Community leaders, elected officials and eastern North Carolina residents came together on Jan. 20 for the 28th annual Community Unity Breakfast, hosted by the Greenville-Pitt County Chamber of Commerce.
The event brings together the community to reflect upon the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. while celebrating and expanding diversity initiatives in Greenville and Pitt County.
ECU Health sponsored the event along with other organizations in the area and had the opportunity to present a speaker. Brian Floyd, chief operating officer of ECU Health, represented the system and shared a few words.
Floyd said the word that stands out to him the most during Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is love. He related harmony in a community to the harmony couples seek in relationships with others.
“The hardest thing sometimes is to put ourselves aside in the interest of someone else,” Floyd said. “Yet, relationships and marriages are hard – and that’s when you choose to be with someone you share common values, beliefs and interests with. If we can see that, then certainly we must recognize that living in a community and being in harmony together requires a little bit of work and self-reflection.”
He said ECU Health is proud to see unity in nine hospitals and more than 225 clinics across the health system each day through the life-saving care team members provide. The 1.4 million people ECU Health serves and the 15,000-plus team members are all unique, but care and love is the same.
Floyd also said training students from the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University and nursing students from ECU and other local colleges is a privilege and opportunity to pass on the importance of love and care for patients.
“If you read behind Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., you’ll note that love is at the core of the unifying work of bringing people together. We all want to come together and do this really important work to love and care for eastern North Carolina,” Floyd said. “If you ever see the life-saving moments, when our team of 15 or 20 excellent, well-trained people come together around a patient, it always fascinates me how different they all are. They look different, they sound different, they come from incredibly different places and backgrounds. Yet they work in really great harmony in those urgent crisis moments because the need of the patient is coming first.”
Portia Willis, Greenville City Council member, gave the keynote speech during the event. Willis is also the co-founder of Young Scholars and Leaders Institute. Chad Tucker, director of Volunteer Services at ECU Health Medical Center, serves as co-chair of the Community Unity Planning Committee and introduced Willis.
Willis spoke on a number of topics during the event but came back to the refrain that the answer to challenges we face are in the communal “us.” From issues we might face on a team, in business or as a community, it’s on us to come together and work toward solutions.
“This morning, we’re reminded not only of the words of Dr. King, but the example he set. Today is a call to action, a vision of equality and a commitment to the higher ideals of justice, peace and unity,” Willis said. “Dr. King once said, ‘Life’s most persistent question is: What are you doing for others?’ Today as we reflect on those words, we’re reminded that service is not only an affect, but it’s a way of life.”
Zach Martin served as a North Carolina state trooper, and after dealing with pain in his leg that began in August of 2022, he went to the doctor to find out what was going on. “The doctors did several rounds of steroid injections, but by December of 2022, he couldn’t walk and they did more tests,” said Ginny Martin, Zach’s wife. “It showed a large tumor in his left femur.”
Zach was diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma, a rare bone or soft tissue cancer that primarily affects children and young adults. Zach was 33 at the time of his diagnosis, and his cancer progressed rapidly. “You think someone our age shouldn’t get cancer,” Ginny said of Zach’s illness. “He had his whole career ahead of him. He should have watched our kids grow up. Sometimes life isn’t fair, but he gave it one heck of a fight.”
On Feb. 10, 2024, just after his 35th birthday, Zach Martin passed away at the Service League of Greenville Inpatient Hospice, an ECU Health hospice house with eight beds, private rooms, a health garden and a chapel/meditation room. “From the moment we walked in the door, they treated us like they’d treat their own family,” Ginny said.
A difficult road
Zach was a High Point, North Carolina native, and he and Ginny met when he moved to Belhaven to work in law enforcement. “Zach was a jokester, and he never met a stranger,” Ginny recalled. “He was always making people laugh.” They married in 2014 and had their first son, Greyson, in 2015. Their second son, Lawson, was born 6 years later.
After Zach’s surprising diagnosis, he began chemotherapy as soon as possible. Yet, his recovery wasn’t easy. At one point, he rolled over in bed and snapped his femur; he required surgery to replace 40 percent of the bone with a titanium rod. He was in the hospital for 10 days, and after returning home, he went through intense physical therapy from January to May of 2023. “He had to learn to walk again, and all during this time he was having chemo,” Ginny said. This was followed by radiation, during which time the family temporarily relocated to High Point so Zach’s family could help watch the boys. In August, Zach completed radiation, but later that month, scans showed the cancer was back and spreading rapidly. He began another type of chemotherapy, but he didn’t react well to it. “Between October and December, we were in the emergency department at least four times a month because of his pain,” Ginny shared.
Just before Christmas, Zach was in a great deal of pain, but no medication helped. He was admitted to the hospital on Jan. 2 in the hopes they could control his pain and to administer inpatient chemotherapy, but he again didn’t respond well to the treatment. “He had neurological toxicity, where he slept for days, didn’t eat or drink and didn’t know me or his mother or our kids,” Ginny said. “They started talking about hospice then, but thankfully he came out of it.”
Zach was able to go home on Jan. 20, but after a week at home, he was readmitted to the hospital for uncontrolled pain. “We knew at that point that his cancer was spreading like wildfire. He started having blurry vision, so we asked for a scan of his head and brain to be done, and the scan revealed that the cancer had spread to the lining of his brain. At that point, there was nothing they could do, and they suggested we discharge to hospice,” Ginny said.
Ginny said she knew there was the option to have in-home hospice, but she had been Zach’s caregiver for the past 18 months and she didn’t want her kids to see their dad so sick at home. “I told Zach I would rather we go to an inpatient hospice with nursing care 24/7 so I could be his wife for his remaining time.”
A home away from home
Zach was brought to the ECU Health inpatient hospice house via ambulance, accompanied by an escort of state troopers. “The first person I met when we arrived was the chaplain,” Ginny recalled. “And Dr. Clifton was his doctor. I can’t say enough great things about the hospice house.”
Marilyn Davis-Okubudike, the bereavement coordinator at the inpatient hospice house, recalled meeting Ginny for the first time. “I met her at the door, and when she came in, I had my arms out and hugged her,” Marilyn said. “I felt her need and the connection. There were others there for Zach, but I wanted her to know we were also there for her. I took a special interest in her and the children, as well as Zach’s mother.”
Marilyn said doing this sort of work is a calling, and not one that everyone can do. “It’s a beautiful service to take care of people. I feel rewarded by this experience because it’s all for the patients and their families. We’re called to care for each other.”
Dr. Margaret Clifton is the hospice medical director, and she also feels a close connection to the patients and families she serves. “It can be really emotionally challenging, but it’s meaningful work,” she said. “I enjoy getting to know the patients and their families. For me, there is a lot of meaning in making death a little less awful. If I can do that, I feel like I’m making the world a little softer.”
Ginny remembers Dr. Clifton – and all of the hospice staff – as being very supportive. “They listened and were nurturing through the whole thing,” she said. “If we didn’t understand something, they explained it. I got to bring the kids there, and his state trooper friends came to visit. The night he took his last breath, I came down the hall crying and Dr. Clifton was crying too. They all cried with us. One nurse came in on her day off just to be with us. You don’t find people like that – they are angels on earth.”
“Zach’s time at the hospice house will be something I carry around forever,” Dr. Clifton shared. “The thing that stands out is the community involvement. When he arrived here, he was escorted by the highway patrol. They shut down the road and there was a firetruck with a flag and highway patrol cars lining the ambulance bay. There were always officers here to visit, and they even brought his patrol car and parked it outside his room so he could see it. And when he died, they escorted his body to the funeral home in Washington, and there’s a picture of his oldest son with all of the highway patrol saluting Zach’s casket.”
After his passing, the Memory Bear program made bears not only for Zach’s boys, but also his mother, brother and sister. “They made the bears from his uniforms because I wanted the boys to have bears with the actual uniforms he wore,” Ginny said. “They were very accommodating as to what I wanted.” She also wanted a recording of Zach’s voice, but when they realized he was unable to speak, Dr. Clifton suggested they record his heartbeat instead. “Now it’s something sitting on the boys’ shelf that they can have forever, and they can press that bear and hear their dad’s heartbeat,” Ginny said.
While Zach and his family were at the inpatient hospice house for just six days, their experience was memorable. That’s because it’s like a home away from home, said Marilyn, a place where every team member works to meet the needs of the patients and their families. “A lot of people haven’t heard of us, but this is one of the best things ECU Health can offer the community and the 29 counties we serve. We need people to see what a beautiful jewel this place is.”
Resources
ECU Health Home Health & Hospice
It’s been a year since the state of North Carolina passed Medicaid Expansion, bringing with it much-needed coverage and financial reprieve for the communities ECU Health serves.
North Carolina’s former governor, Roy Cooper says “One year of Medicaid expansion in North Carolina,” said Dr. Michael Waldrum, ECU Health CEO and Brody School of Medicine’s dean. “As we celebrate this moment. We’re proud to say we’re building the national model for rural health care right here in eastern North Carolina.”
That model depends on Medicaid Expansion and affordable access to care.
“It is a comprehensive health benefit where you can go see a primary care provider, have it covered,” said Kody Kinsley, secretary of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. “Where you can have pharmacy, vision and dental and a copay that is never more than four dollars.”
Cost-effective health care is an important component, but it’s not the only one. ECU Health’s Dr. Karen Coward states “This is the power of Medicaid expansion. It’s not just about providing coverage, it’s about dignity.”
And peace of mind for the patients who need it most. Medicaid Expansion beneficiary and ECU Health patient, Darcy Guill spoke during the event.
“Sixteen years ago, I found myself unable to work and I lost my health insurance,” Guill said. “For the next 15 years, I was either uninsured or under insured.”
Her inconsistent coverage hit home in a different way following a car accident.
“I was hospitalized for two months right here at ECU Health,” Guill said. “I knew I was going to be uninsured again and I didn’t know what to do and I was terrified.”
That panic subsided when she realized share now had another option.
“It didn’t dawn on me at first that it was going to include me but it did,” she said. “Medicaid is literally saving my life. I am the person that benefitted from it and I am no different than all the other people that could benefit.”
Success stories start as dreams we harbor in our youth. Career days such as the third Future Health Professionals Conference Nov. 23 help fill in the critical details that make it believable.
Nearly 100 students from 11 counties in central and eastern North Carolina made the trip to Greenville and the Health Sciences Campus of East Carolina University for the event hosted by ECU Health and the university.
D.H. Conley senior Chance Frederick of Greenville was one such student, but one of only a handful who had taken part in the very same event last year.
“I was really amazed the first time by everything they offered me, especially the hands-on experience in the dental clinic. It really made me want to come back,” he said. “And just being able to network and meet people, to see these faces that I just know will be really beneficial for my future, I can’t get that anywhere else.”
Investing in the Future of Health Care
Students listened to medical professionals speak about their career arcs, then walked to nearby schools of medicine, dental medicine and nursing to tour facilities and experience hands-on curriculum at training stations and simulations.
“Engaging high school students early is crucial to addressing the national health care shortage, especially in rural areas like eastern North Carolina,” said Koai Martin, an equity and special projects consultant for ECU Health.
Both the health system and the medical school have a demonstrated history and mission of training and employing health care professionals to work in underserved areas of the state. Efforts such as the Future Health Professionals Conference help “create a pipeline of providers and health care professionals who understand the unique challenges of rural health care,” she said.
“Ultimately, it’s about investing in the future of health care while uplifting the region our ECU Health and ECU medical school proudly serve,” Martin said.
Several students from the Brody School of Medicine led hands-on life support demonstrations and Stop the Bleed simulations. Dr. Calvin Blocker, a resident physician at the school and ECU Health, discussed the epidemiology and pathophysiology of strokes and methods for detecting and identifying stroke symptoms that concluded with an interactive experience involving the examination of brain models and specimens to show areas commonly affected.
“The Future Health Professionals Conference gives high school students insight into the daily lives of our students and the responsibilities of practicing professionals,” said Milton Bond, who directs the medical school’s Pathways to Health Careers Program. “It is important for ECU to commit resources to support initiatives like this to invest in building the future health care workforce.”
In the Middle of the Journey
“I knew I wanted to be a dentist from about 10 years old, but I didn’t get to do anything like this, and no one in my family was in the medical or dental field,” said Dr. Scarlett Walston, a clinical assistant professor in the School of Dental Medicine. “I think it’s really cool just for them to be able just to explore. Maybe one of them falls in love with dentistry, and maybe we’ll see them in the application cycle in a few years.”
Walston said preparing for the DAT — the Dental Admissions Test — is something some committed students begin even in high school. Outreach such as the conference can give young students a shot of hope at a time when they might feel bewildered and disadvantaged navigating such a competitive track.
“Helping the next generation find their path is always important,” she said.
Jennifer Kovacs is a career nurse and health sciences high school teacher who brought eight students to the conference from Dare County. She says health care is a wide-ranging industry that employs trades and hourly workers alongside highly trained specialists.
“There are so many opportunities. If blood and sickness are too much, there’s a cubicle you can sit in and be by yourself and still contribute to health care,” Kovacs said. “There’s a microscope; be a researcher developing a new drug or running lab tests. You can sterilize surgical equipment — another surgery cannot begin until you’ve sterilized from the last one.”
Her students, she says, are weighing careers on several factors. Passion is one, but years spent in college and student debt factor into plans.
“Health care is not just doctors and nurses. It is other clinicians. It is secretaries. It is custodial, meal services, environmental services. And it is a family. … and therefore you can get students involved in any of those aspects,” she said.
Frederick, the 17-year-old senior, put his statistical chance of eventually becoming a dentist at the dizzying tip of the range, 99%.
“I’ve wanted to be a dentist ever since I was 3 years old,” he said. “That was the age of my first dental appointment. If I’ve been into it for 14 years at this point, I think I can take the next 14 to make it happen.”
And he expects to make this dream a reality right in his hometown, at East Carolina University.
“Today, I got to meet with a bunch of second- and third-year dental students. I got to walk right into the lab and immerse myself, and they made me feel included,” he said. “So even though I haven’t started, I saw what it was like to be in the middle of the journey, and it makes me feel like, you know what, I can really do this.”
Greenville, N.C. – Trish Baise, ECU Health chief nursing executive, was recently honored as one of Becker’s Hospital Review’s 2024 Chief Nursing Officers (CNOs) to know. Since stepping into the role in 2022, Baise has cultivated a dynamic nursing environment that drives innovations to enhance patient care quality and elevate patient experiences across eastern North Carolina.
“This recognition by Becker’s reflects the collective efforts of the incredible nurses across ECU Health, all of whom are dedicated to creating an environment where nurses and patients alike can thrive,” said Baise. “Together, we are driving innovative approaches in rural health care, committed to excellence in all we do and enhancing patient care across eastern North Carolina. I am honored that ECU Health has been recognized for this commitment.”
Tasked with addressing nurse staffing shortages, managing budgets and fostering growth opportunities for emerging nurses, the nursing leaders recognized by Becker’s play a crucial role in shaping the future of nursing.
Beyond leading nursing departments, CNOs drive innovative initiatives that uphold high patient care standards. Their roles demand a unique blend of clinical expertise and executive leadership. This list honors CNOs for their commitment to optimizing health care.
Baise has led efforts to establish a supportive environment where both nurses and patients can thrive. Under her leadership, ECU Health has achieved its third Magnet recognition, underscoring a commitment to nursing excellence. The Advancing Nursing Practice and Excellence (APEX) initiative has been foundational to this strategy, focusing on innovation, research and collaborative efforts to advance nursing in rural health care. Through partnerships with East Carolina University and local colleges, ECU Health also invests in the future of nursing, offering residency programs to equip new nurses with essential skills. This vision represents ECU Health’s dedication to defining a new standard for patient care and nursing excellence in eastern North Carolina.
“As the region’s largest health care provider and educator, ECU Health has a unique role in shaping community health, and Trish understands that our mission’s success depends on attracting the best providers, nurses and care teams to our health system,” said Dr. Michael Waldrum, CEO of ECU Health and Dean of the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University. “Trish’s dedication to service and our mission aligns with ECU Health’s work to build the model for rural academic health care. ECU Health is proud to lead the way in defining the future of nursing in our region.”
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Dr. Jacob Pierce
Fall is upon us, and along with the cooler weather and changing leaves, we are expecting to see an increase in respiratory viruses. While it might be too late for ECU football’s conference championship dreams, it’s not too late to increase your chances of staying healthy this respiratory viral season. Respiratory viruses may be an inconvenience for many of us, but they can be devastating for those with certain conditions. Fortunately, vaccines and treatments are available for the major respiratory viruses expected to be circulating this Fall and Winter.
Testing positive for influenza, COVID-19, RSV and other respiratory viruses can be unsettling, but it’s important to remember that we’re equipped with the knowledge and tools to handle it effectively. If you test positive, reach out to your health care provider immediately. For those who are a bit more vulnerable—like older adults, people with underlying health conditions or a weakened immune system—getting early treatment really makes a difference. It can help keep symptoms from getting worse and get you back on your feet faster.
Medications available today for some respiratory viruses like COVID-19 can significantly reduce the severity of symptoms and lower the risk of hospitalization. As an infectious disease physician at ECU Health, I have seen firsthand how devastating these respiratory viruses can be for at-risk individuals. This underscores the importance of acting quickly and taking advantage of these treatments when eligible.
Treatment is just one part of the equation; preventative measures remain as vital as ever. The 2024–25 COVID-19 and influenza vaccines are available this Fall, and staying up to date with vaccinations is one of the most effective ways to protect yourself and those around you. We also now have FDA-approved RSV vaccines for all adults ages 75 years and older. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also recommends the vaccine for adults ages 60-74 years who are at increased risk of severe RSV.
It is important to recognize that some of the most vulnerable in our community – such as newborns or individuals on chemotherapy don’t have a strong enough immune system for vaccines to work. They rely on the healthy among us to get vaccinated and keep them safe. I know that some of you reading this may have concerns about vaccinations. I encourage you to discuss which vaccines might be right for you with your health care provider. I get my vaccines every year, not to protect myself, but to protect anyone in our community who cannot get them for whatever reason.
Additionally, basic hygiene practices, like frequent handwashing, avoiding close contact with sick individuals and wearing masks in crowded or high-risk areas, continue to be simple yet powerful tools in preventing the spread of respiratory viruses.
By staying informed, acting quickly when needed and embracing preventive measures, we can navigate this season safely and protect the health of our community. It’s not just about avoiding illness; it’s about doing our part to ensure the well-being of those around us. Together, we can make a difference in managing this year’s respiratory viral season and look forward to baseball season.
Dr. Jacob Pierce is the medical director of infection prevention at ECU Health and a clinical assistant professor at the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University.
Across the ECU Health system, hospitals recognized Veterans Day with events honoring those who have served our nation and thanking those who have chosen to serve in a new way at ECU Health.
At ECU Health Medical Center in Greenville, team members gathered around the flagpole just after 9 a.m. to come together, connect with other veterans, and appreciate one another’s service to the country and eastern North Carolina.
Dr. Virginia Hardy, vice president and chief inclusion and belonging officer at ECU Health, hosted the event and welcomed in team members.
“Today, we celebrate not only your past service, but also your legacy of courage and honor,” she said. “Our veterans remind us that our freedom is not just a right, it is a responsibility. Freedom today means different perspectives, engaging and constructive dialogue and ensuring that every voice has been heard.”
Cameron Graham, manager of electrical and mechanical systems in Plant Operations at ECU Health, gave a roll call for each branch of the United States military with veterans responding with their branch battle cry.
He shared that his service in the Navy helped shape his perspective as a leader and in his daily work at ECU Health.
“My brother was in the service, also in the Navy, and he was kind of my hero, so I followed his tracks,” Graham said. “When I attained the rank of Chief, we used to do what was called an initiation. You’re taught humility, to never forget from whence you came, and those who made you who you are. That has served me well, not only in the military but at ECU Health as well.”
Wayne Waters, a mechanic with Plant Operations at ECU Health, led the Pledge of Allegiance during the event. He served in the National Guard and said he took lessons from his time in the service that he sees in his work each day at ECU Health.
“A lot of my family in the past had been military, so growing up it was just the right thing to do. I’m just proud to be a part of the service,” Waters said. “Being young and going in, it helped me with structure in my life. It really taught me to be team player, being part of a team and working together.”
Trish Baise, chief nursing executive at ECU Health, said as the daughter of a veteran, she’s proud to participate in these events and recognize others for their service and sacrifice.
She said the sense of service in those who serve in the military does not fade and we see that each day in eastern North Carolina and at ECU Health.
“Our neighbors, friends and family members who have served often return home to continue their legacy of services,” Baise said. “They become teachers, first responders, health care professionals and community leaders. The sense of commitment is part of what makes eastern North Carolina unique – a place where selflessness and service are not just values, but a way of life.”
At ECU Health, we’re grateful today and every day for the service of our veterans. We’re proud of the more than 550 ECU Health team members and 60 medical students, faculty and staff at the Brody School of Medicine who have decided to continue their service to others after their time in the military.
This year, the ECU Health Medical Center’s microbiology laboratory upgraded its technology by adding the BD Kiestra Total Lab Automation (TLA) system. The new equipment improves standardization in laboratory processes, enhances lab efficiency and centralizes microbiology testing. This automated solution to laboratory challenges represents ECU Health’s ongoing pursuit of innovation, efficiency and process improvement.
The Kiestra TLA system is an end-to-end automated lab culture workflow from plate labeling, inoculation, incubation, plate reading, imaging, reading and follow up work, to maximizing staff productivity. “Previously, after incubating cultures, you took the plates out and read each one from the oldest to the newest, but if the culture wasn’t robust enough, the plate had to go back in the incubator,” Caryl Havasy, the system administrator of laboratory service lines, said.
Heather Duncan, the director of ECU Health Medical Center’s laboratory services, further explained the challenge. “Think about incubating plates like baking a cake in the oven,” she said. “The whole time the plate is out of the incubator, it’s not growing the organism, just like a cake stops baking once you take it out of the oven. This can delay an organism’s growth and delay the test results.”
Furthermore, reading plates was subject to human experience and error. The Kiestra, Havasy and Duncan said, takes photos of the plates and uses AI algorithms to see an organism’s growth before the human eye can detect it. “This technology means there’s no variation in how the sample is applied to a plate” Duncan said. That means there’s no delay due to rework, and there’s less room for error.
Acquiring the technology was a four-year process, which included establishing a business case, investing funds, working through construction to get the microbiology lab space ready, installing equipment and training lab technicians. The lab opened officially this past July, and on Oct. 8, the team hosted an open house to celebrate the new technology with a ribbon cutting ceremony and tours for those interested in seeing the new equipment.
It was a great opportunity for Dr. Niti Armistead, the chief quality officer and chief clinical officer at ECU Health, to see the newest technology in action. “The Kiestra is an investment in our people, specifically our laboratory and microbiology team,” she shared. “These are highly trained professionals, and this technology takes away manual, inefficient tasks and allows them to use their skills and education to the fullest extent. This in turn drives improvement in safety with fewer manual errors, efficiency and professional fulfillment. It is another example of how we are advancing our vision to be the national model for rural health as it will be processing specimens from all of our hospitals.”
Jay Briley, the president of ECU Health Medical Center, also attended the event. “It’s exciting to see ECU Health continue to invest in cutting-edge technology like the Kiestra Total Lab Automation system. The system streamlines our processes, reduces manual errors, and allows our highly skilled lab professionals to focus on what matters the most: delivering timely, life-saving results,” he said. “The Kiestra TLA system is a testament to ECU Health’s commitment to innovation and the health and well-being of our patients.”
Andy Zukowski, ECU Health’s chief financial officer, highlighted the value of ECU Health’s investment in this new technology: “The Kiestra Total Lab Automation system represents significant innovation and value for ECU Health. By streamlining our microbiology lab’s processes, it enhances the patient experience and quality of care we provide all while improving throughout and cost savings. The long-term return on investment is clear, as it positions us to continue delivering innovative high-quality care while maintaining fiscal responsibility.”
Amy Campbell, PhD, RN, CPHQ, LSSBB, quality nurse specialist III, represented ECU Health on Sept. 25 at a side event held in parallel to the 79th session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in New York City. The meeting, titled “2030 Global Agenda for Sepsis for Attaining Sustainable Development Goals,” was convened as a collaborative effort of the Global Sepsis Alliance (GSA), Medical Women’s International Association, Sepsis Stiftung and UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health.
The meeting was the first-ever global strategy spearheaded by the GSA, with collaboration from 70 partner and member organizations from Regional Sepsis Alliances across Africa, Asia-Pacific, the Caribbean, eastern Mediterranean, Europe, Latin America and North America. The meeting’s objectives were:
- To present the 2030 Global Agenda for Sepsis as the first multi-year global strategy to alleviate the significant human, societal, economic and health care burden of Sepsis.
- To reach consensus on the urgent need for reinvigorating the Sepsis responses at global, regional and national levels for the attainment of 2030 SDGs including the aspirations for Universal Health Care, Maternal, Neonatal and Child Health, AMR, Pandemic PPR, Gender Equality, Peace and Partnerships for Development.
- To discuss the critical role of health care workers, especially the medical women, representing over 70% of the health workforce globally, in the promotion and implementation of the 2030 Global Agenda for Sepsis.
- To call for establishment of a High-Level Political Platform for Sepsis to lead integration of this global health threat into the mainstream of health and development dialogue and architecture, including G7 and G20 Summits, World Health Assemblies, UN General Assemblies, and World Economic Forums.
Dr. Campbell was personally invited to attend and speak by Dr. Mariam Jashi, MD, MPH, MPA and the CEO of the Global Sepsis Alliance, and Michael Wong, founder and executive director of the physician-patient alliance for health and safety. This invitation came as a follow-up to the 2024 World Sepsis Congress held this past April, during which Campbell served on the Scientific Committee. “I saw the invite and initially blew it off,” Dr. Campbell laughed. “I wasn’t sure it was real.” But after reassurance the invitation was legitimate, and with the encouragement of her team and Michael Wong, Dr. Campbell decided to go to New York. “I had a training session scheduled at work, but my colleagues covered for me,” she said. “I’m so thankful to my team and leaders who made it so I could attend.”
Once she arrived at the New York University campus, where the parallel session was held, Dr. Campbell said she met many leaders from across the world. “I met Dr. Eleanor Nwadinobi, the president of the Medical Women’s International Association (MWIA), Thomas Heymann, the president and CEO of the Sepsis Alliance and the Honorable Dr. Ricardo Baptista Leite, a member of the Portugese Parliament. People were speaking all these different languages and here I was from eastern North Carolina.”
The meeting focused on early detection of sepsis and how to treat patients with sepsis, no matter where they live. “As one of the speakers, I had the opportunity to emphasize the urgency of early detection, the critical need for continued research and the importance of securing funding so that everyone, regardless of their geographic location, can receive the same standard of care and chance for survival,” Dr. Campbell said. The speakers also discussed what they anticipated to be the next big problem with sepsis: antibiotic resistance.
Dr. Campbell said it was a great opportunity to represent the work she and ECU Health are doing to address the global problem of sepsis. “The attendees were impressed with the work we’re doing. ECU Health is a big deal; we have incredible people and talent, and we deserve a seat at the table,” she said. And next year, she has a seat waiting for her. “I’ve been invited back to speak next year, and I’ll work more with the GSA,” she shared. “We all have a lot to learn and do. Sepsis transcends borders, affecting individuals of all ages, races and socioeconomic backgrounds. However, the most vulnerable populations – children, the elderly and those in low-resource settings – are disproportionately impacted. Sepsis doesn’t wait, and neither can we.”
Greenville, N.C. – ECU Health Medical Center has been nationally recognized as a national leader in patient experience for the second consecutive year, according PEP Health’s 2025 rankings. PEP Health evaluated more than 35 million online reviews from patients and their families in 2024, offering a real-time look at patient experiences across health care providers nationwide.
ECU Health Medical Center’s recognition was highlighted by top-5 national rankings in several categories including overall patient experience, communication & involvement and emotional support.
“At ECU Health, creating caring experiences for our patients and team members is at the core of our mission,” said Dr. Julie Kennedy Oehlert, chief experience officer at ECU Health. “Our definition of excellence is shaped by feedback from our patients and fostered by the compassion and dedication of our team. Being recognized nationally for our excellence in communication and emotional support is a rewarding acknowledgment of the safe, healing environments we strive to create. We are committed to continually listening and evolving to meet the needs of those we are honored to serve.”
PEP Health’s 2025 Rankings focus on hospitals with at least 750 staffed beds and at least 250 patient experience comments left online between Sept. 1, 2023, and Sept. 1, 2024. These comments, sourced from patients and their families on social media and review platforms, were analyzed against seven internationally recognized domains of patient-centered care: fast access, effective treatment, emotional support, communication & involvement, attention to physical and environmental needs, continuity of care, and billing and administration.
According to PEP Health, research has shown that enhancing patient experience is not only associated with improved care outcomes, but also strengthens financial performance, safety and health equity. Positive patient experiences directly impact CMS Star Ratings, which are closely tied to reimbursement rates and play a critical role in driving new patients and increasing patient retention. ECU Health’s commitment to delivering exceptional care in eastern North Carolina ensures that the most vulnerable populations in receive the support and attention they need.
“This recognition is a testament to the unwavering dedication of our team members who bring compassion and empathy to every patient interaction,” said Brian Floyd, chief operating officer, ECU Health. “Caring for patients during some of life’s most challenging moments is more than a job – it’s a calling. I am incredibly proud of the heart and commitment our team demonstrates every day. Earning this national recognition for patient experience reflects their hard work and the trust our patients place in us, and we will continue to prioritize compassionate, patient-centered care in all we do.”