ECU Health held its first Cancer Survivors’ Day event on Friday at the Monroe Conference Center.
The event was held to celebrate those who have fought the battle and survived the disease, giving them a safe space to be able to share their stories and experiences with those who can relate.
Food, music and guest speakers were there to make the day as special as possible.
Pamela Lepera has been an oncologist for 28 years but recently added a “cancer survivor” to the end of her title. After chemotherapy and her transplant back in April of 2023, she has been able to come out strong and hold events to give others the opportunity to speak on their fight.
“We are here to celebrate survivors,” Lepera said. “This is a gift to survivors and caregivers. In addition to that, to celebrate our excellent medical team and administration and we have come together today with such joy. Proud of our survivors, proud of our medical services and I am just so incredibly joyful that I’m here today.”
Click the video above for more.
After a 50-year evolution, Vidant Health and East Carolina University (ECU) announced on June 23 that Vidant and ECU’s Brody School of Medicine (BSOM/Brody) would align to become a clinically integrated, academic health care organization. This integration will allow the two organizations to provide efficient, effective and high-quality care to eastern North Carolina residents, become the national model for academic rural health care and develop a shared brand.
As a first step toward this integration, Dr. Michael Waldrum was appointed Dean of the BSOM, effective July 1, while continuing to serve as Vidant’s chief executive officer.
The next step of this process is signing a Joint Operating Agreement (JOA) that allows the two organizations to work together to formalize the clinical integration, through unified operational processes and strategic goals while remaining legally separate entities. Employees of ECU and Vidant Health will remain employees of their respective organizations. More information is available on the Clinical Integration MyVidant page.
FAQs
Why is it important to integrate Vidant and the BSOM?
Vidant and BSOM are clinically integrating in order to:
- Improve the value of and the access to quality care and provide patients with a more streamlined health care experience.
- More efficiently use clinical staff across the combined operations, regardless of which organization employs them.
- Help to facilitate new strategies and interventions for the most prevalent health needs of eastern North Carolina.
- Create operational efficiencies reducing costs.
- Establish a shared leadership and governance structure for ECU Health.
What is the purpose of having Dr. Waldrum as the leader of both Vidant and BSOM?
With a single leader in both organizations, Dr. Waldrum has the ability and decision-making authority to implement unified operational and clinical decisions that lead to better outcomes for patients and communities served in eastern North Carolina. This integration helps both organizations meet the combined vision of becoming a national model for rural health care.
What does the JOA mean for the overall clinical integration process?
The JOA provides the legal framework that allows the two organizations to move forward with formalizing the clinical integration, through unified operational processes and strategic goals while remaining legally separate entities. The JOA also provides guiding principles, formal structures and grants certain authorities to achieve clinical integration between Vidant and BSOM.
Each of the JOA components (ECU, BSOM, Vidant Health, Vidant Medical Center, etc.) will maintain their corporate/legal existence. The JOA does not involve the transfer, sale or acquisition of Vidant or ECU assets.
The purpose of the JOA is to align clinical patient care efforts; further develop existing clinical integration for the benefit of patients; expand and develop the long-standing academic affiliation; and utilize revenues to sustain the patient care, education and research activities of all components of the JOA.
What is the difference between the JOA and the announcement in June 2021?
In June 2021, ECU Chancellor Rogers appointed Dr. Waldrum as dean of the BSOM, effective July 1. This announcement also included Vidant Health and ECU’s intention to move forward with a defined framework to achieve greater operational integration to complement its current clinical integration.
The signed JOA provides the legal framework and governance structure for the future ECU Health. The JOA explains how the organizations will operate as a unified system and Dr. Waldrum – as CEO/Dean – will make operational decisions to achieve integration.
Who approved the JOA?
The JOA between Vidant and ECU was approved by the ECU Board of Trustees on Nov. 12. This was the first step in the approval process. The Pitt County Board of Commissioners, Vidant Medical Center Board of Trustees, Vidant Health Board of Directors and the UNC Board of Governors will also review the JOA in the near future.
What has taken place since the announcement in June 2021?
Since the announcement of Dr. Waldrum’s new role as Dean of BSOM in June, an executive committee was formed with leaders from both organizations. The committee has been advising on the JOA components. They will continue to be responsible for overseeing and providing strategic guidance for the full clinical integration and creation of the future ECU Health. The committee has sub-committees reporting to it, concentrating on distinct areas such as clinical operations, finance, legal, marketing and communications.
What is the vision and future for ECU Health?
The work to fully integrate Vidant and BSOM clinical operations has been more than 40 years in the making. This work will continue in the weeks, months and years ahead. Leaders from both organizations will work with faculty, staff, patients and other stakeholders to elevate these two community-focused organizations under one brand – ECU Health – in a way that combines the strengths of both organizations with the goal of providing the most effective, high-quality and efficient care for patients and our communities throughout the region.
New Brand
Is Vidant’s name changing?
Once approved, the JOA becomes effective Jan. 1, 2022. Soon after, Vidant will change its name to ECU Health and rebrand itself throughout 2022. ECU Physicians and Vidant Medical Group will also be changing their names to align under the ECU Health brand.
The CEO and Dean roles are important roles for each organization. How will both organizations ensure that one person can do both roles effectively? What resources will be available to leadership to ensure we are successful in this unique situation?
Dr. Waldrum has a team at Vidant and at Brody to help manage the responsibilities. He reports to both the chancellor for the medical school’s interests and the Vidant Health Board of Directors for Vidant’s interests. As executive dean, Dr. Jason Higginson is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the BSOM. Similarly, Brian Floyd remains responsible for Vidant hospitals and Dan Drake will remain responsible for Vidant Medical Group (VMG) clinics. Once the JOA becomes effective, there will be a new Joint Operating Committee (JOC) with VH and ECU leaders that will provide ongoing advice, guidance and oversight to Dr. Waldrum in the management of ECU Health.
What is Dr. Waldrum’s role at Brody?
Dr. Waldrum represents the BSOM in internal and external matters including, but not limited to, chair of the Brody Council, board and committee meetings, medical school operation decisions, ceremonies, fundraising and academic conferences. At Brody, he reports to the university’s Chancellor. Through this shared leadership structure, Dr. Waldrum remains CEO of the health system.
Is ECU planning to build a new medical school?
ECU and Vidant are cautiously optimistic the NC General Assembly will include funding in its final state budget for the construction of a new medical education and research building on ECU’s Health Sciences Campus.
VH team members
Will Vidant team members become ECU state employees? Or, will ECU employees become Vidant team members?
No, there will be no change in employment status.
Will benefits change?
No, Vidant team member benefits will remain the same.
At BSOM, benefits will also remain the same, with the exception of small changes already planned and unrelated to the JOA starting Jan. 1, 2022.
Will roles or departments be consolidated between the organizations?
At this time, no decisions have been made to combine departments or areas. In the coming months, Dr. Waldrum will work with the JOC to determine how workflows will be organized going forward. This includes improving efficiencies and avoiding duplication across the organizations, which may include combining select non-clinical support services/departments.
Will Vidant team members be able to take on dual roles (working for ECU and Vidant)?
At the effective date of the approved JOA (Jan. 1, 2022), there are no changes to the current employment structure. We will communicate if decisions are made to offer a dual employment model to other positions in the organization.
Vidant Medical Group / ECU Physicians
Will VMG and ECU Physicians be combined?
The provider groups will remain two distinct organizations, operating under the ECU Health brand with shared leadership and shared services to support operations. This integration will be focused on the development and adoption of a high performing, clinically integrated set of multi-specialty services across sites of care that is physician led, professionally-managed and patient centric.
How will this be structured?
ECU Physicians and VMG will be led by shared leadership. VMG and ECU Physicians will share the same workflow processes and approach to work, incorporating consistent clinical evidence-based protocols and unified clinical expectations.
Who can I reach out to for additional questions?
Vidant team members, physicians and credentialed providers can send questions about the clinical integration to ClinicalIntegrati[email protected]. BSOM or ECUP physicians, faculty and staff can go to https://medicine.ecu.edu/feedback/ to submit questions.
Just being a kid – that’s the goal Camp Hope and Camp Rainbow staff hope to accomplish every summer. Each year ECU Health and the Department of Pediatrics Hematology/Oncology at the Brody School of Medicine make it possible for children with cancer, hemophilia and sickle cell disease to take part in summer camp.
Camp Rainbow is for children with cancer, hemophilia and children who have lost a sibling to one of these diseases, and Camp Hope is for children with sickle cell disease.
“Once the kids get to camp, start participating activities and get to know each other, they leave everything behind and just get to be kids,” said Jacque Sauls, child life specialist at the Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Clinic at ECU Health and the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University and director of Camp Hope and Camp Rainbow. “That is a blissful moment for all of the health care staff to be able to watch a child we see in the hospital all the time being a kid and having a great time.”
ECU Health and Brody team members develop camping programs to provide pediatric patients an opportunity to learn more about themselves and their illness, participate in fun activities like swimming, canoeing, archery, crafts, music and drama, all while making life-long friendships with other children with similar conditions and experiences. Over 60 campers from 25 counties in eastern North Carolina came this year.
“These kids are often protected and sheltered a little bit because they can’t do all the things other kids can do because of their illnesses, or they’re afraid of infections or normal camps don’t have the health care they need,” said Sauls. “Here, they can do every camp activity. There are no limits.”
While at camp, children receive 24-hour medical care and close medical monitoring by their ECU Health care teams including physicians, nurses, child life and social workers.
“All of the children take medicine because of their conditions, so when they take it together, they realize, ‘You have to do this just like I do,’ and know they’re not alone,” said Sauls.
The vast majority of camp volunteers and counselors are former campers themselves, having experienced sickle cell, bleeding disorders or cancer. This shared background allows them to form a special connection with the campers, having faced similar challenges, treatments and experiences. These volunteers return to camp to ensure that today’s kids receive the same transformative experience they once did.
“It’s one of the most important things we do at camp because they get to meet children going through the same thing they’re going through or have gone through,” said Sauls. “The kids get to have mentors that have gone what they’ve gone through and are now in college. They get to see that just because you have a chronic illness or have had cancer you can’t do all the things you want to accomplish in life.”
This is true for camp volunteer Daniel Everett, who attended Camp Hope starting in 2017. When he graduated high school in 2021, he decided to volunteer at the camp.
“I have sickle cell myself, and for me as a kid to come to camp was a dream,” Everett said. “It was magical. It was a place I could go that I knew I was going to have fun, and it was a place I felt right at home.”
Now as a counselor, Everett makes the same impact on the new campers.
“It’s really awesome seeing the kids enjoy themselves, especially when they come from a background of pain, they may be going through treatment,” Everett said. “It’s just nice to see them come here to take a breather like, ‘I can be myself,’ because they’re accepted here.”
Everett is beginning college in the fall, and Sauls noted how important it is for the campers to see someone with the same disease as them accomplishing their goals.
One volunteer, however, is not a former patient. Dr. Ashish Khanchandani recently graduated from the Brody School of Medicine at ECU and is beginning his residency in Pediatrics at ECU Health Medical Center. Dr. Khanchandani volunteered during his gap between medical school graduation and residency to make sure the campers have fun and to assist in any medical needs the campers may have.
“The goal of us as volunteers is to make sure the kids can go about their day without any major medical issues,” Dr. Khanchandani said. “It has been fun being like a camp counselor. I’ve done all the activities with my kids like paddle boarding, all while making sure they’re doing it safely.”
Sauls said she was especially grateful for Dr. Khanchandani’s expertise when it comes to his group of campers. His group has Daniel Perez, a camper who survived brain cancer at two years old, losing his vision. Perez was diagnosed with bone cancer in his leg at age nine and underwent chemotherapy. Thanks to the help from Dr. Khanchandani and another camper named Esra Lupton, Perez has been able to participate in every single activity.
“Daniel and Esra met at this camp for the first time, and they go everywhere together,” said Sauls. “Esra takes him from place to place. It’s a friendship you would never be able to make somewhere else.”
Perez, like the other campers, has loved his time at Camp Rainbow. He said coming to camp helps him de-stress and forget about the medical stress going on his day-to-day life.
Camp Rainbow and Camp Hope are offered free of charge to children with chronic illnesses and were made possible this year by generous support and donations from the ECU Health Medical & Health Sciences Foundation, Inc., Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals/ECU Health Foundation, the Pamlico Neuse Women’s Coalition, the James and Mamie Richardson Perkins Trust, the Mildred Sheffield Wells Charitable Trust, Riley’s Army, Jaylen’s Nation, Ms. Tammy Thompson, Beau’s Buddies, China Kitchen of Robersonville and other individuals and civic organizations. To learn more, please visit: https://pediatrics.ecu.edu/camp-rainbow/
While most kids are enjoying camp this Summer, there are those that cannot due to cancer, hemophilia and sickle cell disease. However, ECU Health and the Department of Pediatrics Hematology/Oncology at the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University is changing that.
ECU Health has issued a press release that they willmake it possible for children with cancer, hemophilia and sickle cell disease to take part in summer camp. Camp Rainbow is for children with cancer, hemophilia and children who have lost a sibling to one of these diseases, and Camp Hope, for children with sickle cell disease.
The camp will be hosted June 16-22 at The Refuge, 1380 Lower Field Road, Ayden, N.C. 28513.ECU Health and Brody team members have developed camping programs to provide pediatric patients an opportunity to learn more about themselves and their illness, participate in fun activities. Activities will include swimming, canoeing, archery, crafts, music, and drama.
During the camp, children will receive 24-hour medical care and close medical monitoring by their ECU Health care teams including physicians, nurses, child life, and social workers.
Both camps are offered at no cost to kids with chronic illnesses by donations and support due to generous donations and support by many people and organizations.
GREENVILLE, N.C. (WITN) – Surgeon General Vivek Murthy’s call for a warning label on social media is based on what many call a mental health crisis, not only across the United States but also in North Carolina.
According to the United Health Foundation, here in North Carolina, more than 70% of children with a mental health disorder do not receive treatment. Murthy’s initiative isn’t the only one in the works… The United Health Foundation has put together another initiative with East Carolina University’s Telepsychiatry Program to combat the issue.
Though many factors play into one’s mental health, Pew Research reports that 69% of adults and 81% of teens in the U.S. use social media. Thus, putting a large amount of the population at an increased risk of feeling anxious, depressed, or ill over their social media use.
That’s why the United Health Foundation and ECU are partnering with a new three-year, $3.2 million grant to address the youth mental health challenges in North Carolina.
“There’s a greater need on mental health, particularly given the rising prevalence that we’ve seen here in North Carolina. I think the data is heartbreaking. 9% of our children, ages 3-17 years old have experienced anxiety or depression,” says United Healthcare Community and State CEO Anita Bachmann.
It’s an issue that faces many challenges like a continued stigma attached to having open dialogue, having an open discussion about mental health, and care access due to a shortage in the amount of healthcare, according to Bachmann.
Dr. Sy Saeed North Carolina State Telepsychiatry Program Executive Director says they see over 10,000 children.
“Over 1800 showed a large to moderate level of anxiety, says Saeed. “We are providing both therapy and child psychiatry services.”
This program will help address mental health issues in teens sooner rather than later.
“Most mental disorders start early. As many as 75% of people who have mental disorders would have had their first episode of that illness by age 25. Anxiety, depression, and when people are having difficulty of stress and relationships,” says Dr. Saeed.
Officials say it will create a holistic and effective approach when treating children.
“Mental health for children includes mental, emotional, and behavioral well-being, and that provides the launching pad for how they think, feel, act, and handle stress,” says Dr. Saeed.
Dr. Saeed says the program currently treats 200 children with six clinics in North Carolina but the goal is to expand.
Dr. Saeed and Bachmann say that it’s vital for those dealing with mental health challenges to reach out to their healthcare provider or call the 9-8-8 mental health crisis hotline.
ECU Health and Acadia Healthcare gathered on Tuesday to celebrate a milestone in the construction of the behavioral health hospital in Greenville. Sarah Gray Barr has more on this.
Greenville, N.C. – ECU Health is partnering with Food Lion Feeds, Sodexo and the ECU Health Foundation to provide free meals for kids, teens and people with disabilities as part of the Summer Meal Program. Meals will be available in Greenville, Bethel and Ahoskie. The selected sites this year were chosen based on the need in each county, existing partnerships and the social vulnerability index at each location.
During the school year, many kids and teens receive free or reduced-price meals. When schools close for the summer, those meals disappear, leaving families to choose between putting the next meal on the table or paying for other necessities like utilities or medical care. While over 57% of students in North Carolina receive free or reduced lunch, 66% of Pitt County students and over 90% of Hertford County students receive free or reduced lunch.
Meals will be available until food runs out each day at the following locations:
Greenville: English Chapel Free Will Baptist Church – 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Monday-Friday from June 10 to Aug. 23. The location will be closed July 22-26.
Ahoskie: Calvary Missionary Baptist Church – 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Monday-Friday from June 10 to Aug. 23. The location will be closed June 19 and July 4-5.
Bethel: Bethel Youth Activity Center – 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Monday-Thursday from June 17-July 17. The location will be closed July 3-7.
ECU Health has offered the Summer Meal Program since 2021, providing nearly 12,000 free meals to kids and teens during the summer months. In 2023, 51 ECU Health team members served more than 2,800 meals to kids in need.
No registration is required. For more information about the ECU Health Summer Meal Program, please email [email protected].
ECU Health Medical Center was among four hospitals in North Carolina and 26 in the country to receive recognition by U.S. News & World Report.
The recognition is for success in caring for patients in historically underserved communities. According to a media release, “The new accolade and corresponding hospitals were revealed today at an exclusive event in Washington, ‘The State of Equity in America.’ U.S. News convened thought leaders from business, government, health, education and other sectors for a day of solutions-oriented dialogue on erasing disparities in America.
ECU was joined by these NC hospitals:
- Cape Fear Valley Medical Center (Fayetteville)
- Moses H. Cone Memorial Hospital (Greensboro)
- UNC Hospitals (Chapel Hill)
North Carolina was one of seven states to have three or more hospitals recognized. California led the way with seven with North Carolina placing second.
“U.S. News’ recognition of the Best Regional Hospitals for Equitable Access highlights the important and necessary work hospitals are doing to improve care for underserved communities,” said Tavia Binger, senior health data analyst at U.S. News.
“This positive representation of community hospitals’ dedication to equitable access across 26 states is promising. However, this recognition also underscores the need for continued focus on prioritizing health care among vulnerable populations who may face numerous social and economic challenges in receiving care.”
Click here to find out more and to see the list of hospitals recognized.
For 39 years now, Eastern Carolina and beyond have shown up to help sick and injured children.
WITN teamed up for another year of fun and inspiration for two days for the 39th Annual Children’s Miracle Network Telethon.
With your donations, we were able to raise $1,258,511 for the James and Connie Maynard Children’s Hospital at ECU Health Medical Center in Greenville.
Those dollars help fund cutting-edge technology as well as quality-of-life items for the families and patients being cared for at the hospital.
If you missed our broadcast, no worries! You can still donate by heading here.
You can watch our Miracle Child stories here.
A fun day out on the water surfing behind a boat at Pine Knoll Shores last August quickly turned tragic for 13-year-old Wiley Sloan.
Wiley says, “I could just hear the propeller spinning and getting closer and closer.”
As the boat circled around to pick him up, he was struck by the propeller. “I knew I got hit but I didn’t know it was going to be this bad, said Wiley.
Wiley’s dad Hamilton was about to head to the coast from their Raleigh home when his wife Hannah called. “She just said there’s been a boating accident. I don’t know what’s going on. Just go to Greenville. I’ll meet you in Greenville.”
To donate to the Children’s Miracle Network in Greenville — Click Here!
As Hamilton frantically rushed to Maynard Children’s Hospital, his wife called back with more details, “And said Wiley’s lost an arm, um, and he’s in a helicopter on his way to Greenville right now.”
Wiley remembers, “You don’t want to look cause It kinda makes the pain worse but it’s pretty hard not to look.”
Now, this young man, who loves the water and competing in every sport you can imagine, was in his toughest battle yet. For his life.
Hamilton says, “The doctors, as they should be, were very straightforward about the fact that he was a very sick young man and had significant traumatic injuries.”
Not only did Wiley lose his left arm, he had severe injuries to his abdomen and leg, and would have to endure 10 surgeries.
Back home, his classmates lifted him in prayer, while at the hospital, ECU baseball player Parker Byrd, who lost a leg in a boating accident a year earlier, lifted his spirits, all helping Wiley stay brave and calm through it all.
“Maybe just motivation to get better and better and I just kept my mind off of what happened,” said Wiley.
After 33 days in the hospital, he was well enough to go home.
Hamilton says, “And that’s a testament to Wiley’s toughness and healing and a testament to the staff at the hospital.”
Today, not even a year since the accident, he’s back doing some of what he loves as he continues to heal in the pool and on the basketball court.
Being from Raleigh, Hamilton says he wasn’t familiar with Maynard Children’s Hospital and initially wasn’t sure what to think when Wiley was flown there, but says as time moved on and they learned more about the hospital, the doctors, and the level of care they were receiving, he says it became very obvious they were in the right place.
Hamilton says, “Eastern North Carolina is very fortunate to have the Maynard Children’s Hospital. It is a first-class facility.”
One that he says deserves your support and one that he thanks for saving his son’s life. “I’m a witness to a miracle at ECU Health and Wiley is absolutely fortunate to be a miracle child,” said Hamilton.
Wiley couldn’t be more grateful. “I see myself as a miracle cause everything was so perfect and good.”
Be sure to tune in this weekend for the CMN Telethon and make a pledge to help ensure kids like Wiley are able to get the critical treatment they need right here in Eastern Carolina.