“It makes a difference if you are able to smile throughout the day on the job.”

In this edition of the “People of ECU Health” series, we’re pleased to introduce you to Linda Cotton, an Environmental Services Supervisor who works at ECU Health Medical Center. The first thing you notice about Linda is her smile. An inviting, warm smile that can light up any room. We sat down with Linda to capture her story and were immediately drawn in.

“I enjoy my job and I don’t take it lightly. I put myself in the patients’ shoes. There was a time I walked into a patient’s room and introduced myself as housekeeping and wanted to ensure that during their stay everything went well. We exchanged smiles and laughter. The patient then revealed to me that she was up all night crying and needed magazines. I went and found a stack of magazines for her and her face lit up. It’s the little things. A patient may need a magazine or just a smile to brighten up their day. On a daily basis I help my team and step in when needed. I train new hires and get them acclimated to the hospital. I love working with my team, you feel a sense of camaraderie. Everyone checks up on each other and most importantly supports one another. It makes a difference if you are able to smile throughout the day on the job.”

Linda and her colleagues from the Environmental Services team play a critical role in delivering our mission to improve the health and well-being of eastern North Carolina. They ensure passion, care, safety and quality is at the forefront of everything they do.