children in the region.
Dr. Courtney Harris, a pediatric surgeon at ECU Health, recently performed the health system’s first pediatric robotic-assisted cholecystectomy (gallbladder removal).
“Robotic surgery is still relatively new in pediatric care, and it offers significant advantages for both surgeons and patients,” said Dr. Harris. “The enhanced range of motion, improved precision and advanced imaging technology allow for a more refined approach, leading to better outcomes.”
Robotic-assisted procedures enhance precision with robotic arms that offer wrist-like movement. This technology provides greater dexterity, similar to open surgery, while preserving the benefits of a minimally invasive approach.
With extensive experience in robotic procedures, Dr. Harris has collaborated closely with Dr. Shannon Longshore, the division chief of pediatric surgery and medical director of the pediatric trauma program at ECU Health Medical Center, and the surgical team to bring this technique to ECU Health.
“Bringing this technology to ECU Health means we can offer our youngest patients the latest advancements in surgical care right here in eastern North Carolina,” said Dr. Longshore. “We’re excited about the possibilities this opens up for pediatric surgery and are committed to expanding access to these innovative procedures.”
Robotic-assisted surgery builds on the strengths of traditional laparoscopic techniques, offering enhanced precision and efficiency, with some procedures completed more quickly. The technology reduces physical strain on surgeons, supporting long-term physician wellness. Both techniques offer similar incision sizes and recovery times.
“The introduction of pediatric robotic surgery at ECU Health marks a significant step forward in expanding minimally invasive surgical options for children,” said Tara Stroud, vice president of Women’s and Children’s Services, James and Connie Maynard Children’s Hospital at ECU Health Medical Center. “ECU Health continues to drive innovation in pediatric surgical care, ensuring that children in the region have access to the highest quality treatments available.”
For patients in eastern North Carolina facing spine-related issues, ECU Health’s new minimally invasive spine surgery program at the ECU Health Neurosurgery & Spine Center in Greenville is designed to provide faster recovery times, fewer complications and improved outcomes. By focusing on complex spine procedures with less invasive techniques, ECU Health is enhancing access to high-quality care that allows patients to return to their lives quicker and with greater confidence.
“We are excited to offer minimally invasive spine surgery, which allows patients to experience a quicker recovery, less blood loss and reduced risk of complications, ultimately lowering the likelihood of needing additional surgery,” said Dr. Aaron Bond, neurosurgeon at ECU Health. “We’re committed to making these advanced procedures more accessible for our patients and to expanding this service in eastern North Carolina.”
The ECU Health Neurosurgery & Spine Center’s multidisciplinary team includes physician assistants and nurse practitioners, who support patients at every stage of care. In-house physical therapy services and a close partnership with ECU Health Neurology provide comprehensive support under one roof, improving the continuity and quality of care for patients with complex spine conditions.
“While not every patient is a candidate for minimally invasive surgery, those who are find it helps them avoid hospital stays and return to their daily lives more quickly,” said Dr. Bond.
These procedures are performed at ECU Health SurgiCenter, where many patients can undergo outpatient spine surgeries without the need for hospitalization. This approach is particularly effective for individuals suffering from acute herniated discs – often leading to sciatica, spinal stenosis – which frequently affects older patients, and traumatic burst fractures. Due to limited access to minimally invasive options in some areas, the center has seen a significant number of patients traveling long distances for treatment.
Patients who have undergone these minimally invasive procedures report notable success in reducing or eliminating back and leg pain, with recovery times significantly shorter than those associated with traditional open surgeries.
“Having these services available locally is crucial for improving patient outcomes,” said Dr. Bond. “It reduces the need for follow-up visits, cuts down on travel time and costs and ensures patients have consistent, accessible support right in their community.”
With growing demand for minimally invasive spine care, ECU Health’s Neurosurgery & Spine Center is combining state-of-the-art technology with a highly skilled support team. As demand continues to rise, ECU Health is committed to expanding its capacity and providing high-quality, accessible spine care to make a lasting difference for patients throughout the region.
Greenville, N.C. – Dr. Christoper Hasty, orthopedic surgeon with ECU Health and Orthopaedics East, performed the first BEAR® Implant to treat anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears at ECU Health on September 3. The implant enables a torn ACL to heal and restores the natural function of the knee, instead of replacing it with a graft.
“I’m proud to perform this innovative procedure in eastern North Carolina, offering patients a proven treatment option with the potential for less invasive surgery and easier recovery,” said Dr. Hasty. “The BEAR Implant represents a significant advancement in how we treat ACL tears by allowing the body to heal the ligament naturally, rather than relying on grafts. It’s an exciting step forward for our region, ensuring patients can access advanced orthopedic care close to home.”
Every year, approximately 400,000 ACL injuries occur in the United States. A torn ACL does not heal without treatment, resulting in ACL reconstruction being one of the most common orthopedic procedures in the country. ECU Health performs about 150 ACL procedures each year in eastern North Carolina. Some procedures require two separate incisions, and some patients who undergo reconstruction are unable to return to the same level of daily activities or sports.
Unlike reconstruction, the BEAR Implant does not require a second surgical wound site to remove a healthy tendon from another part of the leg or the use of a donor tendon. The BEAR Implant acts as a bridge to help ends of the torn ACL heal together. The surgeon injects a small amount of the patient’s blood into the implant and attaches it between the torn ends of the ACL in a minimally invasive procedure. The combination of the BEAR Implant and the patient’s blood enables the body to heal the torn ends of the ACL back together while maintaining the ACL’s original attachments to the femur and tibia.
“We are excited by the work of Dr. Hasty and the care team providing cutting-edge orthopedic care right here in eastern North Carolina, where access to advanced treatments is critical for our rural communities,” said Jay Briley, president of ECU Health Medical Center. “Bringing new procedures like the BEAR Implant closer to home for our patients reduces the need for travel and ensures they receive the best care possible. This achievement highlights the dedication and collaboration of our team in providing world-class care to the communities we serve.”
Patients should discuss their individual symptoms, diagnosis and treatment with their provider. For more information about ECU Health Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, please visit: ecuhealth.org/ortho.