Greenville, N.C. – The 2026 ECU Health Board Quality Leadership Award winners were recognized at the ECU Health Board of Directors meeting held on Tuesday, June 23. 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.
“These projects exemplify the talent and passion that team members have for addressing complex health care challenges in our rural region,” said Dr. Andy Tewari, chair, ECU Health Board of Directors. “The wide range of teams recognized today shows the scope of their commitment to innovation and serving our patients in eastern North Carolina.”
Projects demonstrating excellence reflected two or more of the following traits:
- Sustained Quality and Safety Improvement: Quantifiable improvement in an organizational priority that advances the goal of zero harm and demonstrates reliability over time.
- Compassion in Action for Safety: Demonstrated teamwork and commitment to protecting patients and team members from harm through consistent application of safety behaviors, communication and a fair and just culture.
- Innovation and Continuous Learning: Implementation of innovative, evidence-based solutions that enhance clinical quality, safety and operational reliability.
- Reduce Variations in Quality Outcomes: Meaningful work that identifies and reduces barriers and promotes quality and safety for all populations served.
Four teams earned awards this year, chosen from a competitive pool of nominations and thoughtfully reviewed by the selection committee.
The winning teams are as follows:
A team from ECU Health Medical Center submitted “Antimicrobial Stewardship Program (ASP) Review of Restricted Antimicrobial Use and Compliance.” The project improved ECU Health Medical Center’s electronic health record and antimicrobial stewardship program workflows. It yielded $270,000 in cost savings and reduced unnecessary antimicrobial use, supported safer patient care and helped fight antimicrobial resistance.
The project leaders were Nicole Nicolsen, PharmD, BCPS, BCIDP, ASP/Infectious Diseases (ID) pharmacist manager, and Melissa George, PharmD, BCIDP, ADP/ID pharmacist. Team members were David Laurent, PharmD, BCPS, BCIDP, ASP/ID pharmacist, Emily Perez, PharmD, ASP/ID pharmacist, and Allison Field, PharmD, VCID, AAHIVP, ASP/ID pharmacist.
A team from ECU Health North submitted their project “Two-Year Central Line Associated Blood Stream Infection (CLABSI) Free Initiative: Driving Interdisciplinary Excellence Through Daily Nurse Quality Huddles and Rounding.” Efforts from the project led to zero hospital-acquired CLABSI cases.
The Project Leaders were Aparesh Balla, MPH, QS III, Maryland Hicks, BSN, RN, WCC, QNS II, and Chelsey Shearin, BSN, RN, IP II. The team members were Dr. Jude Ojie, hospitalist medical director, Dr. Rudo Gwanzura, chief of staff, Wanda Neathery, manager of patient care services, Jennifer Pilgreen, manager of patient care services, Karen Liles, RN, vascular access team, and Ann Strickland, RN, vascular access team.
A team from ECU Health Physicians submitted “Improving Hypertension Control in Ambulatory Care.” The project used a data-driven approach to improve blood pressure test accuracy, repeat measurement and home monitoring documentation by standardizing how blood pressure tests are conducted.
Project leaders were Crystal Ashley, RN, BSN, and Dr. Samuel Moskowitz. Team members were Marsha Becker, RN MSN, Dr. Dean Miner, Jessica Walker, MSHIIM, BSPH, Jason Monroe, MBA, Wendy VanLandingham, RN, BSN, Jennifer Jones, RN, and Drillious Gay, RN, MSN.
A team from ECU Health Ambulatory Quality Services submitted “Improving Outcomes: A Patient-Centered Approach to Hypertension Management.” The project used a community-funded initiative in July 2025, to improve home monitoring for blood pressure with blood pressure cuffs, patient education and integrated patient-entered readings through MyChart.
The project leader was Gail Scheller, RN, AMB-BC, AE-C, Ambulatory Quality Nurse Specialist. Team members were Barbara Adams, manager, Outer Banks Health Family Medicine – Avon, Stephanie Huband, manager, Outer Banks Health Family Medicine – Kitty Hawk, Cynthia O’Neal, manager, Outer Banks Health Family Medicine – Manteo, Sean Dunigan, manager, Outer Banks Health Family Medicine – Nags Head East and Kristen Daniels, manager, Outer Banks Health Internal Medicine – Nags Head.
“These teams worked with purpose to build the tools, dataflow and support that empower our care teams to do their best work for patients in service to ECU Health’s mission and enterprise goal of clinical excellence,” said Dr. Niti Armistead, Chief Clinical Officer and Chief Quality Officer, ECU Health. “Their efforts remind us that quality improvement is one of the most powerful ways to bring meaning and joy into the work of caring for patients.”
Greenville, N.C. – ECU Health Beaufort Hospital – a campus of ECU Health Medical Center now offers the MISHA Knee System for patients suffering from medial knee osteoarthritis. The MISHA Knee System is designed to reduce the daily physical toll on the knee joint, offer rapid pain relief and preserve patients’ natural anatomy.
“The MISHA Knee System fundamentally changes how we can support patients living with medial knee osteoarthritis by giving them a joint preserving option that delivers real, measurable relief,” said Dr. Dimitri M. Thomas, orthopedic surgeon, ECU Health Beaufort Hospital. “For many people who want to stay active but aren’t ready for a knee replacement, this approach fills a longstanding gap in treatment options. It’s exciting to bring this level of innovation to our community and help patients regain comfort, confidence and mobility.”
Knee osteoarthritis affects more than 15 million Americans and can make everyday activities painful and difficult. Non-surgical treatments such as medications, injections or physical therapy sometimes do not provide relief, and they are often left with ongoing pain and limited mobility. The MISHA Knee System is a less-invasive approach designed to reduce knee pain and help patients return to the activities they enjoy by reducing the peak forces on painful knee joints while walking, running or simply standing. No removal of bone, cartilage or ligament is required.
“ECU Health Beaufort Hospital is committed to ensuring that patients in our region can access advanced, patient centered solutions close to home, and the MISHA Knee System is a powerful example of that commitment,” said Dennis Campbell II, DHA, RN, president, ECU Health Beaufort Hospital. “By offering this innovative treatment locally, patients do not have to travel long distances to receive cutting edge orthopedic care or to find relief earlier in their treatment journey. We are proud to expand access to high quality options that help people stay active, remain in their communities and maintain their quality of life.”
The procedure is covered by Medicare. For those interested in learning more, please contact ECU Health Orthopedics – Washington at 252-946-6513.
Greenville, N.C. – ECU Health’s Office of Community Health is expanding its summer meals program in partnership with Food Lion Feeds, Sodexo and the ECU Health Foundation, adding three new locations to bring nutritious meals to kids while school is out. The summer meal program will be offered in six eastern North Carolina communities — Ahoskie, Greenville, Tarboro, with new locations in Edenton, Roanoke Rapids and Windsor.
“We are excited to continue offering healthy meals during the summer months, and our expansion to Edenton, Roanoke Rapids and Windsor reflects ECU Health’s commitment to nutrition and overall health,” said KaSheta Jackson, vice president of Community Health at ECU Health. “For many children, school is where they receive their most consistent meals and many parents struggle to provide meals when school is out. ECU Health’s Summer Meal Program helps fill that gap, ensuring kids and teens are nourished and healthy during months when school is not in session.”
Meals will be available Monday through Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. with the following dates and locations:
- Ahoskie: The Gathering Place, 701 Church St., June 8-Aug. 20
- Edenton: Shepard-Pruden Library, 106 W. Water St., June 8-Aug. 20
- Greenville: York Memorial AME Zion Church, 201 Tyson St., June 15-Aug. 20
- Roanoke Rapids: East 10th Street Christian Church, 1207 E. 10th St., June 8-Aug. 20
- Tarboro: Braswell Community Center, 1501 Western Boulevard, June 8-Aug. 20
- Windsor: Bertie Cooperative Extension, 104 Lancaster Avenue, June 8-Aug. 20
Since 2021, ECU Health and its partners have provided free meals over the summer. In 2025 alone, the program served more than 4,500 meals.
Valorie Nelson, HIMS operations specialist, joined what was then Pitt County Memorial Hospital in 1981 as a high school student. While her first job was as a volunteer, she has made a few career shifts along the way.
“You could say the hospital and I have grown up together,” she said. “After being a candy striper, I worked in dietary for a while, but I wanted to do more.”
A turning point
Nelson said the support of Dr. Murray Merner, who worked in behavioral health, started her on a new path.
“He gave me this test with abstract questions, and at the end it told you about your strengths and your weaknesses, and it listed some recommended occupations. Dr. Merner said I wasn’t challenged enough and that test helped guide me in a positive direction.”
At that time, Nelson said the hospital offered free classes on-site for team members to progress in their careers.
“You could complete your GED,” she explained. “And they had other classes like basic medical terminology or anatomy and physiology. They weren’t for college credit, but they helped team members excel in the hospital. I took as many as I could, and I did well.”
One of the instructors happened to be a medical records manager, who approached Nelson about a job.
“She asked me what I planned to do after taking the classes, and then offered me a position in medical records,” she said. “I tried to be calm but I was so excited. I knew I wanted a change and I dove in.”
Nelson said she’s had great colleagues and leadership, and she has found her work to remain challenging and interesting.
“Time has a way of going by so quickly, but I’ve been able to advance my career. You have to know that systems are always evolving, and you have to evolve with them,” she said. “Every time I’ve seen an opportunity, I’ve taken it – no one will give it to you. You have to seek it out.”
“When I joined medical records, I didn’t know how to operate the computer,” Nelson continued. “Someone had to show me. From there, I just leaned into it. As systems changed, IS sent a manual and I’d sit down and read it. Then I’d take out a pen and paper and simplify it, creating my own breadcrumbs. You have to be flexible and learn because otherwise you can’t get the work done.”
Looking ahead
Although she recognizes that 45 years is a milestone anniversary, retirement isn’t in Nelson’s immediate future.
“I enjoy what I do – that’s why I’ve been here so long,” she said. “There’s a lot of opportunity in Greenville, but I’ve never found anything that makes me want to leave. I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished and I’m grateful. I don’t take my job for granted.”
She does, however, plan to travel.
“I went to Las Vegas recently, and my favorite place to go is the Dominican Republic,” she shared. “My goal is to get to Europe and see the Eiffel Tower and go to Rome.”
For those just starting their careers at ECU Health, Valorie had some advice.
“It’s our job to bring the light. Don’t come to work expecting others to make you have a good day,” she said.
“Have an open mind,” she added. “You never know what you might learn or who you might meet who will change your life. It’s a life changing place.”
Washington, D.C. – Dr. Michael Waldrum, a critical care physician and chief executive officer of ECU Health, testified today before the U.S. House Committee on Ways and Means, urging federal policymakers to pursue targeted solutions to address rising health care costs and protect access to care for America’s rural communities.
During his testimony, Dr. Waldrum emphasized that rural health systems operate under fundamentally different conditions than their urban counterparts and stressed that “one size fits all” policies risk disproportionately harming rural patients and providers.
“I am deeply appreciative of the opportunity to testify before the U.S. House Committee on Ways and Means to highlight the important, mission-driven work we do here at ECU Health, as well as the challenges we face as a rural safety net health system,” said Dr. Waldrum. “Access to affordable, high quality care should not depend on where someone lives. The challenges facing rural health systems are real and structural, and they require solutions that recognize the unique realities of rural communities.”
As the leader of a nonprofit health system serving more than 1.4 million people across a 29 county region in eastern North Carolina, Dr. Waldrum shared firsthand insights into the pressures facing rural providers, including older and sicker patient populations, limited population growth, workforce shortages and care delivery across vast geographic areas. He noted that if eastern North Carolina were its own state, it would rank among the poorest and sickest in the nation — realities that, when combined with regulatory and financial pressures, have contributed to rural hospital closures and increasing consolidation across the health care landscape.
At ECU Health, those ongoing pressures have required a deliberate, community driven approach to sustaining access. The system operates a regional hub and spoke model in which its academic medical center supports eight hospitals and more than 1,200 providers throughout rural communities — not in pursuit of scale, Dr. Waldrum said, but out of necessity.
“When profit driven systems exit rural markets, nonprofit health systems like ECU Health are left to serve as the safety net,” Dr. Waldrum told committee members. “Thoughtful policy intervention is needed to support rural safety net providers like ECU Health in order to preserve access, improve outcomes and lower costs for rural patients.”
Drawing on experience training and practicing at nationally recognized health care institutions, Dr. Waldrum contrasted the abundant resources available in urban markets with the consequences he has witnessed when even basic access to care erodes in rural areas.
“These dynamics are not theoretical — they are playing out every day in rural communities across America,” he said.
ECU Health is actively transforming its rural academic regional system of care to lower costs, sustain essential services and support the economic vitality of eastern North Carolina. While progress has been made, Dr. Waldrum stressed that meaningful, lasting solutions will require partnerships with federal policymakers.
As Congress weighs health care affordability and payment policy, he encouraged committee members to design approaches that account for the needs of the nation’s 66 million rural residents and avoid inadvertently disadvantaging communities already facing limited access.
“We recognize the immense challenge before Congress,” Dr. Waldrum said. “ECU Health stands ready to work with policymakers on solutions that strengthen access and affordability and ensure rural communities are not left behind.”
A program at the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University that prepares high achieving medical students to make a tangible impact on health care in eastern North Carolina and beyond will expand thanks to the generosity of the family that has championed medical education across the region for nearly 50 years. It coincides with the looming completion of the newly named Brody Center for Medical Education, which is expected to open in the 2027-28 academic year.
The family’s gift was announced in March by East Carolina University and ECU Health Foundation. The family’s name will now grace the upcoming Brody Center for Medical Education in honor of their generosity.
Over 10 percent of ECU Health’s 443 residents and fellows are graduates of the Brody School of Medicine. Recent data also shows about 40 Brody Scholars continue to practice medicine in eastern North Carolina. They are among the 90 scholars who practice across North Carolina.
“The Brody family’s gift is an investment in the future of health care in eastern North Carolina and the state as a whole,” said Dr. Michael Waldrum, ECU Health CEO and dean of the Brody School of Medicine. “The Brody School of Medicine produces more doctors that stay in the state than any other medical school in North Carolina, and the more students we can give the opportunity to pursue their passion for medicine the better.
“The Brody family understands the value that we bring to our state and local communities,” Waldrum continued. “They were so gracious to continue to support our students in their career development.”
The Brody Scholars Program completely covers academic costs for medical students, who are selected through an objective process coordinated by the Brody Scholars Steering Committee, who seek to award the scholarship to the ‘best of the best’ of the incoming class. The school’s commitment to the scholars totals approximately $133,000 annually, or about $500,000 a year per class to cover the financial cost of attendance.
Abby Ulffers is a third-year medical student and Brody Scholar who is eastern North Carolina to the core. Born at then-Pitt County Memorial Hospital, now ECU Health Medical Center, the Greenville native plans to pursue a career in obstetrics and gynecology. The Brody Scholars Program does more than alleviate the financial pressure of medical school, she said.
“I never thought the Brody Scholars Program was a possibility for me,” Ulffers said. “The financial relief in being able to attend medical school does a lot for me. However, it is more than a scholarship. We do professional development exercises and a book club where you are interacting with people who have such unique perspectives on life. I’ve made so many friends and gained mentors. It’s a great networking experience that shapes the way you behave in a clinical environment and how you engage with your peers, colleagues and professors.”
Dr. Mary Windham Lenfestey, a fellow Greenville native, was one of two students in the Brody Scholars Program’s 2012 class. She said the tight-knit community of scholars transcends academic years. That is something she wants to pass on, as she now splits her time between practicing general pediatrics in Greenville and teaching at the Brody School of Medicine, where she also serves as a house dean. The newly implemented house dean program is a learning community to provide students support in the course of their studies.
“As a community, the Brody School of Medicine is certainly growing but remains a close-knit place,” Lenfestey said. “As a student, I really felt like my mentors and professors cared about me as a person. I was incredibly fortunate to have that experience, and I think it impacted my desire to come back and be involved in the medical education side of things.
“Being from Greenville, I love eastern North Carolina so I’m excited that I can practice medicine here and help guide future generations of students. Everything from the endowment to the new Center for Medical Education is a fantastic opportunity to grow what we can offer our students and, in turn, our patients.”
The Brody Center for Medical Education will expand the Brody School of Medicine’s class size to 120 students. The facility consists of simulation spaces, outdoor gathering areas, and a new anatomy lab where students can develop their skills. The new $265 million facility is funded by the state of North Carolina.
Hyman Brody said that the $10 million donation continues his family’s decades-long legacy of supporting health care in eastern North Carolina. In the late 1960s and 1970s his father and uncles began to help then-ECU chancellor Leo Jenkins successfully advocate for a medical school at the university. The school opened in 1977 and was renamed for the Brody family in 1999.
Hyman Brody shared those thoughts in front of “Hands of Hope,” the sculpture that adorns the lobby of the Eastern North Carolina Heart Institute. Depicting a pair of hands holding a human heart, the statue was dedicated in 2010 to the memory of Hyman’s uncle, J.S. “Sammy” Brody.
“Uncle Sammy said we’re here to do good, but we’re also here to do good for others,” Hyman Brody said. “When we look at what these students achieve and what they can do, that’s what our gift reflects.”
Hyman Brody said he is excited to see the relationship between ECU Health, ECU and his family continue to grow in the future.
“I think ECU Health has done a great job integrating the hospital and the medical school,” Brody said. “At this point, I think the sky is the limit. There are challenges faced in all medical areas, but the leadership team understands and is working to address them. We are glad to be a small part of it.”
For more information about the Brody Center for Medical Education, click here.
Greenville, NC – Dr. Warqaa Akram, colorectal surgeon with ECU Health Cancer Care, became the first surgeon in North Carolina to perform colorectal procedures using the da Vinci Single Port (SP) robotic platform. Dr. Akram completed the state’s first two single port colorectal surgeries on March 16, 2026, at ECU Health Medical Center.
The da Vinci SP system allows surgeons to perform complex colorectal procedures through a single small incision — which may be hidden in the belly button or along the waistline — rather than multiple incisions required in traditional minimally invasive surgery. Because the incision also serves as the extraction site, patients experience a single incision operation.
Dr. Warqaa Akram
“This platform opens a new chapter in colorectal surgery, allowing us to offer patients advanced, minimally invasive care through a single small incision,” said Dr. Akram. “With improved visualization and greater precision, we can preserve healthy tissue and offer a less invasive option – tailored to each patient – for both cancerous and non cancerous conditions. Integrating this technology into ECU Health’s surgical oncology program further enhances our ability to deliver advanced, high quality surgical care close to home for the communities we serve.”
The da Vinci SP system provides enhanced visualization and access to angles previously difficult to reach. This allows surgeons to address polyps and tumors higher in the rectum that were difficult to treat in the past. ECU Health will use the SP platform for a wide range of colorectal procedures, including colon and rectal cancer resections, partial and total colectomies, surgery for inflammatory bowel disease, diverticulitis surgery, rectal prolapse repair ostomy reversals and minimally invasive resections for select benign or early rectal tumors.
“Being able to offer this technology means patients in eastern North Carolina can receive advanced colorectal care close to home,” said Jay Briley, president of ECU Health Medical Center. “We are proud to be the first institution in the state to perform this single‑port robotic colorectal surgery, expanding access to innovative, minimally invasive treatment options. This milestone reflects our commitment to ensuring patients in our region don’t have to travel long distances to receive the highest level of care.”
ECU Health team members that were part of the new procedure include: Warqaa Akram, MD, FACS, Jennifer Bryant, RN, Paula Boyd, surgical technologist, and Smith Accius, surgical first assist.
As a former East Carolina University football player, Javon Brumsey knows all about hard work. Now a teacher for South Central High School, where he recently won the Beginning Teacher of the Year award, Brumsey always considered himself to be in good shape.
“I just turned 38, and I’ve always been a fit guy,” he said. “But last summer I noticed I got out a breath walking up and down hills and I had a different feeling in my chest and throat.”
That feeling went away – for a while. It resurfaced after a steak dinner, and Brumsey decided it was time to do something.
A serious threat revealed
“I asked my wife to stop at Walmart on the way home from the restaurant, and I took my blood pressure there,” he said. “It was high, so we bought a cuff and I checked my blood pressure twice a day. It was high every day.”
Worried, Brumsey made an appointment with his physician, but initial tests didn’t show anything was wrong aside from the high blood pressure readings. He was put on medications with instructions to reach out if his other symptoms returned.
“My blood pressure went down, but I kept having the strange feeling in my chest and feeling short of breath,” he said. “They checked me for reflux and they tried asthma medication, but that didn’t help. They were confused.”
Then, Brumsey’s cardiologist decided to try a CT scan using dye, and that’s when they found the blockage.
Located in his left anterior descending artery, the blockage was the kind that causes a heart attack sometimes known as the “widow maker,” so called because that artery supplies half of the blood to the heart.
“They called me back to the doctor’s office the same day, so I knew it was serious,” Brumsey said. “They tried to see if they could treat the blockage with a stent, but the artery was 95% blocked.”
Brumsey was admitted to the hospital immediately and scheduled for bypass surgery with Dr. Michael Bates the next day.
A renewed commitment to health
Brumsey recovered in the hospital for two weeks after surgery, followed by a second, shorter hospital stay to treat an infection. Once he was home for good, he immediately made an appointment with ECU Health’s Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation program.
“While I was in the hospital, I lost 15 pounds. I was feeling weak from being in bed, so I was excited to get my strength back,” he said.
From day one, the rehabilitation team made Brumsey feel like he was in good hands.
“The therapists knew I was strong and a big guy, but they wanted to be sure everything went well so they started me out light and gradually increased the challenge,” he said. “They were patient and supportive, checking my vitals every day before I worked out and again before I left. I trusted the process, and they looked out for me.”
In addition to exercise, Brumsey took a class on nutrition, including how to read food labels and prepare food, and he learned how to monitor his own vital signs at home. The class was helpful, and the connection he made with his fellow classmates encouraged him.
“I was the youngest one there, but everyone was supportive. Being with people who had also gone through this experience was a big deal,” he said. “It gave me motivation and that, along with my trust in God through this process, kept me motivated.”
Now, Brumsey continues to do what he can to prevent something like this from happening again.
“I had no family history of this. It was out of the blue,” he shared. “I have a treadmill at home and a weight bench, and I plan to continue exercising and eating better. I’ve been married for 10 years in July, and we have three kids. I want to stay on top of things.”
Brumsey also said he’s appreciative of the care he received at ECU Health, and he encourages anyone experiencing similar symptoms to see their doctor.
“Everyone did such a great job,” Brumsey said. “For anyone going through what I did, I recommend ECU Health to take care of them. I trust them.”
At 80 years old, Berry Warren, a medical lab technician, has seen his fair share during his 45 years at ECU Health.
“I was working for a wholesale company but felt like I wasn’t really helping anyone in that role,” Warren said. “Then my sister-in-law and brother-in-law suggested I go to nursing school. Nursing wasn’t really for me, but I enrolled in a Medical Laboratory Technician program near Asheville and was hired to work in the lab of the local hospital before I graduated.”
After working in and near Asheville for several years, Warren joined ECU Health in 1981. Over the years, he’s worked at ECU Health Beaufort Hospital, ECU Health Chowan Hospital, ECU Health Bertie Hospital and ECU Health Medical Center.
“At smaller hospitals, you get to know the patients and talk to them,” he shared. “You also get to do a little bit of everything. But at the medical center, you learn a lot because you see more diagnoses and patients.”
His wife and his daughter have also worked at ECU Health, making it a family affair.
“I’ve been in health care for 55 years,” he said. “And between me and my wife and daughter, we probably have close to 80 years of time with ECU Health.”
Working in the lab, Warren said he has served in many roles, but one he especially enjoyed was working in the cardiac surgery unit.
“In 1984, they sent us to Duke to work in the operating room while they were doing cardiac surgery,” he explained. “Dr. [W. Randolph] Chitwood was one of the surgeons and he always took time to talk to me, even though I was a lowly lab technician. And he taught me things – like he’d show me the heart during surgery and describe the parts and how they worked.”
Warren explained that during surgery, it was his responsibility to calculate blood gases and clotting time for patients.
“You have to thin the blood to work on the heart,” he said. “And we use heparin to do that. We had to determine a baseline clotting time using an actual graph on paper, and we’d calculate how much heparin the patient needed to thin the blood to go on the heart and lung machine. Then we had to calculate how much Protamine sulfate, which counteracts heparin, to give the patient after the surgery so their blood wouldn’t be too thin in recovery.”
Now, Warren said, much of that manual work is done by computers.
“I didn’t grow up with computers, but everything is computerized now,” he said. “I used to do blood cell counts manually using a microscope, but things have changed so much and so fast. The team I work with helps me out when I need it. We’re all buddies.”
Warren was recently recognized at the ECU Health Appreciation of Excellence Gala with a plaque commemorating his 45 years of service. And while he doesn’t have a specific date in mind, Warren said he will eventually retire. When that day comes, he doesn’t plan to sit around.
“My wife and I live on a farm so there is always wood to cut or a yard to mow,” he said. “I also mow my church’s grass. I don’t want to sit around the house; I like to get out and spend time with my wife.”
To new team members joining ECU Health, Warren said it’s worthwhile to keep up with changing technology.
“Don’t let it overpower you,” he said. “Jobs evolve and you have to change with it. Always be learning.”
Fourth-year medical students from the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University learned where they will begin their career as medical residents during Match Day, March 20, and nine won’t have to look far to find their new home.
The Brody School of Medicine’s latest class continued the institution’s established track record of training future family medicine and primary care physicians. Of the 74-person class, 39 will enter a primary care residency. Nearly half matched at a North Carolina hospital and nine matched to ECU Health Medical Center.
“These students share a commitment to service that will change patients’ lives, and today we celebrate that commitment,” said Dr. Michael Waldrum, ECU Health CEO and dean of the Brody School of Medicine. “In their four years at the Brody School of Medicine they have learned how to heal, certainly, but also how to communicate and connect with people in the important landscape of rural health care. Their impact will be felt in communities across the nation, including right here in eastern North Carolina. I am exceptionally proud of them all and happy to welcome the nine continuing their journey here at ECU Health.”
Match Day was a full circle moment for Blaiz Rodman, a native of Kill Devil Hills who matched into physical medicine and rehabilitation at ECU Health. When Rodman was 16, he was in a car accident that broke a vertebra in his spine, which required fusion surgery to put titanium rods and screws in his back.
“That’s what made me really want to become a doctor and help people going through something traumatic like that in their life,” Rodman said. “It’s really why I chose rehabilitation as a specialty to go to.”
Rodman said he is healthy now and able to touch his toes, run, and play basketball. On Match Day he was excited to take his next step as an ECU Health resident.
“I love the people here. All of the people in the program are amazing,” Rodman said. “I get to stay close to my friends and my family so I’m really happy.”
Haris Shehzad also matched into physical medicine and rehabilitation at ECU Health. He agreed with Rodman that his experience working with current residents, faculty and team members have him excited to continue that relationship. As a first-generation college student, Shehzad said he wants to be a role model for others.
“I chose medicine because I really wanted to help my community,” Shehzad said. “I think that representation is very important because it provides people of different cultures a good image. Patients are more comfortable. I want to provide that comfort.”
Match Day continued a streak for Emily Tate, who matched into emergency medicine at ECU Health. A “triple Pirate,” Tate earned her undergraduate, graduate and now medical education at ECU and the Brody School of Medicine. She spent years teaching at ECU before she followed her calling into patient care.
“I have always wanted to go into medicine and I’m just so happy to be here at the end of this step in my journey,” Tate said. “Medicine is a combination of all of the things I like – education, patient care, and research are all very important to me. I’m very happy to do those things here in the place that I have trained up to this point.
“I’ve really loved it here and always feel very supported. I’m glad to work with the people who have helped me get to this point. I’m ready to shoot for the stars and be the best emergency medicine physician I can be.”
A fellow triple Pirate, Cooper Butts, was accepted into the Brody School of Medicine’s Early Assurance Scholars program when he decided to come to ECU for an undergraduate degree. Early Assurance Scholars uphold high academic standards and participate in group and enrichment activities in exchange for a guaranteed seat in their medical school classes. He said the investment made in him as an 18-year-old inspired him to want to serve eastern North Carolina.
“I felt like I need to give back to the community since they put their investment in me,” Butts said. “I’ve enjoyed my training here, so I wanted to stay – not only for the great training and experiences that I know I can get here and have gotten here, but just for the people and the patient population as well.”
Emily Gerlach is an eastern North Carolina native who was overjoyed to match into the obstetrics and gynecology program at ECU Health for residency. She said serving the community she calls home is an opportunity she looks forward to for years to come.
“I think ECU Health has an emphasis on rural health care and it cares for everyone east of I-95, basically,” said Gerlach “ECU Health Medical Center is a tertiary care center, academic medical center and I think that’s an amazing place to train with what I want to do – working in rural eastern North Carolina in the future.”