Bob and Penny Barnhill, lifelong residents of eastern North Carolina, have built a legacy rooted in generosity and community spirit. Their philanthropic reach extends across the region, and at ECU Health and the ECU Health Foundation, we are deeply grateful for their partnership and support.
Since 2020, the Barnhills’ family business, Barnhill Contracting, has celebrated ECU Health Cancer Care nurses and healthcare workers with a special lunch during National Nurses Week. What began as a gesture of gratitude for the exceptional care given to a co-worker has become a cherished annual tradition, one that lifts spirits and reminds the Cancer Care teams how much their work matters.
“Philanthropy is about investing in the well-being of our neighbors and the future of our community. I choose to give to ECU Health because the world-class care they provide is not just medical; it is personal and essential. For the people of eastern NC, ECU Health is a lifeline and supporting it means ensuring that every community member has access to the compassionate, high-quality care they deserve.”
– Bob Barnhill
The Barnhills’ generosity also continues to advance medical education and research. In 2018, Bob and Penny joined ECU Health and East Carolina University to create two distinguished professorships within the Division of Hematology and Oncology at the ECU Brody School of Medicine.
Their $3 million gift established The Robert and Penny Barnhill Distinguished Professorship in Hematology and Oncology and The Barnhill Family Distinguished Professorship in Hematology and Oncology, each honoring their enduring commitment to improving health care in eastern North Carolina.
Currently held by Dr. Darla Liles, the Barnhill Family Distinguished Professorship supports critical research roles, including nurses, clinical research associates and data managers who make participation in investigator-led clinical trials possible. These trials often lack the funding provided by pharmaceutical sponsors, making the Barnhills’ investment vital to advancing discovery and improving outcomes for patients across our region.
The Robert and Penny Barnhill Professorship, held by Dr. Nasreen Vohra, supports clinical and translational research in a variety of cancers including but not limited to breast cancer, colon cancer, pancreatic cancer and melanoma. The Barnhill Professorship has enabled Dr. Vohra and her research partners, including surgical oncology division faculty and resident physicians, to present their findings at national conferences and attend leadership training. Insights gained from this research, as well as participation in academic and clinical surgical oncology societies, play a critical role in advancing their understanding of cancer and enhancing cancer care in eastern North Carolina and beyond.