Dr. Michael Waldrum

Michael Waldrum, MD, MSc, MBA
CEO, ECU Health
Dean, Brody School of Medicine

Thought Leadership Expertise:

  • Significant expertise and experience managing complex health care systems
  • Central voice and advocate for academic rural health care delivery
  • Higher education leader committed to training the health care providers of the future

Brian Floyd, RN, MBA
Chief Operating Officer, ECU Health

Thought Leadership Expertise:

  • More than 30 years of experience in health care, leadership and operations
  • Administrative experience overseeing hospital and system operations across various roles at ECU Health
  • Serves on both national and state health care boards

Dr. Jason Higginson

Jason Higginson, MD, MA, FAAP
Chief Health Officer, ECU Health
Exec. Dean, Brody School of Medicine

Thought Leadership Expertise:

  • Extensive experience as a practicing physician and education leader
  • Twenty-Five years of service in the U.S. Navy, including command and senior military medical executive tours
  • Previously served as pediatrician-in-chief of Maynard Children’s Hospital

Headshot of Andy Zukowski

Andy Zukowski, MBA
Chief Financial Officer, ECU Health

Thought Leadership Expertise:

  • More than 20 years of experience in strategic financial planning for health care organizations
  • Expertise in value-based care models and analysis that drive positive results for patients and care teams
  • Highly experienced in physician compensation models, budgeting and long-term financial planning

Julie Kennedy Oehlert, DNP, RN
Chief Experience Officer, ECU Health

Thought Leadership Expertise:

  • More than 20 years of experience as a nurse, nursing leader and health system administrator
  • Advocate for people and culture in the workforce while creating positive experiences
  • Developing high-quality healing environments in which patients, families and health care team members can thrive

Headshot of Trish Baise

Trish Baise, DNP, RN, NEA-BC
Chief Nursing Executive, ECU Health

Thought Leadership Expertise:

  • Leading a system of nurses across nine hospitals and more than 100 clinics
  • More than 30 years experience in nursing in both urban and rural environments
  • Expertise in nurse recruitment and retention and an advocate for the non-traditional path to careers in nursing

Jay Briley, ECU Health Community Hospitals president

Jay Briley, MHA, FACHE
President, ECU Health Medical Center

Thought Leadership Expertise:

  • Leading an academic medical center as part of a rural health system
  • More than 20 years experience in rural health care delivery, including experience as a community hospital president
  • Currently helping to lead transformation of rural health system in eastern North Carolina

Dr. Niti Armistead is the Chief Medical Officer and Chief Quality & Patient Safety Officer at ECU Health

Dr. Niti Armistead, MD, FACP
Chief Quality Officer and
Chief Clinical Officer, ECU Health

Thought Leadership Expertise:

  • More than 20 years of experience as a physician and quality leader in rural health care
  • Improving safety and quality to drive better outcomes for patients
  • Committed to creating a culture of continuous quality improvement that leverages the organization’s academic and clinical expertise

More ECU Health Thought Leadership

At ECU Health, we’re proud to have Thought Leaders at every level of the organization, innovating in spaces that are helping the system build the national model for rural health care. Learn more about the innovative efforts taking place across the organization and discover how ECU Health team members are bringing high-quality health care to the people of eastern North Carolina and telling our story.

Stacey Greenway, director of cardiovascular disease management services
ECU Health team member Stacey Greenway advocates for rural health care during her 10th Day on the Hill

Dr. Yaolin Zhou, director of Quality and Test Utilization
Dr. Yaolin Zhou recognized as emerging leader in health care by Becker’s Hospital Review

ECU Health is building the national model for academic rural health care

ECU Health CEO, Brody Dean Dr. Michael Waldrum named chair-elect of AAMC Board of Directors

ECUHealth.org | July 2, 2024

ECU Health, Pitt County Department of Social Services host community collaboration to help identify solutions to complex emergency department challenges

ECUHealth.org | Oct. 9, 2024

Trish Baise: Creating an organization where nurses, patients can thrive

ECUHealth.org | July 8, 2024

Gov. Roy Cooper visits ECU Health Medical Center to celebrate one year of Medicaid expansion in North Carolina

NC.gov | Dec. 4, 2024