A terrifying accident
On November 4, 2024, Ed Walsh and his wife received a call that no parent wants to get.
“Bella was in hysterics, saying ‘Dad, I was in a wreck, and I can’t get out of the car.’ It felt like a 5,000-pound weight was on my chest.”
Bella Avila had driven home to Wilmington, NC that afternoon to have dinner with her family, but more than halfway back to her dorm in Greenville, she hit a car in the road.
“The road was dark and very rural. I hit a car that was in the middle of the road after it hit a deer.”
What followed was chaos. It took a moment for Bella to realize what had happened. She was trapped in her car, wedged between the guard rail and the other woman’s vehicle.
“My phone contacted emergency services, and I called my parents. Dad asked what I could and couldn’t feel, and I couldn’t feel my legs. I thought I was paralyzed.”
“I asked her where she was at and she didn’t know,” Ed said. “I told her we were on the way. We looked like rodeo clowns, wearing whatever we found, and we probably set the land speed record driving to Greenville.”
“A breath of fresh air”
By the time Ed and his wife arrived in Greenville, Bella had already been cut out of her car and transported to the ECU Health Maynard Children’s Hospital emergency department (ED).
“There’s your kid with the neck brace on and she’s crying. Her mom is crying. I went into Marine mode and decided I’d cry later. Everyone was nice and did their jobs well,” Ed shared.
“The ECU Health staff were amazing,” Bella confirmed. “They cared for me even though I was terrified. I was in pain, and I didn’t know what was going on. No one knew what was wrong with me. I had bruising from the seat belt, but at first, they thought I was bleeding internally,” Bella said. “They told me I shouldn’t be alive, with how mangled my car was. I was freaking out. Then Reagan came in and she was like a breath of fresh air.”
Reagan Crowe, staff nurse II in the ED, met Bella and her family when she began her day shift.
“This experience was very scary for her. She was 18 but her parents weren’t there yet. I can only imagine how frightening that was to be alone, and I’m sure it was terrifying for her parents,” Reagan said.
Reagan joined ECU Health in 2023, and she realized she wanted to be a nurse after participating in a career exploratory program with NC State University. “Unfortunately, NC State doesn’t have a nursing program, so when I decided to pursue nursing, I transferred to East Carolina University (ECU).”
None of Reagan’s clinicals were in the emergency department, but she wanted to try it out. “I knew I wanted to work with children, and the ED lets you see a lot of different things every day. We have a wide population coming in for many different reasons.”
When Reagan met Bella, she said she felt a connection with her. “We’re close in age, and it was evident she is close with her parents – I’m close with my parents, too,” she said. “Bella stayed in the ED through my entire shift, which is not typical, so I got to know her and her family better. I feel lucky that I did.”
“She saw me as a terrified 18-year-old and she treated me more as a friend than a patient,” Bella shared. “I’ve had my fair share of doctors and nurses care for me, because I was a cheerleader in high school and got injured frequently, but Reagan was the most caring person. I’ve never seen a nurse take care of my parents so well. She talked to them and spent her time with us like she didn’t have any other patients. It changed my entire perspective on nursing.”
A change of plans
Bella said she had considered working in health care before, but she had never been sure of which path to take. “I had already changed my major three times,” Bella shared. “Her career plans ranged from nurse to physical therapist to dentist to doctor,” Ed added. “After working with Reagan, she said, ‘Dad, I know what I want to do with my life – I want to be a nurse.’ Reagan gave Bella clarity, direction and was the example of everything she had been looking for. She changed the trajectory of Bella’s life.”
As soon as Bella was released from the hospital three days later, she changed her major to nursing and began taking steps to apply for the bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) program at ECU.
“It was one of those life-altering experiences that changes your perspective on everything,” Bella said of her accident. “I should have died that night, and I didn’t. Why not shoot for the big things in life and live every moment to the fullest?”
Bella later reached out to Reagan to ask for advice. “Two or three months after my accident, I texted Reagan and asked her out for coffee so we could chat about what I should expect when applying to nursing school. We met and talked for more than two hours, and not just about nursing. We also became friends.”
Meanwhile, Ed and his wife wanted to show their appreciation for the care Bella received. They decided to nominate Reagan for a DAISY Award, an international program that recognizes and celebrates the extraordinary, compassionate care nurses provide.
“I don’t go around writing up people for awards all the time,” Ed laughed. “I couldn’t say all I wanted to in the DAISY Award nomination, but nurses make an impact on people’s lives every day. That’s something that doesn’t come in milligrams, and you can’t put it in an I.V.”
When the family found out Reagan had been selected as a DAISY Award honoree, they wanted to join the celebration. “We had to sneak into the ED so we could be there when she received the award,” Ed said.
“Seeing Reagan’s face light up when she realized what was happening made me so happy – it was one of the most rewarding feelings of my life,” Bella said. “I got to put the DAISY pin on her badge, and to be a part of that moment felt full circle.”
Later that same day, Bella took the entrance exam for nursing school.
“The ED team made me a good luck bag for the exam, and I can’t be more grateful for what they’ve done for me. Eight months ago, I didn’t see myself as being a nurse, but taking the exam the same day we celebrated Reagan felt like fate.”
Reagan is quick to point out that she’s not the only nurse deserving of the DAISY Award, but she’s grateful for the recognition.
“I have imposter syndrome because there are so many other nurses deserving to be recognized,” she said. “ED visits are so chaotic and quick, and our nurses sometimes get forgotten. Our whole team is amazing, and I have learned from the best. I feel lucky to be recognized.”
This summer, Bella continues to take nursing school prerequisites, and in the meantime, she thinks she might want to work in the Children’s ED. “For the longest time I thought I’d want to work in Labor and Delivery, but since my accident, I’ve contemplated the ED for kids. Children are so resilient and have a fight – I love that. Whatever I do, I hope I can work at ECU Health after I graduate.”
Bella and her family said they can never repay Reagan for her calm professionalism and kindness, but celebrating the work she does by nominating her for the DAISY Award was a good start. “She deserves this award hands-down,” Ed said. “Some people go their entire lives wondering if they ever made a difference, but I’m here to tell you Reagan Crowe doesn’t have that problem.”
To learn more about the DAISY Award or to nominate a deserving nurse, visit their website.
Greenville, N.C. – The 2025 ECU Health Board Quality Leadership Award winners were recognized at the ECU Health Board of Directors meeting held on Tuesday, June 24. These winning teams exemplify ECU Health’s system-wide commitment to achieving zero harm, delivering exceptional experiences and advancing patient outcomes through high-quality, compassionate care.
“Having served on the Board Quality Leadership Awards selection committee for several years, I continue to be inspired by the caliber of work presented,” said Robert Greczyn, chair, ECU Health Board of Directors. “Choosing a single winner is never easy—every project reflects remarkable dedication, innovation and impact. It’s a testament to the incredible talent and passion driving our mission forward.”
Two teams earned recognition this year, chosen from a competitive pool of nominations and thoughtfully reviewed by the selection committee, and the winning teams are as follows:
The first winner, from ECU Health Medical Center, submitted “Mechanical Thrombectomy Treatment Option for Pulmonary Embolism.”
To address the urgent need for better treatment of pulmonary embolism, ECU Health Medical Center began offering a procedure called mechanical thrombectomy, which removes blood clots, for patients at moderate risk. Over three years, the team used this approach to treat 108 patients. In total, they evaluated 1,361 pulmonary embolism cases. This team-based effort has greatly improved access to critical care for patients in eastern North Carolina.
The Project Leaders were Umer Tariq, MD – Interventional Cardiologist, ECU, CVS Cardiology, Jessica Decker, MBA, BSN, RN – Director, Patient Care Services, Cardiac Catheterization Lab and Veeranna Maddipati, MD – Pulmonary Critical Care. The team members were Crystal Beaman, Cardiovascular Technologist, Ryan Schroeder, Cardiovascular Technologist, Delicia Reddick, Cardiovascular Technologist, Meredith McConnell, RN, Staff Nurse III, Cardiac Catheterization Lab and Josh Patton, RN – Staff Nurse IV, Cardiac Catheterization Lab.
The second winner, from ECU Health Edgecombe Hospital, submitted their project “Promoting a Culture of Continuous Improvement: Safeguarding Care for our Patients and Team Members.” The team prioritized enhancing workplace safety by addressing the national rise in workplace aggression incidents. With a specific aim to improve team member safety by increasing reported WPA events by 50%, the initiative focused on early recognition of escalating behaviors, improved communication between staff and administration and strengthened partnerships with local law enforcement and the Office of Experience. As a result, the team helped achieve significant progress toward a safer work environment.
The Project Leaders were Kim Langston, Manager, Emergency Department, Captain Jim Bullins, ECU Health Police and Renee Mayo, Vice President, Patient Care Service. The team members were JoAnna Keeter, Quality Director, Jason Berry, Executive Director, Operations, Bobby Davis, Manager, Facility Services, Heather Smith, Staff Nurse, Emergency Department, April Joyner, ANM, Emergency Department and Jamie Woodcock, Quality Nurse Specialist.
To receive this honor, team members submitted projects that demonstrated at least two of the following requirements:
- Quantifiable improvement in an organizational quality priority with sustained excellence over time
- Demonstration of empathy and compassion in patient care
- Implementation of innovative solution to patient care problem
- Community outreach that addresses the social determinants of health in a meaningful way
These projects and the dedicated teams behind them highlight ECU Health’s ongoing commitment to providing the best care possible to the communities we serve. ECU Health congratulates the 2025 award recipients and thanks all nominees for helping meet our mission of improving the health and well-being of eastern North Carolina.
When Ricky Blount, a supply chain professional, joined what was then Pitt County Memorial Hospital, now ECU Health Medical Center, he was fresh out of high school.
“I graduated from D.H. Conley High School in 1979 and started working here not long after,” Ricky said. “I was supposed to join the military, but my mother had open heart surgery, and she needed someone to be home with her while she recuperated. I started work at the hospital thinking I’d just be here a year.”
That year turned into 45, and during that time he’s mostly worked in one department: radiology.
“I started in patient transport, but after six months I moved to vascular interventional radiology (VIR). I learned on the job and enjoyed it. From there, I became a technical assistant in VIR,” Ricky said.
Recently, he made a change to working in Supply Chain, but he still supports the radiology department.
“VIR wanted someone who was familiar with radiology to do the supplies for the whole department, and my manager wanted to give me more challenging things to do.” To learn the skills related to his new role, Ricky said his team sent him to Maryland for a week of training. “I learned how to do different reports, inventory and manager supplies in the Pyxis machines,” he explained.
Over the years, Ricky said the hospital has changed a great deal.
“It’s much larger, and radiology has grown bigger and bigger. I’ve seen a lot of growth and people come and go,” he said. “Paychecks have grown a lot too. I started at $2.65 an hour, but that was pretty good pay in 1979.”
Through it all, Ricky said he’s worked with great people. “I have a good relationship with the physicians, and they trust my judgement,” he said. “Radiology has also been very supportive. I’ve had great managers and co-workers. They’re family-oriented and work with you when things come up.”
As for his future plans, Ricky said that he hopes to retire soon. “I turned 65 on June 12, but it’s a little scary to think about not working,” he said. “My wife will have projects around the house for me to do and I might find some part time work. I’ll also do some volunteer work at my church.”
Ricky said he has no regrets about staying with ECU Health beyond that first year. “It’s a great place to work. I like helping people and I enjoy what I’m doing. If I had it to do over again, I wouldn’t change anything.”
Ahoskie, NC – ECU Health Roanoke-Chowan Hospital Perioperative Services Department, in collaboration with the American College of Surgeons, is proud to announce that Tomekia Perry, sterile processing technician with ECU Health Roanoke-Chowan Hospital, has been selected as the recipient of the 2025 Kankuben Baxiram Gelot Scholarship.
This distinguished scholarship was established by Raguvir B. Gelot, MD, FACS, to honor his mother’s legacy while supporting professional development among health care colleagues at the hospital where he dedicated 35 years of service.
Ms. Perry’s selection recognizes her commitment to advancing her expertise in perioperative care. The scholarship award includes a $2,000 stipend to assist with registration and related costs for an approved educational or professional development program.
She has been officially approved by the Perioperative Services Department Manager and the American College of Surgeons to complete the Certified Sterile Processing Technician program, further strengthening her skills in the health care field.
“We are incredibly proud of Tomekia’s achievement and dedication to professional growth,” said Brian Harvill, president of ECU Health Roanoke-Chowan Hospital. “Her selection for this scholarship underscores our commitment to supporting individuals who strive for excellence in patient care and surgical services.”
Chris Norman, PA-C and medical director of ECU Health’s Transfer Center, said he always knew he wanted to work in health care. “My family had a lot of health issues when I was growing up, and I thought I’d be a doctor,” he shared. “Then as an undergraduate, I was introduced to the physician assistant (PA) role. What really drew me in was the idea of doing what I wanted without being in school for so long, and the flexibility to swap specialties.”
After working elsewhere, Norman found his way to ECU Health through the recommendation of a colleague. “She made the switch from our former employer to ECU Health, and she recruited me with her talk about the growth she made as a provider, the team cohesiveness and the overall way PAs are treated,” he said. That professional support has kept Norman in eastern North Carolina for 20 years and has offered pathways to advance his profession, which now include Norman’s work with the NCAPA as president.
The North Carolina Academy of Physician Assistants (NCAPA) aims to, “strengthen the PA profession in North Carolina through advocacy, education and support to improve healthcare for all patients.” Norman helped write that mission statement, something he’s proud of. “If PAs want to advance our profession and help our patients, we have to advocate for ourselves,” he said. “The NCAPA is the only organization solely dedicated to the advancement of the PA profession in North Carolina, and our mission statement resonates with my personal values. We all have one goal for our efforts; our ‘why’ is singular, and that’s my life’s work.”
While Norman learned about the NCAPA in school, he said he didn’t fully appreciate the organization’s significance early on. “If you’re interested in your profession and leadership, you should get involved,” he said. “Once I stepped in, I was all in.”
Initially, Norman got involved by joining work groups and subcommittees, but when he wanted to do more, a colleague suggested he run for a board seat. “This is my fourth year on the Board of Directors, and from there I’ve continued to become more involved, including advocacy in the state legislature and the Leadership and Advocacy Summit with the American Academy of PAs – that is a national conference and you go to Congress. This has been my third year of doing that.” Because of his service and hard work, Norman was then approached about running for president of the NCAPA, a three-year commitment; he is now in his second year of service in that role.
In March, Norman participated in the state Lobby Day, where he, along with many PAs from across the state, advocated for bills that remove obstacles for the PA profession in the state and improve access to care, especially for the rural areas in eastern North Carolina.
“I enjoy my work in Raleigh,” he said. “I get to talk to and advocate with the legislators to have an impact on our mission. And if we keep having these conversations, we will impact the profession.” It’s important that PAs get involved because, he said, “no one tells your story better than you, and no one else understands your needs and concerns.”
Getting bills passed and increasing PA participation in the process have been Norman’s major goals. “Last year we had over 150 PAs and PA students participate in Lobby Day,” he shared. “This year, we had more than 200. A lot of the students came from East Carolina University’s PA program.”
Making this type of difference wouldn’t be easy without the support of ECU Health. “I have a deep-seated drive to learn and tackle new challenges,” Norman said. “ECU Health provides opportunities and encourages my desire to learn and contribute in new ways. Paired with being laser-focused on our mission and values, I love getting up and coming in to work every day, knowing we’re all focusing on the same mission.”
Norman also wants other PAs to get involved. “We need someone to do the work,” he said. “Getting involved with the NCAPA shows a passion that your profession should be the best it can be. Use your own voice, because you are a part of the solution. If you’re a PA and interested in furthering your profession, your first step is to become a member.”
To learn more about the NCAPA, visit their site here.
When Ophelia Hill applied for a job at ECU Health in the Medical Center cafeteria in 2009, she was looking for a stable job that could grow with her. “I was working in fast food, and my aunt and uncle both worked at ECU Health. I wanted to work where I could retire, and this job [in Food and Nutrition] was my foot in the door,” she said. “I needed to earn money and I needed stability.” Little did she know that job would lead her to a role as lead surgical tech coordinator with the East Carolina Heart Institute (ECHI) at ECU Health Medical Center.
Ophelia, a Greenville native, always knew she wanted to help people – something that matched well with her work at ECU Health. “I worked in the cafeteria for a while, but I wanted to do something different, so I applied for a job in Material Services and worked in Laundry & Linen,” she said. “I did that for 11 or 12 years, but I was also a nursing assistant and would pick up shifts from Central Staffing when they needed me.”
Ophelia found that she enjoyed the work as a nursing assistant, but there wasn’t an opportunity to work in that role full time. “I knew I wanted to do hands-on patient care,” she said.
A trip up to 4 North with a colleague solidified that goal. “One of my friends in Supply Chain often worked on 4 North and one day I went with her. I saw staff performing a bedside procedure in a patient’s room and I asked her about it,” she shared. “‘What are they doing, and how can I do that?’ I wondered. That very night I researched different careers and found the surgical technician certification program at Wilson Community College, so I applied and I got in!”
Shortly after being accepted, Ophelia discovered the certification program was transitioning to an associate’s degree. It was also about that same time when she learned about the HomeGrown program from her team leader.
The HomeGrown program supports ECU Health team members seeking a first-time degree while providing the flexibility for them to continue working at ECU Health. Seven different degree programs are eligible for the program, including surgical technology, and eligible team members can work part time while being paid full-time and maintaining their benefits. “Mr. Vandiford, my manager at the time, told me about the program and he and my team were so great about letting me adjust my hours so I could do what I needed.”
Ophelia graduated with her associate’s degree, and three years ago, she started her new job as a surgical technologist in the ECU Health SurgiCenter. She later transitioned to the ECHI, and in December, her leader suggested she apply for a lead coordinator position. She started her new role on March 9.
The new position requires Ophelia to use her skills as a surgical technician to support the team at the ECHI. “I work a late shift and cover for those who get off at 3 p.m., so I still have to scrub up,” she shared. “I also work closely with the sterile processing department (SPD) staff to create trays and instrumentation, call in orders for broken equipment and keep up with the surgical flow. Wherever they need me, that’s where I am.”
The path to this role might have been a long one, but Ophelia said she feels like it was meant to be. “It seemed like when I stepped into this role, I didn’t have obstacles and it wasn’t as hard to do the work because I love it.”
It also helps that she works with a great team. “I love the flexibility of this job, and the people I work with make it possible for me to do anything. Not everyone gets that kind of support.” She also values making a positive difference in patients’ lives. “I get to be a part of a team that increases the quality of life for each patient we see,” she said. “We all have a common goal, and that’s what gets me going.”
Ophelia isn’t quite done with her education yet, either. “In May, I will graduate from Pitt Community College with a degree in health information technology,” she shared.
None of this would have been possible without the support of her fellow team members, her leadership and ECU Health’s HomeGrown program.
NCWorks is an initiative through the state of North Carolina for young adults aged 18 to 24 who are interested in exploring careers in health care. The program brings together various statewide agencies including the Department of Commerce, Public Instruction and the NC community college system to create opportunities for young jobseekers to find employment.
NCWorks offers tools, resources and knowledge needed to build a strong foundation for participants to begin their career. ECU Health is one of many work sites across the state for the NCWorks program.
In addition to helping young adults gain valuable skills, the program also creates a pipeline of talent that potentially leads to participants becoming members of the ECU Health team. By equipping young professionals for success, ECU Health strengthens its workforce and contributes to the local community by acting on the mission of improving the health and well-being of eastern North Carolina.
The program runs for approximately three months during which participants are part-time team members at ECU Health, gaining hands-on experience in a health care setting. During these three months, they learn about roles in health care from their fellow team members.
Throughout the program, participants are supported with continuous coaching from the workforce development team through learning skills and receiving guidance to help them thrive in professional environments. Both technical and soft skills are important for working in a professional environment and the program helps them develop and navigate these skills.
Program participants also receive guidance and mentorship from current ECU Health team members to learn the ins-and-outs of the workplace. At the end of the program, participants understand the importance of ECU Health’s mission, vision and values and have embedded that into their daily work.
Kara Dozier, a member of the Food and Nutrition Services team, is currently serving as an ambassador and the first participant of the NCWorks Project at ECU Health.
Kara got involved in the program when she met Toyta Kee, a talent pipeline consultant at ECU Health, at a job fair at the Greenville Convention Center. “I saw Ms. Toyta’s ECU Health sign and decided I’m going to talk to her and see what this is about. I did, and I gave her my application that I had printed out, and she said she would contact me,” Kara said.
Kara reached out to Toyta and got connected with the NCWorks program, which Kara has now been a part of since October 2024.
“Overall, my favorite thing about the program is it allows me to be more self-sufficient and provides a great opportunity for different positions at ECU Health,” she says, “I definitely would recommend this program to everybody who’s interested because it is a great opportunity for anybody who wants to get their foot into the ECU Health door!”
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Each day in hospitals, clinics and other clinical settings across ECU Health, nurses take on roles beyond the medical care they provide – they’re a support person, a patient advocate, offer a hand for food services and help keep rooms clean all while bringing high-quality, compassionate care to patients in eastern North Carolina.
On May 6, to mark the start of National Nurses Week, ECU Health nurses invited board members, executives and other leaders to take part in “Walk-a-Mile with Nursing” to offer the opportunity to shadow a nurse and experience all the different roles that nurses play each and every day at ECU Health hospitals.
“Many of us have experienced the hospital setting through the eyes of a patient or a loved one, but today we got a chance to experience it through the eyes of the people who make high-quality, compassionate care possible at ECU Health: our nurses,” said Chief Nursing Executive Dr. Trish Baise during the roundtable discussion immediately following the three-hour shadowing session at ECU Health Medical Center. “I hope this experience to walk alongside nurses across our hospitals provides an even deeper appreciation for the work they do and the incredible difference it makes in the lives of so many.”
Bob Greczyn, chair of the ECU Health Board of Directors, was one of the guests on the hospital floor during “Walk-a-Mile” and he shadowed nurses on the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit at ECU Health Medical Center.
He said taking part in the event gave him the best morning he’s had in a long time. He was most impressed with the way teams – doctors, nurses, dieticians, pharmacists and more – worked together to care for patients on the unit.
“I’ve heard about doing rounds on patients and how the teams work together, but I’ve never actually been able to see it happen. Now I know what happens, and I know they didn’t just do it for my benefit,” Greczyn said. “I want to thank all the nurses who choose to work here for what you do, because it’s really important.”
Walk-a-Mile with Nursing was also held at community hospitals across ECU Health, where participants captured a glimpse of the community-centered care that makes rural hospitals unique. There, they witnessed team members treating neighbors, family and friends – a testament to the power of hands-on nursing in rural communities.
Gary Stanley, ECU Health Chowan Hospital Development Council Board Member and Lead Chaplain for ECU Health Bertie and Chowan, reflected on his experience with the Walk-a-Mile with Nursing event.
“It was truly an incredible experience,” Stanley said. “Nurse Konner Mims exemplified attentiveness, compassion, and respect, fully embracing the ECU Health model of patient- and family-centered care. This experience was profoundly impactful—I am a different chaplain because of it.”
Dr. Michael Waldrum, ECU Health chief executive officer and Dean of the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, and Donette Herring, ECU Health’s chief information officer, both had the opportunity to return to their clinical roots prior to their leadership roles.
Dr. Waldrum shadowed Carolina Pena, staff nurse III, on the Medical Intensive Care Unit at ECU Health Medical Center. As an intensivist for many years, he said it was great experience to be back at his “home.” He was grateful for the opportunity to shadow Pena and see the heart of ECU Health nursing on display with care, compassion and excellence.
Herring visited the Surgical Intensive Care Unit at the Medical Center. It was a fitting return for her as she said the intensive care unit was her last unit in a clinical role before she transitioned to leadership. She said she wasn’t sure what to expect for the day, but she was grateful to be welcomed in by the unit and have open, honest conversations with the team. She said her biggest takeaway from the day was the importance of taking time to listen to the experiences of nurses and understand their needs.
Pena said she felt this event was important to connect nurses with leadership and non-nursing team members to have their voices heard.
“This was so important to have, because as a nursing staff we go through a lot with patients, doctors, family members and everyone. We never really know if anyone is going to hear our concerns,” Pena said. “I know Dr. Waldrum has been an intensivist before, he knows what happens in our unit, but just having him there, hearing our concerns, seeing our patients, asking questions, it really gives us a sense that we’re being listened to and that we matter. I think that’s very important for our nurses.”
Overall, the event served as the perfect way to kick off National Nurses Week. Other events focused on celebrating nurses and their contributions to high-quality care unfolded throughout the week, and the Walk-a-Mile experience provided a first-hand understanding of just how powerful nurses are in a patient’s life.
“Today has far exceeded my expectations in terms of turnout and the genuine desire to connect, understand and walk a mile with nursing team members,” Baise said. “I’ve done this in previous roles, and there is more enthusiasm today than I’ve seen before, and I think it speaks to the authentic nature of everyone in this system. I’m so grateful for the nurses and units who hosted everyone today and sharing their work with everyone here.”
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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.
Dr. Roberto Portela, the chief of the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) division of the department of emergency medicine at ECU Health Medical Center and associate professor at East Carolina University in the department of emergency medicine, grew up in Puerto Rico. Originally, he aspired to be a veterinarian. “As a kid, you think about what you’d like to do, and taking care of animal sounded like a good fit for me,” he said. “I love animals.” But when he joined the military in 1994 and received training as a combat medic, he discovered he loved acute care. “Trauma care – those first minutes or hour of patient care – attracted me.”
Dr. Portela said his work in the military was instrumental in not only finding his path to emergency medicine, but also in how he carries himself as a physician. “The military teaches respect, and as a physician, you need to be respectful to your patients and colleagues,” he shared. “Everybody has a mission and a role, and you don’t always know what’s going on in your patient’s world, so just be respectful.”
After his military service, Dr. Portela attended the University of Puerto Rico to receive his MD and specialized in emergency medicine at the University of Puerto Rico Hospital in Carolina. He ended up staying there for nine years teaching residents how to be emergency medicine physicians. “Then in 2013, I moved to the United States and started as a faculty member at ECU,” he said. “The main thing that brought me here was the desire to expand on my specialty in EMS. In Puerto Rico, I worked in my home program as an attending, I worked with the state EMS system as their online medical control, I helped as a medical director and served as a volunteer in our rescue squad in Puerto Rico. Thank God, ECU gave me that opportunity. I came here, and the doors opened for me.”
Those open doors led to the chance to serve as the EMS medical director for Pitt County, the chief of the EMS Division of the Department of Emergency Medicine, the program director for the EMS Fellowship, a member of the state EMS disciplinary committee and the president for the NC Chapter of the National Association of EMS Physicians. “It was incredible for me; because of my being here and the people in leadership who supported me, I’ve had these opportunities,” he said.
Dr. Portela also spoke about his team and the difference they make every day. “I think all emergency medicine physicians are cut from the same cloth, because they could have picked any specialty, but they chose one that provides care 24/7, 365 days a year,” he said. “The dedication they display every day is amazing – they are resilient.”
There’s also a big difference between his work with ECU Health and his work in Puerto Rico – namely, his access to resources and in-house, high-quality care. “I used to work in a small hospital where I had to transfer patients all the time to get better care; what ECU Health can offer as a system of care with a level one trauma center with multiple specialties – there’s not a lot we can’t do here,” he said.
To those considering a career in health care, Dr. Portela said don’t hesitate. “Ignore the static or what you might hear. At the end of the day, you must remember why we do health care – because somebody needs help. It’s that simple.” He also emphasized that there are many roles and opportunities for those considering a health care career. “From our care partners to all our nurses, to our physicians and tech, orderlies and lab technicians, everybody has a role and it’s a system. There are multiple jobs out there and so many opportunities to make a difference – if you’re thinking about it, just jump in.”
Rebecca Zelnar, a staff nurse III in the post anesthesia care unit (PACU), loved being a travel nurse, and after working for a Florida health system for nearly 20 years, she thought she’d never find a staff position that was as fulfilling. That all changed when she came to ECU Health Medical Center, where she now feels at home.
The Gainesville, Florida native knew early on she wanted to be a nurse.
“I was a candy striper, and in high school I knew I wanted to be a nurse; but then things happened in my family to where I couldn’t go to college right out of high school,” she said. “I got a job and got married, had kids. I worked in the legal field. But nursing nagged at me. In my mid-to-late-twenties, I went back to school. I worked a paper route and as a CNA to pay for school, and I graduated top of my class 24 years ago. I just knew that was what I wanted to be. I went right into the ICU and never looked back.”
She worked at the University of Florida Shands Hospital in the trauma unit for 18 years. “I love critical care. I worked in the surgical trauma ICU at UF and loved it. I love that patient population, and I loved being a part of making science at a teaching hospital,” she said.
Then the pandemic happened, and Zelnar said she saw that as an opportunity to make a change. “My husband and I bought a camper and moved into that, with plans to travel at some point, but then the pandemic came and there was an opportunity for nurses to go to New York City and help,” Zelnar explained. “I asked the Lord if that’s what He wanted me to do. Twenty hours later, I was a Covid nurse in New York.”
Her experience in New York was challenging, but her previous experience in critical care and her work in the ICU float pool prepared her for working in different settings. “There was a lot of fear [in New York]; it was terrible times. I saw how weary those nurses were, and I wanted to be a relief to them. It taught me to rely on my skills in the moment.”
After her time in New York, Zelnar traveled to Texas and worked as a travel nurse in El Paso, Corpus Christi, San Antonio and McAllen before coming to ECU Health in 2021. Her daughter lives in Rocky Mount, and Zelnar said it was nice being closer to her. “I worked in central staffing for the ICU, and I thought I’d just continue traveling when my contract was up,” she said. “But as that time approached, I realized I couldn’t bear leaving this family I’d come to know. It brought me to tears to think about leaving.”
Zelnar said she talked with her husband and she prayed about it, and after talking with the manager of patient care services in the PACU, Amy Sawyer, she decided she wanted to stay. “Amy had a PACU position open, and I accepted the job immediately,” Zelnar said.
“Rebecca brought the knowledge she had gained from working in multiple PACUs,” Sawyer said. “Shared knowledge is so valuable because we always aspire to learn and grow in the nursing profession. Rebecca is compassionate and her patient care is extraordinary. She always advocates for the best possible care for her patients, and she’s been an amazing addition to our family.”
Part of what enticed her to stay were the leadership and staff she worked with every day as a traveler. “I liked the overall friendliness of the staff towards travelers; they didn’t treat you differently. I liked how the nurses cared for each other. It’s a big family, and people are caring and compassionate. It made me want to be a part of their team.” That sentiment stuck with Sawyer. “Rebecca had been traveling for a while but missed the sense of belonging somewhere. She felt that she truly belonged here at ECU Health,” she said.
Rebecca also highlighted the skill set of her colleagues. “The talent of nurses in this unit is very high. It’s the best group of nurses I’ve worked with for long time. It’s the best management team I’ve ever worked with, and I love being a part of the PACU and all their initiatives.”
When asked if she’d recommend ECU Health as a permanent home for other travel nurses, she didn’t hesitate to answer. “I would definitely recommend ECU Health,” she said. “I’m actually recruiting my daughter-in-law, who is a nurse, and my son, to move here from Florida so she can work here. There is a lot to offer for nurses – professional councils, Magnet designation – it’s definitely a place to develop professionally.”
Zelnar said she’s settled in and plans to get her perioperative certification and serve on the unit council, something she hasn’t done in a long time due to being a traveler. “It just feels right,” she said. “I want to work at the bedside and take care of patients, and I love going to work. We moved the camper here and plan to eventually buy some land and maybe build a tiny home. I hope to spend many years at ECU Health.”