Greenville, N.C. – Eighteen nurses across five ECU Health hospitals have been named part of the Great 100 Nurses of North Carolina by the Great 100 Nurses of North Carolina Board of Directors. These recipients were honored for their outstanding professional ability and contributions to improving health care services in their communities.
“Over 4,000 ECU Health nurses are committed to the well-being of patients in communities across eastern North Carolina every day,” said Dr. Trish Baise, chief nursing executive, ECU Health. “We are delighted to see that commitment recognized by the Great 100. These 18 honorees, and our entire nursing team, are shining examples of how compassion and skill blend together to provide people high-quality medical care close to home.”
Since 1989, The North Carolina Great 100, Inc. has recognized and honored nurses around the state for their commitment to excellence and to promote a positive image of the nursing profession. Each year, the Great 100 Nurses of North Carolina Board of Directors asks patients, health care workers, friends and family members to nominate an outstanding nurse practicing in North Carolina. Thousands of nominations are reviewed, and 100 nurses are selected and honored at a statewide gala.
The ECU Health nurses chosen this year are:
Erica Askew
Erica Askew, MSN, RN, is a staff nurse IV on the Medical-Surgical Unit at ECU Health Roanoke-Chowan Hospital, where she also serves as a unit educator, charge nurse, clinical coach and vascular access nurse. An adjunct clinical instructor at Roanoke-Chowan Community College, Askew has dedicated 21 years to ECU Health and has gained experience across multiple areas of hospital care. She earned an associate degree in nursing from Roanoke-Chowan Community College, a bachelor’s degree from East Carolina University and a master’s degree from the University of North Carolina Wilmington. Askew is an active member of the North Carolina Nurses Association and the American Nurses Association.
Sherri Respess Crouch
Sherri Respess Crouch, RN, is a staff nurse in Ambulatory Surgery and Endoscopy at ECU Health Beaufort Hospital, where she has served patients and families for 30 years. She began her nursing career in 1993 in labor and delivery while also working in home health, developing a passion for wound care. Throughout her career, Crouch has served as a nursing supervisor and medical-surgical nurse before transitioning to her current role in Ambulatory Surgery and Endoscopy.
With more than three decades of nursing experience, Crouch is known for her commitment to clinical excellence, teamwork and compassionate patient care. She serves as chair of her unit’s Unit-Based Council and as a unit safety coach. In 2021, she received a DAISY Award and was named ECU Health Beaufort’s Exemplary Nurse in 2026.
Allison Eure
Allison Eure, MSN, RN, RNC-OB, is the labor and delivery and cardiopulmonary rehabilitation nurse manager at ECU Health Chowan Hospital. She has served at ECU Health Chowan for 18 years, providing leadership to care teams and support to patients and families.
Eure earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from East Carolina University and a Master of Science in Nursing in executive nursing administration, with a subspecialty in education, from the University of South Alabama. She also holds specialty certification in inpatient obstetric nursing. Known for her commitment to patient-centered care and nursing excellence, Eure plays a key role in advancing maternal and clinical care services at ECU Health Chowan.
Heather Fox
Heather Fox, BSN, RN, OCN, is a staff nurse IV in the Outpatient Infusion Unit at ECU Health Medical Center. She has dedicated her 21-year nursing career to oncology care and has served at ECU Health Medical Center for 17 years, including the past 15 years in outpatient infusion.
Before joining the Outpatient Infusion Unit, Fox worked as an infusion and clinic nurse at the Leo Jenkins Cancer Center and as a nurse on the inpatient medical oncology unit at then Pitt County Memorial Hospital, now ECU Health Medical Center. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from East Carolina University in 2004 and is oncology certified. Throughout her career, Fox has remained committed to delivering compassionate, specialized care to patients undergoing cancer treatment.
Kelly Garner
Kelly Garner, BSN, RN, is a staff nurse IV in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at ECU Health Medical Center. She has been a registered nurse for 30 years, including the past 20 years at ECU Health caring for newborns and their families in the NICU.
Garner earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Saint Joseph’s College of Maine and holds an Ostomy Care Associate certificate. She serves as a neonatal resuscitation instructor and clinical coach and is actively involved in several committees. She is co-chair of the Ostomy G-Tube Committee and serves on the Clinical Coach Committee and Neonatal Development Committee.
Ali Grimes
Ali Grimes, BSN, RN, CPN, is director of Pediatric Services at the James and Connie Maynard Children’s Hospital at ECU Health Medical Center. During her nine years with ECU Health, she has remained dedicated to pediatric nursing, beginning her career on the pediatric unit and advancing into leadership roles focused on improving care for children and families.
Grimes earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of North Carolina Wilmington and is a Certified Pediatric Nurse. She is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Nursing in Health Systems Leadership at East Carolina University. Passionate about advancing patient outcomes, supporting multidisciplinary teams and enhancing the care experience, Grimes is committed to strengthening pediatric services across eastern North Carolina.
Celina Hawkins
Celina Hawkins, BSN, RN, is the education coordinator at ECU Health Edgecombe Hospital, where she has worked for 14 years. She began her nursing career in the hospital’s Surgical Unit before transitioning into her current role in nursing education after earning her bachelor’s degree.
Hawkins earned an associate degree in nursing from Edgecombe Community College and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from North Carolina Wesleyan University. Throughout her 14-year career with ECU Health, she has been dedicated to supporting professional development, clinical excellence and lifelong learning among nursing staff. Hawkins is also an active member of the Eastern North Carolina Nurse Honor Guard, helping honor and recognize nurses for their service and contributions to the profession.
Leighann Henley
Leighann Henley, MSN, RN, is the assistant nurse manager of the Infusion Center at ECU Health Medical Center. She has dedicated 35 years to ECU Health, including the past 24 years caring for oncology patients and supporting cancer care services.
Henley earned an associate degree in nursing from Johnston Community College and both a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Master of Science in Nursing from East Carolina University. Throughout her career, she has been committed to providing high-quality care to patients with cancer while supporting nursing excellence and team development. Henley is an active member of the North Carolina Oncology Management Society and the Oncology Nursing Society.
Christiana “Nicole” Hinson
Christiana “Nicole” Hinson, BSN, RN, CCRN-CSC, is a staff nurse II in the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit at ECU Health Medical Center, where she has served for five years. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from East Carolina University in 2021 and holds Critical Care Registered Nurse certification with a Cardiac Surgery certification credential.
In addition to her clinical responsibilities, Hinson serves as a unit educator, charge nurse and preceptor. She is an active member of East Carolina University’s Pirate Nurse Alumni Council and ECU Health Medical Center’s Coordinating Council, and she chairs the Medical Center’s Nursing Environment Council. Committed to advancing critical care nursing and professional development, Hinson is currently pursuing her certified registered nurse anesthetist degree at the East Carolina University College of Nursing as part of the Class of 2029.
Rebecca Jenkins
Rebecca Jenkins, BSN, RN, is an intensive care unit nurse at ECU Health Edgecombe Hospital, where she has served for four years. In addition to her clinical role, she supports hospital operations through the Nursing Office and Nursing Education.
Jenkins began her nursing career in 2022 and earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of North Carolina Wilmington in 2026. She is dedicated to advancing quality patient care and serves as a patient safety coach, wound care associate and member of the sepsis team. Passionate about collaboration, professional growth and evidence-based practice, Jenkins is committed to improving patient outcomes and fostering excellence in nursing care across the organization.
Melissa “Missy” Johnson
Melissa “Missy” Johnson, RN, is a staff nurse III in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at ECU Health Medical Center. She has dedicated 41 years of service to ECU Health, including 28 years as a registered nurse caring for newborns and their families.
Johnson earned an associate degree in nursing from Lenoir Community College. She is co-chair of the Clinical Coach Committee and has served as a preceptor for 26 years, helping guide and mentor the next generation of nurses.
She also serves as co-chair of the Central Line Committee and is a breastfeeding educator.
Cierra Linton
Cierra Linton, BSN, RN, is a staff nurse II in the Emergency Department at ECU Health Beaufort Hospital, where she has worked for the past two years. Before becoming a nurse, she served as an EMT for five years, building a strong foundation in emergency care.
Linton earned an associate degree in nursing from Beaufort County Community College and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from East Carolina University. She continues to pursue professional development and has completed Trauma Nursing Core Course Emergency Nursing Pediatric Course and Ultrasound-guided IV Placement certifications. In addition to her clinical responsibilities, Linton serves as a charge nurse and preceptor and is actively involved in her department’s Unit-Based Council and STEMI Committee.
Toni Merritt
Toni Merritt, RN, is an operating room nurse at ECU Health Roanoke-Chowan Hospital, where she has served for 35 years in a variety of clinical roles. She earned her associate degree in nursing from Roanoke-Chowan Community College in 1991.
Merritt began her career in medical-surgical nursing and has also worked in hospice care and a local physician practice owned by the hospital that later became a federally qualified health center. She has spent the past 13 years in the operating room and has held multiple certifications throughout her career.
Merritt serves as a safety officer, charge nurse and circulating nurse. She has cross-trained in several areas, including the Ambulatory Medical Unit, hospital supervision and perioperative services, where she serves as a peri-op 101 facilitator for new hires. She is also a Patient and Family Advisory Council partner.
Stacey Sloan
Stacey Sloan, BSN, RN, CGRN, is an assistant nurse manager for Endoscopy Services at ECU Health Medical Center, where she has worked for 28 years. She began her nursing career as a new graduate on the 3 East Hospitalist Unit before advancing to the Cardiac Intermediate Unit and later joining Endoscopy Services. Throughout her career, Sloan has served as a clinical coach, charge nurse, endoscopy clinical coordinator and assistant nurse manager. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and is certified in gastroenterology nursing.
Sloan is active in her regional professional society and serves as a board member-at-large for the Greater North Carolina Society of Gastroenterology Nurses and Associates.
Christine Smith
Christine Smith, MSN, RN, OCN, is nurse manager of the Medical Oncology Unit at ECU Health Medical Center. She has been a nurse for more than 34 years, including 29 years at ECU Health Medical Center. Smith earned a Master of Science in Nursing in administration from Western Carolina University. Throughout her career, Smith has been recognized for her leadership and commitment to nursing excellence. She is the recipient of the DAISY Nurse Leader Award and the St. Martin of Tours Award and was a finalist for the 2024 Brody Awards Most Outstanding Nurse of the Year.
Smith serves as membership coordinator for the Eastern North Carolina Nurse Honor Guard and helps lead Santa’s HOPE, a holiday program that lets oncology patients select gifts for their loved ones. She has presented and published quality improvement work nationally through the Oncology Nursing Society.
Nada Tannoury
Nada Tannoury, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, RN, is a family nurse practitioner and registered nurse with more than 22 years of nursing experience. She currently serves as a peripherally inserted central catheter line nurse and same-day surgery nurse at ECU Health Roanoke-Chowan Hospital and will begin practicing as a family nurse practitioner at Roanoke-Chowan Community Health Center in Ahoskie.
Tannoury earned her registered nursing diploma in Lebanon in 2004, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from East Carolina University in 2020 and a Doctor of Nursing Practice, Family Nurse Practitioner, from East Carolina University in May 2026. She is passionate about evidence-based practice, patient safety and improving health care outcomes for patients in rural eastern North Carolina.
Brooke Thompson
Brooke Thompson, BSN, RN, is a staff nurse III in the Neurosciences Intermediate Unit at ECU Health Medical Center. She began her career at ECU Health as a travel nurse in 2017 and transitioned to a staff role in 2024.
Thompson has nine years of nursing experience, including the past two years as a core staff member at ECU Health Medical Center.
Thompson is a member of the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses and dedicated to providing high-quality care for patients with complex neurological conditions.
Jose Vazquez
Jose Vazquez, BSN, RN, is a staff nurse III in the Neurosciences Intermediate Unit at ECU Health Medical Center. Originally from Purísima del Rincón, Guanajuato, Mexico, he has more than seven years of nursing experience at ECU Health. In addition to his clinical role, Vazquez serves as a charge nurse, preceptor and quality leader.
Vazquez earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from East Carolina University. Through compassionate neuroscience care, patient safety initiatives and mentorship, he works to improve outcomes for patients and families while promoting healthier communities across eastern North Carolina and strengthening rural health care.