The North Carolina Governor’s Volunteer Service Awards honor the true spirit of volunteerism in individuals and groups in the public, nonprofit and private sectors who make a significant contribution to their community through volunteer service. This year, Charmaine Reeder, on behalf of the ECU Health’s work with Pitt County Meals on Wheels, Traquavis Harris, Sara Gray Tingen and Angelina Brittle and were honored as award winners.
Traquavis Harris
Harris, program coordinator in pastoral care programs, began his career with ECU Health in 2022 as a scheduler in perioperative administration when his mother, also an ECU Health team member, encouraged him to apply.
“I wanted to grow and move around to different departments without having to leave an organization, and ECU Health offers the opportunity to learn about different professions and specialties,” he said. “You don’t have to be a nurse or doctor to work in health care.”
After a year in the operating room, he saw an opportunity for his current role and he leaped at the chance.
“I was a VolunTEEN in 2017 and did patient escorts, central transport, cancer center registration and work in the emergency department,” he said. “This was a chance to circle back to where I once was and give back to my community.”
That strong background in service has helped Harris grow in his role. He has since amassed an impressive portfolio of degrees and certifications, including a bachelor’s degree from East Carolina University, a master’s degree in technology management with a concentration in Six Sigma, and numerous certifications in Java, Data Reporting and Analytics, project management and agile methodologies.
When he learned he won the Governor’s Volunteer Service Award, Harris said he was too stunned to speak.
“It was a verification that the work I’m doing doesn’t go unnoticed. You don’t volunteer expecting to receive anything, but I was excited,” he said.
He also credited the support he received from colleagues, such as fellow award-winner Angelina Brittle, and his current leader, Ashley Ware, as influential in his work.
“As I was entering the role, Angelina was leaving, but she taught me everything I needed to know to be successful in this sector,” he said. “And Ashley allows individuals on her team to be authentic to themselves and their work, putting us first to get knowledge about what we want to learn and mold us into flexible leaders. Working with Ashley has been transformational.”
Harris said volunteering is important – not only for what it gives to others, but for what it teaches you about yourself.
“It’s a chance to learn about yourself and put yourself out there,” he said. “Giving back does something to you; you have a purpose.”
Tonya Moye, a mammography technologist IV, began her career at what was then Pitt County Memorial Hospital (PCMH) in 1991, where she worked in x-ray and CT. A severe car accident in 1995 and an unexpected move to Dare County set Moye up for the opportunity to work at what became Outer Banks Health, where she’s been ever since.
Moye’s interest in radiology began with a high school research paper on radiologic technology, and after graduation she attended Pitt Community College where she got her degree in x-ray and special imaging. Transitioning to PCMH made sense for the Winterville native – partially due to its proximity to home and partially because she completed much of her training at that very hospital.
“It already felt like home for me,” she said. “My mentor taught me so much, and I worked with a few people I knew from high school. A few of our radiologists had small children and I babysat for them.”
Seeking continuing education credits, Moye opted for a certification in mammography.
“The way life and God work, I used that knowledge a few years later when Outer Banks Hospital needed a mammography tech,” Moye said. “The supervisor was a guru and said she’d teach me everything she knew, so I made a change from x-ray and CT.”
That change was fortuitous; Moye said she is blessed to still love what she does every day.
“I have some patients I have seen every year since the day I started at this hospital, and that’s 24 years,” she said. “I know about their kids and pets and lives, and they know about mine. And, if something shows up on their mammogram, they feel like someone there really knows them and cares. They’re more than a number.”
In 35 years, Moye said she’s never considered working anywhere else.
“This is close to home. My mother still lives near Greenville,” she said. “Also, our department sees many patients, and our team works well together. My colleagues have seen me through health problems and kids and life. The people I’ve worked with have made work a good place to be.”
That includes her leadership’s support of her ongoing education, a vital part of her success and ability to evolve as technology changes.
“When I transitioned to mammography, my leadership supported me in taking classes at Johnson Community College and other continuing education,” she said. “Becky Ward, the director of radiology, has been the best leader I’ve ever had. She’s supportive and fights for what we need. We’re blessed to have her.”
A lot has changed when it comes to radiology, so having that level of support means Moye’s been able to adapt quickly.
“I can still smell the chemicals we used to process images,” she laughed. “That was when x-ray film was recycled for the silver in it. Now everything is digital. I never imagined computers would become such a large part of imaging, but it’s amazing how much everything has changed. But I am happier and more at peace than I have ever been in my life. My work enhances that.”
Retirement isn’t in Moye’s immediate future, but travel is, including a dream trip to Greece.
She also has a new grandchild on the way, and she has considered teaching in a radiology program.
“I think students don’t realize how vast radiology is and what options they have. You can go to school for two years and have so many areas you can work in,” she said. “I’d tell students or new graduates to focus on being their best, because that will take them where they want to go. Things change, but what’s consistent is how you treat your patients.”
Angela Still, MSN, executive director of Women’s Services at ECU Health Medical Center, has been named the 2026 recipient of the Award of Excellence in Leadership from the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN).
Presented at AWHONN’s national convention in May, the award recognizes nurses who demonstrate exceptional leadership in advancing care for women, infants and families. Still was nominated by a colleague, and the award selection committee unanimously chose her for the honor.
“I was completely surprised and humbled,” Still said. “It’s such an incredible honor, and it really reflects the work of our teams and what they accomplish every day.”
Advancing care across eastern North Carolina
The AWHONN Award of Excellence in Leadership recognizes nurses who have made significant contributions to clinical practice, patient outcomes and the nursing profession.
As executive director of Women’s Services, Still has led efforts to standardize care, expand interdisciplinary education and strengthen access to high-quality care across ECU Health’s 29-county region. A key part of that work is the perinatal outreach program, which provides education, simulation training and clinical support to hospitals throughout eastern North Carolina.
“Our goal was never to make every hospital look like the Medical Center,” Still said. “It was to learn from each other and ensure a consistent level of care across the region.”
At the Medical Center, Still also oversees teams caring for increasingly high-risk maternal patients while helping meet growing demand for obstetric services.
Building teams and strengthening the workforce
In addition to advancing clinical practice, Still is passionate about supporting and developing the nursing workforce, both at the Medical Center and at the community hospitals where recruitment and retention can be challenging.
One example is the regional OB nurse cohort, which brings together new nurses from community hospitals for shared education, mentorship and peer support. The program helps reduce isolation, strengthen clinical skills and reinforce a systemwide approach to care.
“Health care is a team effort,” Still said. “When we support our nurses, remove barriers and invest in their growth, it makes a real difference in how teams function and the care they deliver.”
A career rooted in purpose
Still celebrated 40 years with ECU Health in June.
While attending college, she joined then Pitt County Memorial Hospital, now ECU Health Medical Center, as an extern on the gynecology unit and went on to serve in clinical, education and leadership roles. She has also contributed to statewide initiatives and served on numerous advisory and academic boards, including the ECU College of Nursing Hall of Fame Board.
“This is home,” Still said. “I chose to come back to eastern North Carolina because I’m passionate about improving the health and well-being of mothers and newborns here.”
Leading with purpose and compassion
Still credits much of her success to the teams and mentors who have shaped her career. Today, she focuses on mentoring future nurse leaders and creating an environment where team members feel supported and empowered.
“We have an opportunity every day to care for people during some of the most important moments of their lives,” she said. “It’s an honor and a privilege, and we should never take that for granted.”
Greenville, N.C. – Five ECU Health team members are among the first graduates from East Carolina University School of Nursing’s Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) program, a post-graduate certificate program that prepares specialized nurse practitioners to care for senior patients in acute care settings across North Carolina. The five ECU Health providers are Charlsie Woodard, Hunter Venters, Rachel Ferrell, Richa Dhungana and Angela Jones.
“As we continue to see the aging population grow nationwide, ensuring nurses at ECU Health and across the state have access to specialized training will continue to be a priority for ECU Health,” said Dr. Trish Baise, chief nursing executive, ECU Health. “Programs like this ensure our teams are prepared to deliver high-quality, specialized care close to home. We are grateful for our strong partnership with ECU, which continues to strengthen our workforce and elevate care across the region.”
The AGACNP certificate further prepares APRNs to deliver specialized acute and critical care services across a variety of settings including emergency departments, inpatient acute care units and intensive care units.
“Expanding the number of AGACNP-prepared providers helps address critical workforce shortages in these high-demand areas while strengthening access to specialty and acute care services for the rural and underserved populations of eastern North Carolina,” said Elaine Cudnik, executive director, Women’s and Children’s Advanced Clinical Practice, ECU Health. “By developing a highly qualified acute care workforce locally, ECU is helping to improve healthcare access, reduce disparities, and ensure that patients can receive timely, high-quality care closer to home.”
This program was established through ECU Health and ECU’s College of Nursing. ECU Health previously developed pathways for the development of the future of nursing care in eastern North Carolina with the establishment of an academic practice partnership, seeded by a $1.5 million investment from ECU Health over five years. This investment has provided the ECU College of Nursing with the opportunity to expand faculty and resources to support students in the Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner post-master’s certificate program and the development of the Doctor of Nursing Practice in AGACNP. Four graduates were granted financial support through the ECU Health Foundation. Dr. Kristie Hertel, serves in a dual role as an ECU Health trauma nurse practitioner and the AGACNP program director.
Jones, FNP, an Emergency Department Nurse Practitioner at ECU Health Bertie Hospital, also completed the program. Jones’ participation was not funded through the ECU Health Foundation’s tuition assistance program.
The program welcomed its first cohort in Spring 2025 and is designed to address the growing demand for acute care and gerontology services. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, nearly 18% of North Carolina’s population is 65 or older. The program ensures alignment with the Licensure, Accreditation, Certification and Education model as well as the Advanced Practiced Registered Nurse (APRN) Consensus Model by providing formal education preparation that matches the APRN’s population focus and practice setting. The additional certification supports regulatory compliance and ensures APRNs have the tools to practice to the full extent of their education, training and licensure in acute and complex care environments.
“We truly value the strong partnership between ECU Health and the College of Nursing to address the shortage of advanced practice nurses health care workers nationwide,” said Dr. Julie Linder, chair of the ECU College of Nursing’s Department of Advanced Nursing Practice and Education. “Collaborating within an academic health system lets nurses receive high-quality training they can carry forward into their work in specialized communities.”
Expectant mothers now have more options at ECU Health when it is time to have their baby. That includes Certified Nurse Midwives, or CNMs, whose expertise lies in supporting those moms-to-be throughout their pregnancies, all the way to the delivery table. At ECU Health, qualified, experienced CNMs are now empowered to work within the full scope of their practice authority, a change that aims to improve health care outcomes for mothers and babies while better distributing provider workloads across maternal care teams.
As of April, independent CNMs at ECU Health with at least two years and 4,000 hours of clinical experience are now able to admit patients to the hospital, discharge patients from the hospital and write all notes and orders without the need for a physician’s co-signature or supervision.
CNMs deliver babies from “standard risk” pregnancies while consulting with physicians to identify cases that come with higher risks of complication or need procedures like C-sections. They continue to work in tandem with other members of the maternal care team like OB-GYN physicians.
“This was an incredibly important step forward to ensure that we are using our providers to their full scope of practice in order to improve access to care and broaden our services,” said Elaine Cudnik, executive director for Women’s and Children’s advanced clinical practice at James and Connie Maynard Children’s Hospital at ECU Health Medical Center. “There is a nationwide shortage of OB-GYN providers and ECU Health is not immune to the challenges in recruiting that specialty. We continue to augment our services with advanced practice providers and independent certified nurse midwives who can support that critical maternal service here at ECU Health.
Added Cudnik, “I think allowing independent CNMs to work to the top of their license brings an incredible value to the community that we serve and will only expand the access that we’re able to provide.”
On the day the change went into effect two CNMs — Sarah Sears and Margi Reither — were granted independent CNM privileges at ECU Health. Reither called it a monumental step and the result of decades of advocacy. She is grateful that ECU Health now grants qualified CNMs more freedom in scope of practice.
“It is great, professionally, to be able to take care of our own patients,” Reither said. “That’s what we are truly grateful for. We have had wonderful support from our OB-GYN team who agree this is a good, professional decision. This was truly a team effort between midwives, physicians and administrators.”
Sears said the change is empowering, and that it shines a light on how midwives are crucial parts of an OB-GYN team.
“It makes us feel seen,” Sears said. “There is certainly a feeling of respect not just in being able to work with my patients in a new way, but from the health system recognizing what we do and making our roles more visible.”
More importantly, the change is good for patient outcomes. Sears said midwifery care is shown to improve maternal and neonatal outcomes. When physicians and midwives collaborate, it allows providers to play to their own strengths. For midwives, that is recognizing and managing standard risk labor and delivery.
“Physicians really are needed for the high-risk things, the abnormal circumstances that can arise during a delivery,” Sears said. “As midwives, we are focused on the normal. It comes down to working together to make sure our approach fits each individual patient on a case-by-case basis.”
Dr. James Whiteside, department chair, Obstetrics and Gynecology, ECU Health and the Brody School of Medicine, played a critical role in helping expand the scope of midwifery practice at ECU Health when he arrived at the health system in 2022. He said further expanding midwives’ scope of practice to include independent care is an important step toward addressing clinician shortages that continue to strain maternal care nationwide.
“We saw an opportunity to expand the role of midwifery across our region and leverage independent scope of practice for these integral members of our care teams,” Dr. Whiteside said. “More midwives will help us address the real challenges facing rural delivery, specifically when it comes to resources and the number of clinicians we have available to provide high-quality care and reduce risk associated with delivery.”
Dr. Dan Dwyer, chief medical officer, ECU Health Community Hospitals and an obstetrician, said he is excited for the positive impact the change will have on maternal services in some of eastern North Carolina’s most rural communities. CNMs will have reliable teams they can work with and the ability to transfer care to another clinician, or to another facility, as needed, in the most efficient way possible.
“Looking ahead, we are excited to introduce independent Certified Nurse Midwives (CNMs) into care teams throughout ECU Health’s rural community hospitals,” Dr. Dwyer said. “Teamwork is a cornerstone of our culture, and we are committed to recruiting and nurturing skilled CNMs whose dedication and values align with our mission. These professionals are essential to delivering the highest quality care in rural settings.”
Serving 29 counties and operating eight rural birthing locations, Dr. Dwyer said ECU Health faces a range of challenges — not least of which are recruiting and retaining talented healthcare professionals.
“To address these needs, it is imperative that every member of our health care team — including independent CNMs — practice at the top of their license. Creating an environment where everyone feels valued and welcomed is central to our approach,” he said. “The collaborative efforts of CNMs, family practitioners and obstetricians, supported by advanced digital technology and a robust network of sub-specialists, are critical to ensuring patients receive timely, appropriate care wherever they are. We take great pride in the strength of our teamwork and remain confident that, together, we can overcome future challenges and continue to provide exceptional care for our communities.”
ECU Health has maintained labor and delivery services at its rural hospitals. Midwives’ knowledge and skills play a prominent role in ensuring that quality care is available to even more patients in eastern North Carolina, Cudnik said.
“We strongly believe in midwives’ practice and their ability,” Cudnik added. “We strive to create a place where that expertise is valued and leveraged in a way that supports our unique rural academic mission. Not only will expanded access to care benefit community hospitals and rural communities, these midwives will also have a chance to teach students and residents at our ECU Health Medical Center. We’re excited to see the independent CNM program grow.”
The FBI-LEEDA Trilogy award is a prestigious honor given by the Law Enforcement Executive Development Association (LEEDA) to law enforcement leaders who complete its comprehensive Trilogy Leadership series.
The executive training program builds strong, ethical and effective leadership in public safety. In October 2025, Officer William Fawcett completed the series, which includes a supervisor leadership institute, a command leadership institute and an executive leadership institute.
An ECU Health police officer at ECU Health Medical Center, Officer Fawcett began his career in law enforcement 30 years ago after three and a half years in the U.S. Navy and two years in the National Guard. He served as a state trooper and deputy sheriff in South Carolina before finding his way to North Carolina.
While working in Washington, North Carolina, his chief encouraged him to finish his bachelor’s degree and pursue the Trilogy program. While it took some time, and a move to the ECU Health Police force, Officer Fawcett didn’t forget his chief’s advice.
“He told me to never stop getting education, and if it wasn’t for him, I might not have done this,” Officer Fawcett shared.
Major Reynolds Askew shared that Chief Randall Walston was very proud to receive a congratulatory letter from the FBI recognizing Officer Fawcett for this accomplishment. The series is competitive to enter and challenging to complete, but Officer Fawcett said it was worth the time and effort.
“I’m hoping this will take me farther, and show my dedication to the department,” he said. “It teaches a higher standard of leadership for captains, lieutenants, chiefs and others. For us boots-on-the-grounds folks, it helps everyone in a department talk to people, encourage them and move in a better direction.”
Now, Officer Fawcett plans to apply for the national FBI academy, which is a three month long rigorous course of study aimed to raise law enforcement standards.
“I want to show my colleagues there’s more than just the standard classes they can take. This coursework gives us a different perspective and helps us be better leaders, and our leaders support us in pursuing these classes. It’s important to keep educating yourself, no matter your line of work. If you do, you can help the next person, and they help the next.”
To learn more about career opportunities at ECU Health, visit Careers.ECUHealth.org.
The Bennett Award for Outstanding Rehab Members is given annually to two ECU Health rehabilitation therapists who demonstrate a commitment to excellence in his or her field.
In 2025, Amy Becker, audiologist IV at ECU Health Medical Center, and Rhonda Beal, physical therapist IV at ECU Health Edgecombe Hospital, were recognized as the award winners. Winners are nominated by their peers and selected by a committee.
Amy Becker
A Virginia Beach, Virginia native, Becker said she didn’t have an “aha” moment when it came to being an audiologist.
“I started as an elementary education major, but I switched to speech therapy,” Becker said. “I didn’t know anything about audiology, but I kept an open mind and discovered that was a better fit for me.”
Audiology studies hearing and balance disorders and focuses on the treatment and rehabilitation of individuals with those diagnoses.
“Someone suggested I look into ECU Health, and the exact job I was looking for just happened to be posted,” she said.
That was 11 years ago, and Becker said she enjoys her work and her team.
“I like the variety of patients we see and the options for treatment. The technology we use is always evolving and I’m learning all the time,” she said. “I love my coworkers and the collaboration with other professionals. The work I do requires a team approach, and we are helpful to each other. Our team is small but mighty.”
Becker said she also enjoys helping patients from across eastern North Carolina, many of whom come from rural communities outside of Greenville.
“I see patients who drive from the Outer Banks, Duplin County and even from the Virginia state line to see us,” she shared. “We are the largest pediatric audiology clinic—and the only place that accepts pediatric Medicaid for hearing aids and provides cochlear implants—east of I-95.”
Becker didn’t know she’d been nominated for the Bennett Award and was surprised to learn she’d won, but the award’s reputation was well known.
“I didn’t know Wanda Bennett, but I know she was highly regarded and respected in rehabilitation,” she said. “No one goes into this work for the recognition, but it was validating to be nominated by my peers. I was honored.”
Rhonda Beal
Beal has been a physical therapist for 36 years, more than eight of which have been with ECU Health. The Tennessee native has worked in a variety of settings, including outpatient therapy, rehabilitation, acute care and long-term care, and now she serves as a pelvic floor therapist at ECU Health Edgecombe Hospital.
“I like taking care of people,” she said. “When our pelvic floor therapist left, they offered me the role. I had no previous knowledge of pelvic floor rehabilitation, but I was up for the challenge. I feel like I provide something my patients have needed for a long time, and I learn something new every day.”
Beal said she also loves her team and the collaboration among different disciplines, and she’s appreciative to her leadership for supporting her journey into a new area of expertise.
“I was given the opportunity to move into pelvic health and receive continuing education. The team’s support has made it so I can do my work efficiently and well, and because of that, my caseload has grown,” she said.
Like Becker, Beal didn’t know she had been nominated for the Bennett Award until her husband, daughter and grandkids suddenly appeared during a staff meeting.
“Ironically, I’d considered skipping the meeting because I was leaving the next day for vacation and I had a lot of work to do,” Beal recalled. “But then my name was on the screen that I’d won the award. I was shocked.”
Her gratitude for being recognized—especially since she was nominated by a colleague and former student—has inspired Beal to consider who she wants to nominate for 2026.
“Sometimes we get busy doing other things, but it’s awesome to recognize workers in rehab,” she said. “I feel undeserving; there are so many others who deserve this award more than me.”
Dr. Shannon Longshore has built her career around a simple but powerful belief: children deserve honesty, compassion and the very best care medicine can offer. In her many roles across the pediatric medicine community, that patient-focused approach is making a major impact.
Recently named Senior Medical Director and Surgeon in Chief at James and Connie Maynard Children’s Hospital at ECU Health Medical Center, Dr. Longshore also serves as Division Chief of Pediatric Surgery at the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, medical director of Pediatric Trauma since the program’s inception, and medical director of the Eastern Carolina Injury Prevention Program (ECIPP).
For more than 13 years, Dr. Longshore has been a cornerstone of the pediatric surgery community in eastern North Carolina, guiding families through some of the most frightening moments of their lives, performing lifechanging operations, and helping shape the future of pediatric care at ECU Health.
Dr. Longshore earned her medical degree at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis. She went on to complete a general surgery residency at the University of California, Davis in Sacramento, followed by a research fellowship at Washington University in St. Louis, and ultimately a pediatric surgery fellowship at Loma Linda Children’s Hospital in Loma Linda, California. She is board certified in both General Surgery and Pediatric Surgery, bringing nationally recognized expertise to the region’s only children’s hospital.
For Dr. Longshore, technical skills are only part of the story.
“I love the idea of having a problem and being able to fix it,” she explained. “Most pediatric surgeons will tell you the congenital anomalies – babies born without their esophagus connected – those are the cases we love to treat the most. You do that operation, and they go on to live a pretty normal life. That feels amazing.”
If you ask Dr. Longshore what keeps her grounded in such a demanding specialty, she will tell you it’s the kids.
“Kids just want to get better,” she said. “There’s no secondary gain for them. They want to get back to playing, back to school, back to being themselves.”
Erika Greene, trauma program manager at Maynard Children’s Hospital, said Dr. Longshore’s leadership is nothing short of extraordinary.
“Even after reaching the highest level of pediatric trauma verification, Dr. Longshore never stops looking for ways to grow our program,” Greene said. “She continues to strengthen our pediatric trauma resources, expand our team and ensure we have pediatric expertise at the bedside the moment patients arrive.”
When Dr. Longshore stepped into leadership of ECIPP, the program was much smaller in scope. Over time, her vision and persistence helped elevate them into nationally recognized efforts.
“She has really helped take us to the next level,” said Sue Anne Pilgreen, manager of ECIPP and ECU Health’s Pediatric Asthma Program. “She’s been incredibly intentional about helping us pursue grant funding, supporting research and encouraging publications and presentations.”
That support has translated into meaningful growth and visibility.
“For example, we had two presentations accepted at the Pediatric Trauma Society meeting last year,” Pilgreen said. “That’s a very big deal and having two accepted was an even bigger accomplishment. She played a huge role in helping us get there and making sure we had a seat at the table.”
Pilgreen also credits Dr. Longshore as a consistent advocate for prevention initiatives.
“She was involved at every level,” Pilgreen said. “Whether it was meeting with leaders, supporting new initiatives or going into schools with us, she’s always been willing to show up and do the work.”
That hands-on, “boots on the ground” leadership style, combined with strategic vision, has helped grow the program from a small team into a comprehensive effort focused on child safety across the region. ECIPP has reached thousands through prevention efforts, including more than 3,000 individuals in mental wellness initiatives and over 2,600 people through firearm safety programs in 2025. The program also plays a critical role in reducing preventable injuries through traffic, pedestrian and passenger safety efforts, reaching more than 3,200 individuals in 2025 through occupant protection initiatives and supporting environmental improvements that make roads safer for the community.
“It’s taken our program from being great to something truly exceptional,” Pilgreen said.
Dr. Longshore is quick to emphasize that exceptional pediatric care is never a solo effort. It’s the product of a deeply collaborative environment.
“When you interact with child life, or our therapy dog, Sam, our anesthesia team or our nursing team, that’s their mission: to make this the best possible experience for kids,” she said. “Nobody wants their child to have surgery, but it’s our job to make it the best experience we can.”
After more than a decade in Greenville, Dr. Longshore is beginning to see the lasting impact of her work.
“It’s a small community,” she said. “You start taking care of siblings. You run into families at swim meets. Someone will point to a child and say, ‘You operated on him.’”
Her own children were swimmers, and she recalls a moment when a parent approached her on the pool deck to share how far their child had come since surgery.
“As surgeons, we don’t always get that long term follow up,” she said. “To see a child you operated on swimming next to your daughter, that’s the cool part of this job.”
As Surgeon in Chief, Dr. Longshore now plays a pivotal role in shaping the vision and culture of Maynard Children’s Hospital. Her leadership blends clinical excellence with a commitment to ensuring that every child and family who walk through the doors feels seen, supported and cared for.
“She’s never satisfied with ‘good enough’—she always wants to do better,” said Greene. “She always wants to do more, to be better, to serve children in every way possible. You couldn’t place a more perfect person in the role of chief of Surgery.”
For Jason Hardison, becoming a police officer was a long-standing goal — one that recently became a reality, thanks in part to the support of ECU Health.
“After almost 10 years with the Department of Corrections and nearly 12 years as an ECU Health Public Safety Officer, I had the opportunity to work closely with law enforcement,” Hardison said. “It was a lifelong dream to become a police officer.”
At the time, there wasn’t a clear path for team members to enter Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET). After sharing his interest with Lt. Gregg Grillo, a new role was proposed that would allow Hardison to attend the program while remaining an ECU Health team member.
That idea quickly grew into a broader effort. Public Safety leadership partnered with Workforce Development to create a pathway — allowing Hardison to complete BLET while also serving as a paid team member.
“It can be difficult to recruit officers out of BLET because many participants are already sponsored and committed elsewhere,” said Lisa Lassiter, director of Workforce Development. “By sponsoring one of our own, we can grow our workforce from within.”
With full support, Hardison committed to the six-month program.
“ECU Health made it possible for me to focus on my studies and physical training,” he said.
The program included firearms training, scenario-based exercises and driving instruction — along with intense physical training.
“5:30 a.m. workouts with endless pushups and miles of running would test even a 21-year-old,” he said. “At 46, it was especially demanding. But it showed me that with hard work and dedication, anything is possible.”
In May, Hardison completed the program and stepped into his new role as an ECU Health police officer.
“I’m committed to serving with integrity, compassion and understanding,” he said. “I want to make a positive difference in my community and within the hospital.”
For others considering a similar path, his advice is simple: “Be open to learning and don’t doubt what you can achieve.”
And one practical tip: “Invest in a good pair of running shoes.”
To learn more about career opportunities at ECU Health, visit Careers.ECUHealth.org
Changing careers can seem daunting, but thanks to the guidance and service of ECU Health’s Community Pipeline Program, eastern North Carolina residents are finding the support they need to pursue a new experience and make a difference across the region.
The Community Pipeline Program was established in 2019 to improve access to career opportunities at ECU Health hospitals through strong community engagement and strategic partnerships. The services are available through ECU Health Workforce Development to anyone who expresses interest in a career at ECU Health.
Participants can be identified in a variety of ways including partner agency referrals, word of mouth, social media or recruitment and community engagement events, regardless of their experience or background.
Toyta Kee, talent pipeline consultant for Workforce Development, ECU Health, said the program gives people who want a new career, or to pivot their role in the health care field, access to opportunities while addressing clinical and nonclinical workforce needs across ECU Health hospitals.
The program is focused on supporting people from eastern North Carolina, and Kee is involved with participants from start to finish — improving their resumés, finding jobs that match their skills, and coaching them through employment.
“Seeing people who once faced barriers to employment grow into confident ECU Health team members with clear career pathways is very fulfilling,” Kee said. “Seeing pipeline participants start a new career or change roles, complete professional development plans and accomplish their goals warms my heart.
“Many people don’t realize there’s a place for them in health care beyond clinical positions,” she continued. “My role is to help them see those possibilities and walk alongside them as they take the next step.”
Janon Hughes, a patient access representative at Outer Banks Health Hospital, joined ECU Health through the Community Pipeline Program in late 2025. Before that, Hughes was working part-time as a bookkeeper for a non-profit organization. The work was fulfilling, but she wanted something different.
“My kids are adults now, so I can focus on my career,” Hughes said. “The medical field was not on my radar, since I did not have medical experience.”
That changed when Hughes met Kee at a nonprofit conference. The two struck up a conversation where Hughes shared her desire for a full-time job. She said Kee told her that no medical experience was no problem.
“Toyta reassured me that she could help me find a perfect position,” Hughes recalled. “I sent her my resumé immediately, during the conference to be exact. She even helped me reword certain parts to highlight my skills which, to me, went above and beyond.”
Hughes was soon matched with a number of jobs. She began working at Outer Banks Health in December 2025, where she said she is grateful for her team members.
“Working at Outer Banks Health has been a great experience,” Hughes said. “I have been able to learn as I go, along with support from the teams I work with each day.
“I would highly recommend the Community Pipeline Program, and I look forward to a long career here at Outer Banks Health with opportunities to grow.”