“I was pretty shocked. I said, ‘You picked me?’”
That’s what Christina Brizendine, PharmD, BCPS, said of winning the Greenville Region Preceptor of the Year award. “There are so many wonderful preceptors.”
Dr. Brizendine began serving as a preceptor for the University of North Carolina (UNC) students in 2008, primarily offering fourth-year students internal medicine rotations. More recently, as pharmacy clerkships began earlier in students’ education, Dr. Brizendine helped re-design the early immersion rotations, an innovation recognized by the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy faculty and students.
“Her instrumental role in providing excellent experiences to students through this new program has led to other organizations adopting some of her processes,” said Angela Mayo, PharmD, MBA, FACHE, the director of Retail and Ambulatory Pharmacy Services. This work is one reason UNC recently recognized Dr. Brizendine as the Greenville Region Preceptor of the Year.
A UNC alumna, Dr. Brizendine came to ECU Health with the intention of staying a few years. “That was 19 years ago,” she laughed. “I got married, made friends and bought a house. I’m here for the long haul.”
ECU Health offers pharmacy student training for local universities and colleges, with UNC Eshelman representing the most students. Each year, ECU Health pharmacy team members provide approximately 120 student-months’ worth of precepting for those students.
In addition to precepting UNC students, Dr. Brizendine also worked with students from Campbell University, Hampton University in Virginia and the University of South Carolina. She was drawn to the role after having impactful experiences with her own mentors when she was a student.
“I had some great preceptors who took time out of their days to support me. I wanted to do that too. And when you have a great student, they challenge you in ways you can’t expect.”
During her 17 years of working with pharmacy students, Dr. Brizendine saw more and more students starting their clerkships earlier in their education. “Preceptors were getting burned out, not sure how to fit these younger students into a practice environment,” she said.
That’s when she took on the role of program coordinator for direct patient care immersion rotations and created a program to cluster student cohorts.
“This provided continuity in which cohorts did the same things and had the same experiences with one point person to ask for questions,” she explained. “Previously, students were all over the place only a few days at a time and it was less cohesive. This new set up gives students a good experience to see a lot of different things, meet up with each other every week and support each other.”
The result has been rewarding for the students, and for Dr. Brizendine – literally.
More than one student nominated her for the Preceptor of the Year award, and what resonated the most, according to their nominations, was Dr. Brizendine’s effort at connection.
“They valued that I asked them how they were. I wanted to ensure they had a work/life balance, which is hard when you’re a student. A lot of comments said, ‘She cared about me personally,’ and I really do.”
Dr. Brizendine recently transitioned to a new role as a clinical pharmacist with ECU Health’s Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy (OPAT) program. While she misses working with the students, she hopes to get back to precepting in the future.
“There’s a value to training students,” she said. “Students see what they have learned in class put into practice, and as preceptors, it makes our own jobs more satisfying.”
The ECU Health Rehabilitation Department recently announced the 2024 winners of the Bennett Award for Outstanding Rehab Team Members: Krista Austin, OT, and Alyssa Villasenor-Avalos, SLP. The award is named in honor of Wanda Bennett, the former Senior Administrator for Rehabilitation at ECU Health Medical Center, and it recognizes any ECU Health rehabilitation therapist who demonstrates a commitment to excellence in his or her field.
Each year, a selection committee chooses one recipient from ECU Health Medical Center and one from ECU Health community hospitals and ECU Health home health services.
Alyssa Villasenor-Avalos
“I love to talk.”
That’s one reason Alyssa said she fell in love with speech language pathology (SLP).
Another reason is that as a child, she served as the “translator” for a family member with speech delays.
“I was the only one who could communicate with him,” she shared. “I didn’t realize what I was doing, but I had that love of helping, and language was important to me.”
In college, Alyssa thought she wanted to be a doctor, but the classes proved to be too much.
“That’s when I found linguistics,” she said. “That helped me learn about language in general, and I thought I might work in the school system.”
Further exploration led her to speech language pathology.
“A lot had to happen to find this career, but those little things made sense that this is what I wanted to do.”
Now in her fourth year at Outer Banks Health, Alyssa said she enjoys working with a variety of patients and diagnoses.
“We help people across the lifespan, and every day is different. A lot of people don’t realize what SLPs do; it’s a lot more than talking. In acute care, I get to be flexible and creative, and in outpatient, I get to build relationships with our patients.”
Acute or outpatient, Alyssa said the best thing about her job is seeing her patients meet their goals.
“Maybe that patient wants to drink a Dr. Pepper,” she said. “I’m in the swallow suite with them, a Dr. Pepper in my bag, ready to give it to them if they pass the swallow study.”
On a smaller scale, Alyssa said she likes making connections.
“You do a lot of talking in speech therapy, so you get to know your patients in a personal way. I like that,” she said.
As for her team, Alyssa said they’re the best.
“Everyone is a friend. We collaborate well and often co-treat our patients. You can bounce ideas off each other. We trust each other – you don’t always see that. And our leadership makes time for education and learning.”
Alyssa didn’t realize at first that she had won the Bennett Award, but she suspected something was up when her family appeared on a Facetime call while she was at work.
“I didn’t know I had been nominated, let alone that I had won,” she said. “I was shocked and humbled; I was grateful that someone took the time out of their day to nominate me. Working with patients is reward enough, but it is nice when your team notices.”
Alyssa said she hopes this award can bring more attention to rehabilitation services, and to SLP in particular.
“Sometimes rehab isn’t recognized, and our field of therapy can be misunderstood,” she said. “It means a lot that someone out there saw what I was doing, especially after the hard work I’ve put in. Hopefully this brings more awareness to SLPs and what we do. I want more people to know the resources available at ECU Health.”
Krista Austin
In high school, Krista broke her hand playing soccer twice in 13 months.
“I received occupational therapy (OT) for my hand and got to be friends with my OT at that time,” Krista said. “I knew I wanted to work in health care but wasn’t sure how. After seeing what my therapist did, I spent time volunteering and learning more about OT and everything it encompasses.”
That personal experience led Krista to Elizabethtown College in Pennsylvania, where she graduated with a degree in occupational therapy.
Her first job out of college was at Pitt County Memorial Hospital.
“I started in 1998,” she said. “I planned to be here two years, but I am still here.”
Part of what kept her here has been the variety of work.
“ECU Health offers the opportunity to work within my profession while trying different areas of practice,” she said. “There’s a flexibility to move within the system, should you feel the need to change.”
That flexibility began with work in the brain injury program, where Krista found her passion working with patients with neurological diagnoses. “I really enjoy working with patients who have had traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, strokes, Guillan Barre, Parkinson’s or multiple sclerosis,” she said. “Every day is different. One day you’re helping someone with balance and transfers, and the next you’re working on vision or cooking in the kitchen.”
From there, Krista found a place in the Day Rehab program, which focused on community reentry skills, before moving on to outpatient rehabilitation and then a two-year stint as a general rehab supervisor. She is now back to working in the outpatient setting.
“We want our patients to have a good quality of life, and it’s enjoyable to identify activities that are meaningful to them,” she said.
Through all these changes, Krista said one constant has been her amazing colleagues.
“We are all family and collaborate well together,” she shared. “It’s not just one discipline; it takes all of us every day. The patients come and go, but your colleagues are with you day in and out.”
Despite her passion for her work, Krista said she didn’t expect to win the Bennett award.
“I was shocked and honored,” she said. “It’s rewarding to be recognized by my peers and leadership. Deep down, I know that what I’m doing is meaningful to our patients, but it’s nice to be seen and recognized by the team.”
It’s also rewarding, she said, because occupational therapy is often a misunderstood discipline.
“Occupational therapy gets confused with physical therapy, or people think you do something to get them back to work,” she laughed. “Having the recognition for this discipline highlights what we do, and it’s very important to have that.”
The award was made even more meaningful because Krista knew and worked with Wanda Bennett.
“It felt really personal. She’s no longer here, but I felt like she was looking down on me. I always looked up to her and hope others can look up to me.”
While at work one day in January, Rebekah Ziemski knew something felt off.
“I was pregnant, but I knew something wasn’t right. My manager was so supportive and told me to go home and get some rest.”
Rebekah, an occupational health nurse with ECU Health, was already being closely monitored by her physicians for an autoimmune disorder. She consulted her obstetrician, who told her to come to the emergency department (ED) if she didn’t get to feeling better. “I didn’t realize then that I was actively miscarrying.”
Her symptoms escalated, and an ED visit confirmed what she suspected, Rebekah faced not only the grief of loss, but also unexpected complications. “I was bleeding badly and continued to do so; my doctor was worried.” It turned out Rebekah required two additional procedures to stop the bleeding.
Rebekah didn’t have much paid time off (PTO), and although her doctor released her to return to work, she didn’t feel ready. “I had just lost my son four days previously, and I tossed and turned with the idea of going back to work. That’s when I reached out to HR.”
Through the HR Services site, Rebekah asked if her experience allowed for bereavement leave. “The death of an unborn child isn’t in the policy,” she said. “I put out a cry for help, and I think Mindy heard the despair in my question.”
Mindy Wallace, an HR Shared Services consultant, said her specialty is in leaves of absence, and when she read Rebekah’s plea for help, she had to respond. “We’re one of the first lines of defense for our team members,” she said. “After hearing what Rebekah was going through, I reached out to her directly to get more information.”
“Mindy helped me get bereavement time, but she also worked with my manager, Cheri Bartlett, to get more than 80 hours of PTO donated to me,” Rebekah said. “I was also eligible for short term disability, which I didn’t realize. This allowed me to go back to my doctor and tell her I wasn’t ready to go back to work. I could take the time I needed to grieve and recover from surgery.”
Rebekah said Mindy stayed in constant contact with her and Cheri to ensure questions were answered, forms were filled out and time cards were accurate.
“I didn’t realize everything HR did, and this meant I didn’t have to worry about anything while I was out,” Rebekah said. “In corporate health, sometimes a policy is a policy, but I wasn’t treated like a policy. I was treated like a person.”
“Some things were handled by her leader, but I took the reins on working with our benefits partner so she didn’t have to keep making calls. That makes things much more stressful, so we took on that piece and made sure she was getting what she needed,” Mindy explained.
While Mindy underscored that this wasn’t an unusual thing for her or the HR team to do, she admitted she took her own experiences into consideration.
“I know where team members are because I’ve been there too,” she said. “However, our team can help you – that’s what we’re here for. Our team members are here to serve our patients, so we want them to be well and healthy so they can do that.”
For Rebekah, Mindy’s support was above and beyond what she expected, and it made a difference in her recovery. “HR isn’t often recognized, but Mindy was an angel. You just don’t know what she did for me and my family. I was so worried about paying the bills and I didn’t know I had options. Mindy helped with that. Her compassion made me feel like she was there to help.”
All of this happened virtually; Rebekah never worked with Mindy in person. As luck would have it, after Rebekah returned to work, she attended a Resource Fair and visited the HR booth.
“I was standing there and Cheri introduced me to another person. Then I heard a voice say, ‘Hey Rebekah, I’m Mindy.’ I had never met her before; she had just been a name in emails. I started crying and asked her if I could give her a hug because she and my leader were my biggest advocates. She reminded me I was going to survive this.”
Mindy said it was gratifying to help Rebekah. “To know I’ve helped someone with the tools I have available to me makes me personally happy, but also proud of the organization,” Mindy said. “I’m not better at this than anyone else. It’s hard to hear the sad stories and to know what some of our team members are going through. I am so glad I was given the opportunity to help Rebekah.”
There are many options for team members experiencing difficult situations, and both Mindy and Rebekah highlighted the services ECU Health offers.
“We just launched the new ECU Health Service Center Portal, and many people wonder if the responses are from real people. They are! Our team members can reach out with questions about benefits, leave, accommodations and much more. We’re here to serve our team members,” Mindy shared.
“Life happens,” Rebekah added. “When you’re experiencing something catastrophic, the last thing you’re thinking about is HR. A lot of people don’t realize that we have these services available to us.”
Even more importantly, Rebekah said, is the support and kindness she received – not only from Mindy – but also from her leader and her team. “When you realize someone took the time to be kind to you, it means so much,” she said. “If Cheri or my team hadn’t donated PTO, and if Mindy hadn’t helped me navigate this system, I wouldn’t be here. I’m a walking testimony that it works. This experience has made me double down on my commitment to ECU Health.”
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!”