“I was 58, worn out and tired,” said Monica Joyner, a senior secretary in the Sterile Processing Department. Her husband had recently passed away, and she was caring for her aging mother. “I took an inventory of my life and felt trapped. I wanted to change, but I didn’t know where to start.”
That’s when Monica learned about Health and Well-being offerings at ECU Health.
“I saw information about ECU Health Lifestyle Medicine and working with a lifestyle coach,” she said.
“As team members, we get some sessions for free, so I thought what did I have to lose?”
Monica made an appointment with Jessica Wakefield, a lifestyle coach with ECU Health Lifestyle Medicine, and the connection was instant.
“She was so easy to talk to, and together we determined what areas were critically important to me,” Monica said. “We developed a realistic plan to improve those areas and I’ve been thrilled with my success.”
Jessica emphasized that her work as a lifestyle coach is a partnership.
“I focused on meeting Monica where she was in her change journey, finding out what was important to her and what was motivating her to make these changes now,” Jessica said. “As Monica saw that it was possible to make changes, she became motivated to make further changes.”
Initially, Monica and Jessica met twice a month, during which time, they established specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound (S.M.A.R.T) goals. Monica said she was honest with Jessica about what goals seemed achievable and what goals did not, and they included incorporating more fruits and vegetables into her diet, drinking more water and finding ways to move her body – which didn’t include going to the gym.
“I found exercise videos on Facebook because I knew I couldn’t stay consistent going to the gym,” she shared. “But working out at home is working out for me.”
But it wasn’t just about working out and eating better. Monica and Jessica also talked about strategies for handling stress and getting a good night’s rest. One goal Monica set was to improve her sleeping habits.
“I created a nightly routine to wind down by journaling with a devotional and listening to relaxing gospel music around 9 p.m. This routine soothed me right to sleep,” Monica said.
Together, these small changes yielded a 15-pound weight loss, a normal blood pressure reading and improved lab work. “I feel so much better than I did this time last year,” Monica said. “I feel alive.”
The keys to her success were the realistic goals and Jessica’s support. “I was honest with myself and Jessica, and if an idea wasn’t working, I felt free to say that. Then we’d try something else,” Monica explained. “Jessica was my much-needed accountability partner, and I felt like I couldn’t let her down.”
Now, Monica said she recommends the lifestyle coach services to anyone who asks. “I’m a commercial, and I’ve told people it can help them get things in order,” she said. “People walk up to me and tell me I look amazing, and I tell them 60 is the new 40. I’m living proof that simple goals can be set and achieved, and it’s never too late to take care of yourself. ECU Health’s Lifestyle Medicine can get you started on your journey.”
Want to learn more about Lifestyle Medicine or lifestyle coaching? Check out the website here.
A local initiative is helping residents rethink how they shop for food. The Penny Pinchers Health Grocery Store Tours, led by the Pitt Partners for Health Coalition, shows that healthy eating does not have to be expensive. Through hands-on grocery store tours and practical budgeting strategies, the program equips participants with the tools to make healthier choices without overspending.
Healthy eating is crucial to long-term well-being, helping to prevent chronic diseases like obesity, diabetes and heart conditions. While cost is often seen as a barrier, nutritious diets can be affordable with smart planning. According to the Pew Research Center, roughly 70 percent of Americans say the increased cost of healthy food in recent years has made it more difficult to eat healthy.
Despite rising food prices, making informed choices and cooking at home can dramatically reduce expenses while boosting health, according to Qua’Tavia White, community health improvement coordinator at ECU Health.
Founded through the long-standing Pitt Partners for Health Coalition, the Penny Pinchers Program is powered by a grant from The Duke Endowment’s “Healthy People, Healthy Carolinas” initiative. While ECU Health Medical Center is one of the coalition’s organizations, the program itself is community-led, with volunteers from across Pitt County driving its success.
“This is a coalition effort,” said White. “We have partners from all over the county helping lead it and we are grateful to our local Food Lions for allowing us to host this program at their stores.”
At the heart of Penny Pinchers is the $15 challenge, a hands-on grocery store tour designed to teach participants how to shop smart and eat healthily on a tight budget. Led by volunteers like De’Vette Thomas, a community health improvement manager at ECU Health, the tours take place at rotating Food Lion locations across Pitt County.
Each session begins with a brief orientation followed by a guided walk through the store. Participants learn how to use unit pricing to compare products, read nutrition labels, identify healthier options using Food Lion’s Guiding Stars system and understand the value of frozen, canned and fresh produce. After the educational portion, participants are given a $15 gift card and challenged to build a complete, healthy meal.
“The rules are to stay under budget and include at least three of four key components: a healthy protein, grain, fruit, dairy, and vegetable,” said Thomas. “Deli meats and processed items like bacon are off-limits for the challenge due to them not having any Guiding Stars and being high in sodium and fat. Participants are encouraged to eat from this food group less often. We want people to know they can eat healthily and still not spend a lot of money. It’s about teaching them how to get the most bang for their buck.”
Tours typically host 10-13 participants, with special sessions tailored for groups like public health students, senior clubs or the Diabetes Prevention Program at the Pitt County Health Dept. The program runs at least once a month, sometimes twice, depending on community demand.
Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Participants often share photos of their meals and complete pre and post surveys to help organizers measure impact. One participant, Lydia Best, described her experience as “fantastic.”
“I enjoyed meeting the other people who were there as well as all the information we were given,” said Best. “I had never noticed those stars at Food Lion for how to shop in a healthier fashion. We shared so much information between each other. It was fabulous.”
Best recalled the challenge of creating a balanced meal with the $15 gift card.
“I had chicken and broccoli, and I grilled it on top of the stove–nothing fried,” she said. “It was good, and my husband enjoyed it too.”
She emphasized the importance of programs like Penny Pinchers in helping people realize that healthy eating is possible on a budget.
“A lot of people feel that they cannot eat healthy on a budget, and this proves that they can,” Best said. “Just knowing how to choose the right foods and even getting ideas for preparation makes a difference. It’s important to take time to shop for nourishment, and people need to know they can do this and have fun doing it.”
Best praised the volunteers who led the tour, describing them as “knowledgeable and friendly,” and encouraged others to take part.
“I encourage anyone who has the opportunity to participate in Penny Pinchers to do so,” Best said. “It’s worthwhile. It will open your eyes and help you see that you can eat healthy on a budget.”
Both Thomas and White are passionate about debunking the myth that healthy eating is unaffordable.
“People say it’s expensive to be healthy,” White said. “But this program shows that’s not necessarily true.”
By combining education, empowerment and community support, Penny Pinchers is helping residents in eastern North Carolina rethink their relationship with food and proving that with the right tools, anyone can be a health-conscious shopper.
To register, contact De’Vette Thomas at 252-847-6497 or [email protected].
Tom Stanley, manager in Marketing and Communications, discovered the importance of advance care planning (ACP) one afternoon at swim practice.
“My parents were in town to visit the grandkids and dad’s heart suddenly stopped,” Tom shared. “It just so happened there were two physicians right there and they got CPR going immediately.”
Tom’s father, Bill, was transported to ECU Health Medical Center, where he was admitted for testing. During a stress test, his heart stopped for a second time.
“The doctors brought him back and declared him an official heart patient,” Tom said. “He ended up staying in the hospital for several weeks after needing a bypass surgery and a pacemaker.”
During this unexpected event, Tom discovered that his dad had already completed his advanced directives, a step that removed a great deal of worry for Tom and his family because his dad was able to communicate his preferences for care.
Advance care planning, which gives adults the opportunity to plan and record their health care choices in situations where they are unable to communicate what they want, can be a tricky topic to discuss, said Ellie Ward, advance care planning coordinator. As a patient-centered health care system, ECU Health supports informed and shared decision making for our patients and their families.
Two primary advance directive documents Ellie recommended that all adults complete are the
HCPOA and a living will, because the conversations surrounding a person’s wishes are key.
“There is so much nuance around understanding someone’s care preferences,” Ellie said. “Being able to ask clarifying questions is key. For example, if someone says, ‘I don’t want to be a burden to my family,’ do they mean a financial burden? An emotional burden? That’s why these conversations are the cornerstone to good advance care planning.”
“Dad had a stroke 10 years ago, and he put together his health care power of attorney and living will at that time,” Tom explained. “Having everything in place – and knowing what he wanted – allowed us to focus on what the doctors were saying, what he was saying and spending time together ahead of a serious surgery rather than completing these in the midst of all that was going on.”
“It’s not often that family members all agree on a course of treatment if there’s been no prior discussion,” Ellie said. “That can create friction in an already stressful situation. This paperwork, and the conversations around each person’s preferences, gives you and your family peace of mind. You are preparing others to represent your wishes, and it allows you to be the captain of your own ship.”
Witnessing his father’s situation helped Tom realize the importance of having these conversations and completing these documents before the unexpected.
“This turned on the lightbulb for me,” he said. “I realized that it’s necessary because, not only do you make your wishes known, but you also provide comfort and reduce stress for your family, so they don’t have to do this later without you.”
Tom contacted Ellie about how to complete his own HCPOA and living will documents, a task that ended up being seamless and easy after he accessed the ECU Health Advance Care Planning website. The site offers information and step-by-step instructions in the downloadable toolkit. The process is free, does not require an attorney, and can be uploaded to one’s electronic health record. Ellie also noted that people can reach out to her team for information.
“I want people to know that they can request assistance or support, and our team will step up to help them,” Ellie said. “They can also come to any of the free community educational events across our 29 county service area to learn more.”
However, many people don’t recognize the value of the ACP process, or they don’t understand the difference between an HCPOA and a legal power of attorney, or a living will and a last will and testament.
“People think they don’t need to pay attention to advance care planning because they already have a will, or they don’t have a lot of property. But there’s a difference because an HCPOA and living will address health care needs and a POA and last will and testament handle property and money,” Ellie explained.
Specifically, an HCPOA identifies the person or people a patient wants to step in and represent their medical decisions to the health care team. Ellie was sure to clarify that the designated individuals represent the patient’s wishes, not making decisions for the patient.
A living will is a declaration of one’s desire for a natural death and is only in play if two physicians agree the patient is actively dying. The living will determines what care the patient does and does not want to receive at the end of life.
Providing education about ACP earlier in patients’ health care journeys is key, Ellie said, because it empowers our patients, promotes shared decision making and supports patient-centered care, which are essential to ensuring ECU Health’s mission.
“We want to host these conversations early on to make sure we’re aligning the care we provide to the goals of each person,” she said. “This is not just for acute incidents or the chronically ill – it’s for everyone.”
Tom’s father is in cardiac rehabilitation and doing well now, and Tom’s own HCPOA and living will paperwork is complete and on file. That, and the conversations he had with his family, have prepared them to honor his wishes for care.
“You never know what might happen,” he said. “We didn’t expect my dad’s heart to stop, or for him to be in the hospital, but knowing his wishes for medical care was so valuable. Now I’m an advocate for ACP.”
Scott Alford, the manager for grounds and guest parking at ECU Health Medical Center, generally considered himself to be healthy. Then, in 2023, Alford received some surprising news: his A1C, a blood test that measures the average blood sugar level over the last two-to-three months, was 10.9. For reference, a normal A1C level is less than 5.7. Prediabetes is 5.7 – 6.4, and diabetes is 6.5 and higher. “I was clearly in the diabetic category,” Scott said. “I asked the doctor what I should do. He gave me two medications and told me we’d revisit the issue at my next appointment.”
That solution didn’t sit well with Scott, so he made a decision. “I knew about ECU Health’s Lifestyle Medicine clinic because I knew some co-workers had used it,” he said. “I called them up and told them my story. They wanted to get me in right away. By the end of that call, I had an appointment with the nutritionist and a lifestyle coach for the very next week.”
Lifestyle Medicine is an evidence-based approach to preventing, treating and reversing diseases through healthy behaviors, and the ECU Health Lifestyle Medicine clinics offer many individual, group and virtual services to help community and team members meet their personal health goals.
“Our team of professionals includes providers, registered dieticians, lifestyle coaches, exercise physiologists, nurses and chefs who recognize the importance of including the six pillars of lifestyle medicine into the individualized care plans for our patients and team members,” said Brenda Leigh, the director of Lifestyle Medicine at ECU Health. The six pillars include increasing the consumption of whole, plant-based food, increasing aerobic activity, getting enough sleep, decreasing unhealthy substances (like tobacco or alcohol), maintaining healthy relationships and managing stress.
Scott first met with Lindsay Luschwitz, clinical dietitian III, to begin his Lifestyle Medicine journey. “I don’t drink and I don’t smoke, but I did drink between five and seven big soft drinks or sweet teas a day,” Scott shared. “I was also in the habit of stopping at McDonald’s every morning for breakfast and going out for lunch every day.”
When Scott shared this information with Lindsay, she didn’t shame him as he expected. Instead, she gave him different strategies and choices to try. “When we first met, Scott told me he wasn’t going to bring his lunch to work,” Lindsay recalled. But after working with Lindsay for more than a year, Scott said he now brings his lunch to work most days of the week. “She never said it was something I had to do,” Scott said. “It was always my decision. She’d suggest options and sometimes I liked them and sometimes I didn’t.”
Now, Scott drinks water or Sprite Zero instead of regular sodas and sweet tea, and he eats smaller portions while making better choices. “I eat more fruit now than I ever have in my life,” he said. Lindsay also suggested he use an app, Yuka, on his phone to track the nutritional value of the foods he ate so he could make informed decisions. “I love ice cream,” Scott said. “And I used the app to find an ice cream I could eat. I took the options to Lindsay and she pointed me to a Greek yogurt brand that I really like.”
The work paid off. In 2024, at his next doctor’s appointment, Scott was pleased to find that he was down 25 pounds and his A1C was a 5, well within the normal blood sugar guidelines. He is now off all his daily meds and only takes a once weekly medication to help. “I am practicing the strategies Lifestyle Medicine gave me. I’ve improved my diet, and I’ve increased my exercise. And I can see the difference in the mirror. I’m down a size in my pants and shirt. My joints don’t hurt so much when I stand up from a chair, and my vision, which I thought was an issue with my contact lenses but was actually due to high blood sugar, has improved. I just feel better.”
Scott’s co-workers also noticed changes, and some approached him about what he was doing. “They initially noticed I wasn’t going out to eat for lunch as often, so I talked with them about what I was doing.”
Scott has been doing more than just sharing information; he’s also been a key player in encouraging his team to get healthier. “Lindsay shared during one of our bimonthly meetings that they had a teaching kitchen in the Lifestyle Medicine Clinic within the Wellness Center and they wanted to have people come out and learn recipes and information about healthier meal options. I told her I’d bring my team, and that’s what I did.” Scott brought members of his grounds and parking team to the Wellness Center for an hour-long session with Lindsay, Dr. David Michael and Dr. Susan Houston, where they cooked, ate and talked about how the Lifestyle Medicine clinic can help.
“This is our Dining with a Doc series,” Lindsay explained. “Dr. Houston and I are culinary trained chefs, so she or I prepare a meal, and Dr. Michael is there, and we talk about the meal we’re making and nutrition. And then we go through Lifestyle Medicine and what we do.” The Lifestyle Medicine clinic offers the monthly Dining with a Doc program free for community members through a grant from Pitt Partners for health. As a result, Alford said other members of his team are now making positive changes and some are visiting the Lifestyle Medicine clinic.
While it hasn’t always been easy to make these lifestyle changes, Scott said they’ve been worth it. “It’s tough sometimes. Life is busy, and sometimes you just have to decide to get more steps or stand up rather than sit at your desk. But the clinic has made things easier because they give me information that’s proven to help.” And, he emphasized, seeing and feeling the difference has been key. “At first it was that 10.9 A1C that made me want to change,” Alford said. “That number really shocked me. But now I can also see and feel a difference and that’s why I want to keep doing this. It’s a conscious decision every day to make the best choices.”
Lindsay emphasized that a person knowing their “why” is very important. “We are here to support you and give you education and resources, but when you’re not here, the choice is up to you. If you know your ‘why,’ you won’t revert to old habits,” she said. Scott agreed, saying that he plans to continue practicing the new skills he’s learned the past year. “I intend to keep using these strategies,” he said. “Doing better isn’t that hard; all I had to do was ask for that support. Lifestyle Medicine has a great program, and you just have to reach out to them and take that first step.”
Both Scott and Lindsay want more people to also take that first step to learn more about the Lifestyle Medicine clinic and the services it offers. “It was incredibly easy to get started,” Alford said. “I called them and there was no excess stuff to do, no preapproval, no paperwork. It’s an easy in and out, and if you can’t make it in person, they’ll do telehealth visits.” Supporting team members in this way is very important, Lindsay said. “We want to target our team members because it benefits everyone,” she said. “Healthier team members are more productive, have fewer sick days and are generally happier. We want to expand our reach and make it more approachable.” Lindsay noted that they take various forms of insurance, and for ECU Health team members on the medical plan, they are eligible for up to six free visits with a dietitian, among other free services. “Our message is that many chronic issues like diabetes, obesity and high cholesterol can be improved by lifestyle changes and nutrition. Even if you’re not ready to make a huge change, we’re ready to meet you where you’re at.”
To learn more about the Lifestyle Medicine clinic, Leigh encourages community and team members to visit their website here or call at 252-847-5590 for more information.
Achieving and maintaining a healthy weight can be a challenging journey, but ECU Health has resources to help with a comprehensive range of weight loss and lifestyle medicine services tailored to individual needs. Whether someone is starting their weight loss journey or seeking support to maintain progress, ECU Health offers personalized, evidence-based solutions to help people succeed.
Dr. Hannah Florida, a board-certified physician in obesity medicine at the ECU Health Lifestyle Medicine Clinic, emphasized the importance of addressing obesity holistically.
“Excess body weight is multifactorial, often influenced by unhealthy nutrition, lack of physical activity, poor sleep, unmanaged stress, a lack of support systems and substance dependence – whether that be caffeine, sugar or another substance,” Dr. Florida said. “Our approach is to meet patients where they are, assess what changes they are ready to make and guide them with the tools and accountability they need to succeed.”
ECU Health Lifestyle Medicine provides a multidisciplinary team of experts, including board-certified obesity physicians, registered dietitian nutritionists, lifestyle coaches and exercise physiologists. Together, they offer comprehensive care to address every aspect of weight management, ensuring patients receive the support they need at every step.
No two weight loss journeys are the same, which is why ECU Health offers customizable programs to fit a variety of needs:
- Medically Supervised Weight Loss: Tailored treatment plans, including lifestyle modifications and medications, prescribed by board-certified obesity physicians.
- Medical Nutrition Therapy: Personalized assessments and eating plans from licensed dietitians to support sustainable weight loss and address conditions like diabetes and high cholesterol.
- Meal Replacement Programs: Supervised liquid meal replacement plans to jumpstart progress.
- Culinary Medicine: Individual and group sessions teaching participants how to prepare plant-based meals that align with their goals.
- Pre-Surgery Optimization: Dietitian-guided programs to optimize nutritional health before bariatric or orthopedic surgery for improved outcomes.
Dr. Florida uses anti-obesity medications when appropriate to jump start patients in making lifestyle changes. These healthy lifestyle changes are the key factors to achieve sustainable long term weight loss, according to Dr. Florida.
“Medications, for example, can temporarily suppress appetite, but lasting results require adopting healthier habits,” she said.
Lifestyle coaches at ECU Health help patients set and achieve specific goals, such as improving sleep, managing stress, or incorporating regular exercise.
“For instance, if someone struggles with getting enough sleep, the coach might help them set small, actionable goals like limiting screen time before bed,” Dr. Florida said.
Exercise physiologists at ECU Health further support patients by creating personalized exercise plans. These programs often begin with one-on-one guidance and transition patients to sustainable fitness routines, whether through gym memberships or at-home activities.
Addressing obesity not only improves physical well-being but can also alleviate related chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, chronic pain, and kidney disease.
“When we treat obesity, we often see significant improvements—or even reversal—in these chronic conditions,” said Dr. Florida.
ECU Health’s Lifestyle Medicine Clinic offers flexible options for individual appointments, group-based education, and cutting-edge culinary medicine.
“Our goal is to meet patients where they are and empower them to make sustainable changes,” says Dr. Florida.
For some individuals struggling with weight-related health issues such as diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, arthritis and sleep apnea, bariatric surgery may be the most effective solution.
ECU Health Medical Center offers advanced surgical options, including:
- Gastric Bypass: Reduces the amount of food you can eat and the calories you absorb by creating a small stomach pouch that connects to the small intestine. This helps you feel full faster and absorb fewer calories.
- Sleeve Gastrectomy: Removes up to 85% of the stomach, creating a sleeve-like structure that holds less food and reduces hunger hormones.
Bariatric surgery often results in greater weight loss compared to medical treatments alone and can significantly improve chronic conditions linked to obesity. While surgery is highly effective, it is not without risks, including bleeding, infection and nutritional deficiencies. Speak with your primary care provider to learn if this option is right for you.
Ready to Begin Your Journey? Take the first step toward a healthier you with ECU Health. To learn more about ECU Health’s weight loss services at the ECU Health Lifestyle Medicine Clinic or to schedule an appointment, visit the ECUHealth.org/LifestyleMedicine or call 252-847-9908.
ECU Health Beaufort Hospital, a campus of ECU Health Medical Center, brought the community together to celebrate healthy living at its third annual Fall Harvest Event. Held at the Community Well-Being Zone next to the ECU Health Wellness Center in Washington, the event offered fresh produce, free health screenings and opportunities to learn about nutrition and wellness.
Attendees harvested sweet potatoes, leafy greens and fresh herbs, while enjoying the educational atmosphere. The space, designed to promote wellness and community engagement, includes 10 raised beds for vegetables, two large planters for herbs, a storage shed and areas for outdoor learning.
“This event is about more than just providing fresh vegetables,” said Dr. Tammy Thompson, ECU Health’s Director of Experience, Engagement, Education and Design. “We’re fostering wellness habits and creating a space where the community can connect, learn and thrive. Hosting this event by the Wellness Center also allows us to showcase the resources available to help community members live healthy lifestyles.”
In addition to the harvest, the event featured free health screenings on a mobile bus and tours of the ECU Health Wellness Center. Community members received guidance on growing food at home, nutrition tips and exercise information, further emphasizing the importance of holistic health. The event provided fresh vegetable soup for attendees, and warm apple cider as they toured the garden.
The event’s success was also supported by partnerships and volunteer efforts. The Conetoe Family Life Center contributed additional produce for attendees, while an East Carolina University Public Health intern welcomed guests and shared educational resources.
Volunteers like Cathy Karlovich, were thrilled to be part of the initiative.
“Healthy eating is very important to me,” Karlovich said. “I understand how eating well can impact your whole life, so doing something like this for the community and sharing valuable information is really special.”
Thompson encouraged the community to get involved, noting that volunteer opportunities are available for those interested in supporting the garden and its mission.
“My hope with events like this is to cultivate not just a garden, but a healthier, more connected community,” Thompson said.
The garden is open to community members from 9 a.m. to noon each Wednesday and Friday where any produce ready to be harvested will be distributed and other educational materials will be shared. For more information, please visit ECUHealth.org/WBZ
Healthy snacks, well-being resources, a mindful walking trail and more were all on display at ECU Health Medical Center’s new Resident Well-Being Zone as part of a recent pop-up event hosted by ECU Health’s Well-Being team.
Resident physicians from across the Medical Center were invited to the pop-up event as a way of showcasing the new space, intentionally designed to support their well-being as they continue in their journey in medical education.
The pop-up event, according to Dr. Christina Bowen, ECU Health’s chief well-being officer, is an important way of ensuring residents are aware of the resources available to them at ECU Health.
“We are thrilled to have a resident well-being zone and to be able to offer something unique and purposeful to our resident physicians, who play such an important role here at ECU Health Medical Center,” said Dr. Christina Bowen, Chief Well-being officer at ECU Health. “The pop-up events are a fun way to get our resident physicians engaged in well-being and mindfulness which we know will benefit them during their time here at ECU Health. Our team is excited to be able to host well-being events throughout the year.”
Located on the sixth floor of the Eddie and Jo Allison Smith Cancer Center at ECU Health Medical Center, the Resident Well-Being Zone officially opened in August after years of thoughtful design and funding provided by the ECU Health Foundation. The space is filled with all the essentials a resident may need: exercise equipment, charting space, healthy snacks, coffee, even a ping-pong table and more.
Dr. Cole Carter, a fourth-year physical medicine and rehabilitation resident, said the pop-up event and the space itself have proven to be a welcome asset in the resident experience at ECU Health.
“I think it’s great,” Dr. Carter said, noting that his favorite part of the space is the ping-pong table. “It’s a great place to check out when you need a break from the busy schedule. You can get a great view of Greenville and just take time to relax. I try to come up here once a month or so. This is a great asset for our residents and for those who may be looking for a residency program.”
Dr. Mary Catherine Turner, interim associate dean of Graduate Medical Education, understands first-hand the value of a Resident Well-Being Zone. She said she was fortunate to have one during her time as a resident physician, and it helped her take a break, refresh her mind and get re-engaged in the mission-driven work of providing high-quality health care. Now, she is excited that current and future resident physicians get to experience a similar benefit as they care for patients and continue to learn at one of the busiest academic medical centers in the nation.
“A space like this is important for residents,” Dr. Turner said. “Residents need a place where they can go and disconnect from their work for a little bit and reconnect with themselves. And importantly this is a place where residents can congregate together. I think there’s a lot that can be said for building a community, and this allows them the space to do that.”
OUTER BANKS, N.C., July 24, 2024 — Outer Banks Health and Dare County Department of Health & Human Services have joined forces with Blue Zones, the global leader in longevity research and community well-being transformation, to launch Blue Zones Ignite™ Outer Banks.
Blue Zones uses an evidence-based, environmental approach to making healthy choices easier where they live and spend most of their time. Blue Zones will work with Outer Banks Health, the County, and other community leaders to conduct an in-depth feasibility assessment to determine how to make it a healthier place to live, work, and thrive. Together with the community, the Blue Zones team will assess readiness and build a plan for change.
The launch of Blue Zones Ignite is a dream come true for Christina Bowen, MD, Outer Banks Health Center for Healthy Living Medical Director, and ECU Health Chief Well-being Officer.
“We know that 20% of health and longevity is tied to genetics; while 80% is tied to where and how we live. Blue Zones Ignite Outer Banks is going to inspire us to celebrate and promote our strong sense of community while we find ways to make it even easier to eat healthy foods, move naturally and connect with our purpose – just a few of the ways we’ll continue to enhance our well-being and make this an even better place to live and work,” shared Dr. Bowen.
The Blue Zones Approach
Blue Zones employs a proven solution in collaboration with communities to help people live better and longer lives. The company’s work is based on research and principles developed by National Geographic Fellow and New York Times bestselling author Dan Buettner, who identified the cultures of the world – or blue zones regions – with the healthiest, longest-living populations.
The Blue Zones approach focuses on the single largest determinant of health: the place we live. Instead of focusing solely on individual behavior change, Blue Zones helps communities make permanent and semi-permanent changes to policies, systems, streets, surroundings, and social networks so it’s easier for residents to eat wisely, move naturally, and connect more with others as they move throughout their day. By improving the Life Radius®—the area close to home where most Americans spend 90% of their lives—Blue Zones transformations have been able to move the needle dramatically in improving overall population health and well-being. Communities that have participated in the Blue Zone’s Ignite project have seen double-digit drops in obesity and smoking rates, economic investment in downtown corridors, grant funding awards to support policies and programs to improve health equity, and measurable savings in healthcare costs.
“Together, Outer Banks Health and Dare County Health and Human Services are steadfast in our shared mission to enhance the health and well-being of all residents, so that they can live a happy, healthy and long life,” said Dr. Sheila Davies, Director Health & Human Services.
Ben Leedle, CEO of Blue Zones and Co-founder of Blue Zones Project, said: “We are excited to partner with forward-thinking leaders in the joint effort of improving well-being in the Outer Banks. That improvement, at the community level, leads to healthier and happier residents, better and more productive workforces and student bodies, and a more vibrant economy. We are excited to collaborate to create a transformation plan that can generate lasting positive change and ignite a community-wide movement towards sustained well-being.”
The Blue Zones expert team will connect with Outer Banks leaders and organizations to begin immediate work assessing the strengths, needs, and challenges that residents are facing today. Blue Zones will then create a policy-focused transformation plan that, once implemented, can drive widespread improvements in well-being, reductions in healthcare costs, and improve economic vitality in the region.
Chris Smith, the vice president of finance and operations for the ECU Health Foundation, was working out at the ECU Health Wellness Center when the director pulled him aside and told him about the Rock Steady Boxing program – a non-contact, boxing-inspired fitness routine specifically created for patients with Parkinson’s disease and similar movement disorders.
“They were looking for help with starting up the program – equipment, training for a few coaches, that sort of thing,” Smith said. “I told him we’d take a look at how the Foundation could help, and as it turned out, we were able to provide them the funds they needed to get the program started.”
Parkinson’s disease is a neurological disorder that causes unintended or uncontrollable movements, such as shaking, stiffness and difficulty with balance and coordination. Symptoms worsen over time, causing difficulty with walking, talking or other daily activities. While there is no cure, physical activity can improve many symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, slow the progression of the disease process and improve patients’ quality of life.
First created in Indianapolis in 2006, Rock Steady Boxing is now an international nonprofit program with more than 840 certified affiliates. Now, ECU Health’s Wellness Center counts itself among those numbers because of the Foundation’s support.
Smith said it was gratifying to know that money given by donors was used in such a meaningful way.
“This demonstrates the impact of what our donors do for their friends and families in the region. It showed the tangible impact philanthropy has on the lives of people in eastern North Carolina.” Smith also had a personal connection to the program; his father had Parkinson’s. “He passed away right before the pandemic. He was doing rehab, but he could never get back on his feet.”
With those donor-provided funds, which covered the cost of coach training in Indianapolis and the necessary equipment, the ECU Health Wellness Center was able to establish a Rock Steady Boxing program in 2023. Two of the coaches trained for the program were Kiara Robins, the lead exercise specialist, and Cas Costa, an exercise physiologist II. More than 36,000 people live with Parkinson’s disease in North and South Carolina, and Costa highlighted the value of having this program in the area.
“I didn’t realize at first the impact it would have, and I didn’t know how few locations offered the class.” That’s true; the ECU Health Wellness Center is currently only one of three locations to offer the program in eastern North Carolina. As a result, Robins said that their class has grown quickly: “We started with just three or four members but now we’re up to ten or twelve. We have people come from Rocky Mount, Kinston, Grimesland, Snow Hill and Ayden looking to do the program. We’re steadily growing, and we’re seeing great results.”
Those results are measured through balance and gait tests, such as the Berg Balance test and the Get up and Go test. “Our first four participants have gone from high fall risks to medium or low risks,” Robins said. “Some couldn’t even complete components of the tests, but they now can.”
Justin Mendoza, one of the participants in the class and its youngest member, attested to the program’s positive effects. “They [the coaches] really put their heart into thinking of exercises. You have someone who has studied this and knows what you’re going through. I’ve improved in my strength and walking, and I don’t fall as often,” he said.
While some clients, like Mendoza, heard about the Greenville class when theirs shut down, others received referrals from their physical therapists or physicians. Dr. Temitope Lawal, an ECU Health movement disorder neurologist, is one of those doctors to refer patients to the program.
“Exercise slows the progression of Parkinson’s,” he said. “It’s an extrapolation of the saying, ‘if you don’t use it, you lose it.’ This program makes you accountable and asks you to move your muscles as much as you can.” Dr. Lawal also noted the social value of the program. “It’s an avenue for interaction with others who have Parkinson’s, so it’s like an informal support group.” Costa agreed: “The biggest benefit is the sense of community. It’s hard to go to a regular gym and know what to do. But here, everyone has Parkinson’s so there’s a level of comfort with the activities.”
That accessibility to specialized exercise programs is just one of the things that sets apart the ECU Health Wellness Center.
“The Wellness Center is more than a gym,” Robins said. “You have trained staff here, all with a degree in exercise and certified in one or more areas to better serve the population.” Costa also emphasized the value of specialty-trained staff. “We’re a wellness center, which is different from a gym. In a gym you can’t see a dietician or a lifestyle coach or go next door for a physical therapy appointment. We have a full-circle of wellness with staff trained to help patients with Parkinson’s, arthritis, orthopedic needs, cancer and other diagnoses.”
Both coaches acknowledged that collaboration is required to make Rock Steady Boxing and other programs successful.
“I’m working towards a Ph.D. in kinesiology, and in school we’re learning about the relationship between physicians and exercise physiologists,” said Costa. “Rock Steady Boxing is an example of that collaboration. ECU Health supporting this program helps us build relationships with the doctors and specialists in the network.”
This partnership provides access to valuable resources and complements the medications patients with Parkinson’s must take to combat the symptoms.
Membership is not required to participate in Rock Steady Boxing. “90 percent of our participants are non-members,” Robins said. Participants pay for eight sessions per month, but there’s also a drop-in rate for those who have less predictable schedules. Those who are unsure if they want to join can observe a class for free, and they can participate in the class on a month-to-month basis with no obligation.
Robins said the program has plans to continue its growth so it can better serve the region, and both she and Costa shared their appreciation to the Foundation for supporting the program.
“We’re grateful to have this program here in Greenville,” Robins said. “We’re still in the beginning stages, but we want to expand as much as we can and get more members. We want to encourage everyone with Parkinson’s to participate and to let them know we’re here to help as much as we can.” Mendoza championed the program and the coaches for their hard work: “I love the class. We have fun, and the coaches know what they’re doing. You don’t feel intimidated or self-conscious, and it gives you a sense of pride.”
ECU Health hosted an open house on March 7 to introduce community members to the newly dedicated space for the Lifestyle Medicine Clinic located in the ECU Health Wellness Center in Greenville.
The Greenville location is one of 12 across eastern North Carolina, designed to help patients live a healthier life through improved nutrition and exercise.
Dr. David Michael, medical director for the Lifestyle Medicine Clinic, said the space is a dream come true for him and the patients he serves.
“I’ve always dreamed that my physician’s office or doctor’s office would look more like a fitness center than a hospital,” Dr. Michael said. “I thought if I could do that, I’d be onto something. So it’s just a blessing to have the lobby of our Lifestyle Medicine Clinic right in the fitness center itself. Exercise and physical activity are such important pillars to healthy living.”
There are six traditional pillars to healthy living that the clinic follows in its work with patients. Those pillars are:
- Healthy eating, including whole, plant-based foods
- Increased physical activity
- Develop strategies to manage stress
- Avoiding risky substances
- Improved sleep
- Form and maintain relationships
Brenda Leigh, director of Lifestyle Medicine at ECU Health, said the program is designed for each individual patient, and the patient’s wants and needs dictate how the program is developed.
“A lot of times people will start with one pillar and try to figure out what’s most important to them, and sometimes it might not even be what they think,” Leigh said. “They come in and say, ‘We want to lose weight.’ After the navigator talks with them for a bit, we realize all the stressors going on in their life. So we might say, ‘First, you really need to work with a social worker or a counselor and set some priorities and get some things ready in your life to then make the nutrition and exercise changes that might help your weight loss.’”
During Tuesday’s open house, the Lifestyle Medicine team also hosted a free “Lunch with a Doctor” and “Dinner with a Doctor” event. During these sessions, ECU Health providers cooked a healthy meal for participants, showed them how to prepare the meal and shared ways to get whole, plant-based foods into their diet.
Susie Houston, a nurse practitioner with ECU Health, prepared the meal for the “Lunch with a Doctor” event. She said educating attendees and showing them how to cook a tasty meal with the ingredients that typically get left behind in the grocery store is a priority during these events.
For lunch, the team put together a power bowl with tofu, vegetable toppings and a homemade dressing that attendees could choose from.
“When you think of the color of the rainbow with what we’re preparing today, you’re pretty much getting all the vitamins, minerals and then fiber that you need,” Houston said. “So if we use food as medicine, it’s this great idea that in the grocery store, if we could stick in the produce section or the perimeter in the store, that just makes a difference.”
The team plans to continue to host these free events in the future.
Leigh said she knows this program can change lives for patients as studies have shown healthy habits like diet and exercise can help slow, stop or even reverse chronic health conditions like diabetes and heart disease.
March is National Nutrition Month – start your journey to better health with the Lifestyle Medicine programs available across eastern North Carolina by calling 252-847-9908.