Health System with 8 hospitals across 1 state
| Health System | ECU Health |
|---|---|
| Total Hospitals | 8 |
| Commercial/Acute Hospitals | 8 |
| Total Beds | 1461 |
| Commercial/Acute Beds | 1461 |
| Headquarters | Greenville, NC |
| Website | ECUHealth.org |
| Hospital | Type | Beds | Teaching | Recently Joined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ECU Health Medical Center | Acute Care Hospital | 909 | Yes | No |
| ECU Health Roanoke-Chowan Hospital | Acute Care Hospital | 124 | Yes | No |
| ECU Health Edgecombe Hospital | Acute Care Hospital | 82 | No | No |
| ECU Health Duplin Hospital | Acute Care Hospital | 81 | No | No |
| ECU Health North Hospital | Acute Care Hospital | 206 | No | No |
| ECU Health Bertie Hospital | Critical Access Hospital | 15 | Yes | No |
| ECU Health Chowan Hospital | Critical Access Hospital | 25 | No | No |
| Outer Banks Health | Critical Access Hospital | 19 | No | No |
Significant expertise and experience managing complex health care systems and clinical operations of hospitals and clinics. Before coming to eastern North Carolina, he served as the president and chief executive officer of The University of Arizona Health Network. Prior to that he was the CEO of the University of Alabama Hospital at Birmingham (UAB) and vice president of the UAB Health system. Specialist in critical care medicine and pulmonology and is trained in internal medicine. He has expertise in clinical effectiveness, information system and healthcare management in academic organizations.
More than 20 years of experience as a physician and quality leader in rural health care. Committed to creating a culture of continuous quality improvement that leverages the organization's academic and clinical expertise.
Leading a system of nurses across nine hospitals and more than 100 clinics.
Christina Bowen, MD, ABOIM, DipACLM, is the Chief Well-being Officer at ECU Health, a role she assumed in 2022. She also holds the position of Medical Director at the Outer Banks Health Center for Healthy Living. Prior to her time at ECU Health, she served as Chief Well-being Officer and Physician at Vidant Health beginning in 2013, and was the Medical Director of the Office of Experience at Vidant Health from 2018 to 2022. Her experience also includes serving as Medical Director at the Dare County Health Dept. starting in 2011. Dr. Bowen earned her Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree from The Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University in 2003. She completed an internship at Duke University Medical Center in 2004 and her residency at Carolinas Medical Center in 2008. She furthered her training with a fellowship in Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona, completed in 2016. Her educational background also includes a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Neurobehavioral Biology from Emory University. She is board certified in family medicine, hospice and palliative medicine, lifestyle medicine, and integrative medicine. Dr. Bowen was honored as the first North Carolina recipient of the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health's Community Star Award in 2020 for her contributions in Dare County.
Career started as a nurse at ECU Health in the 1990s. Strong in operational leadership, held several leadership roles throughout his tenure. Leadership of Vidant Medical Group (VMG) and Ambulatory Services for the past six years has successfully grown the ambulatory practices including geographic landscape and scope of specialties offered to better serve our region. His operational, administrative and clinical expertise will be essential to further develop our physician practice model.
More than 30 years of experience in health care, leadership, and operations. Started at ECU Health Medical Center nearly 30 years ago as a nurse. Administrative experience overseeing hospital and system operations across various roles at ECU Health, including vice president of hospital operations and President of Vidant Medical Center. Provides strategic oversight of the health system enterprise and its day-to-day operations, with a heightened focus on creating seamless interoperability within the health system and ensuring we are operating, performing and providing care as one team.
Joined ECU in 2011. Served in multiple leadership roles at the 20th Medical Group, Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina. Transitioned to director of clinical services at ECU's Family Medicine Center in 2013, where he provided clinical oversight for a larger academic patient-centered medical home. In 2017, he became interim medical director of ECU Health before transitioning officially to the chief medical officer role, providing senior medical leadership to more than 500 credentialed clinicians.
Donette Herring, MBA, RN, is the Chief Information Officer at ECU Health. Prior to her role at ECU Health, she served as CIO of Catholic Health East, now known as Trinity Health, where she was instrumental in developing and executing the system-wide IT strategy. Her experience also includes leadership positions at Catholic Health Services of Long Island and Catholic Health Initiatives, as well as working as a Senior Manager at KPMG. Herring began her career as a registered nurse, and her background includes working in critical care. She holds an MBA and a nursing degree from Villanova University. At ECU Health, in addition to her CIO responsibilities, she leads the transformation execution office, focusing on operational strategy and performance improvement.
More than 20 years experience in rural health care delivery, including experience as a community hospital president. Currently helping to lead transformation of rural health system in eastern North Carolina.
Jason Higginson, MD, MA, FAAP, is the Chief Health Officer for ECU Health and the Executive Dean of the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University. He became executive dean in June 2021. Dr. Higginson holds a bachelor's degree in biology from UCLA, a Master's degree in bioethics and health policy from Loyola University Chicago, and a Doctor of Medicine from the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. He completed a pediatrics residency at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland and a fellowship in neonatal-perinatal medicine at the National Capitol Consortium and National Institutes of Health. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics (FAAP). Before his current roles, Dr. Higginson served in various capacities at the Brody School of Medicine, including Chair of Pediatrics, Pediatrician-in-Chief of Maynard Children's Hospital, Chief of Neonatology, and Medical Director for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and Newborn Medicine. He joined Brody in 2012 after 13 years of active duty in the U.S. Navy. He remains in the U.S. Navy Reserve as a Captain, currently commanding the Navy Reserve Navy Medical Readiness and Training Command in Bethesda, Maryland, and serving on Navy Reserve medical advisory councils. He is also a graduate of the Naval War College command and staff program. Dr. Higginson continues to practice as a physician in the neonatal intensive care unit at ECU Health Medical Center and is a professor at the Brody School of Medicine.
More than 20 years of experience as a nurse, nursing leader and health system administrator.
Jenny Markham is the Chief Legal Officer at ECU Health, having officially started in this role on October 16, 2023. She also serves the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University. With over 20 years of experience in healthcare law, Markham previously served as System VP and Deputy General Counsel at UNC Health and as a health law associate at a large North Carolina law firm. She earned her J.D. from the University of Richmond School of Law and her undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In her current position, she oversees the ECU Health Office of General Counsel and matters within the joint operating agreement between ECU Health and the Brody School of Medicine.
More than 20 years of experience in strategic financial planning for health care organizations.
Formerly president of ECU Health Community Hospitals. Transitioned to President at ECU Health Medical Center effective Feb. 5, 2024.
Formerly executive vice president of ECU Health Medical Center. Transitioned to president of ECU Health Community Hospitals effective Feb. 5, 2024.
Formerly senior administrator of Children's Services at Maynard Children's Hospital. Became vice president for Maynard Children's Hospital, Women's Service Lines and Community Health Programs upon Kim Crickmore's retirement departure date of Feb. 26 [2024].